The Bird of Paradise Without Wings

This particular bird has no wings and will never fly. However, people around the world will stop and gawk at its flightless beauty. Take a look at the bird of paradise without wings.

Image Credit Flickr User Bill Gracey

Bye Bye Bunny

There is so much happening in Bye Bye Bunny, a degree project animated short by Rubika students, that it could easily be extended into a full-length feature.  Having said that, it would probably give the world’s children nightmares as although the colour palettes are what you might expect from an animated escapade, it has moments which can only be described as incredibly dark.  As such it’s my kind of animation!

It tells the story of a magician and his friend, assistant and, well, prop, a rabbit.  Their joint career is going swimmingly until the day that all the rabbits on the planet disappear. Unfortunately, this world event happens in the middle of the magician’s performance, and he is howled off stage.  However, that isn’t the end of  that – watch the animation below to see what happens next!

Bye-Bye Bunny was directed by Julia Bueno, Cheng Li, Catherine Lepicard, Inès Pagniez, Julien Roguet and Paul Torris. It features music by Kenny Wood and Florian Calmer, with sound mixing by Kamal Ouazène, bringing together a small but carefully crafted team behind its production.

The Bayeux Tapestry Explained: The British Museum's Brilliant Animated Guide to 1066

William the Conqueror, 1066 – played on the Saxons cruel tricks. I don’t know if you are old enough to remember the first lines of a poem I was forced to learn at school which detailed several important historical dates, beginning with the Norman invasion of England, but this video will help explain the cruel tricks.  I for one truly wish this has been around in my childhood! The British Museum (aided and abetted by Hocus Pocus Studio) have created this fantastic, animated explanation of the Bayeux Tapestry, telling the story from the beginning to (for the Saxons at least) its bitter end.   It really brings the tapestry to life and the narration by Claudia Winkelman (an English broadcaster and writer immensely famous in the UK zips through the history with ease (and the occasional knowing wink to the audience).

The video is designed for anyone 11 and over who is interested in finding out the story of the Bayeux Tapestry as well as some of the facts and figures associated with it.  It doesn’t patronise, but it explains what the tapestry is and why it is such an extraordinary testament to William the Conqueror.  As a big kid in adult disguise, I found this immensely entertaining.  

The video was created to accompany the British Museum’s hosting of the Bayeux Tapestry.  This will end on 11 July so get your skates on if you still want to see the real thing before it returns home to France. In the meantime, watch the video below.

How Do Astronauts Breathe on the International Space Station? The Clever Way the ISS Makes Oxygen

It’s one of those questions I have never considered asking, but now I come to think of it, I really want an answer! How is it that astronauts don’t run out of air on the International Space Station?  In the early days of spaceflight, oxygen was stored in tanks, but the flights were short(ish) and so enough could be carried along with the craft to ensure the astronauts didn’t suffocate on their way there and back..  Yet if you are on the ISS, there is a limit to the amount of oxygen tanks you can bring along with you.  The Apollo 11 Mission, which took three astronauts to the moon, and took seven days, had 50kg of oxygen (which was plenty).  However, six to eight months in space with seven crewmates – that would be way too costly.

So, enter electrolysis and a system called MOGA (and that doesn’t stand for Make Oman Grest Again).   That’s about as much as I will see as this fantastic lesson by Ted-Ed covers the rest extremely well (I understood it, so that means it’s pretty accessible!).  Alvaro Romero-Calvo and Theo St Francis investigate – and do a great job.  However, I was particularly drawn to the animations (see what I did there?) and they are uncredited – as far as I can see – but thank you to them too!

Unexpected Item Review: Olivia Colman’s Talking Checkout Till Makes This Award-Winning Short a Delight

Olivis Coleman as a self-service checkout till that answers back? Yes, I’ll have some of that, thank you very much.  Of course, a till that answers back needs a customer to backchat, and that comes in the form  of hapless Henry (played by the quietly handsome Jamie Blackley) who has reached the ripe old age of 26 and is still required to prove his age when he buys alcohol.  However, that is the least of his worries.  Hapless Henry is also hankering for the human cashier (Isabella Laughland) but there is always a reason – or an excuse – for him to end up on the self-service side of the supermarket (and Coleman’s remark about the tissues he is buying will have you in gales).

Unexpected Item has quietly built an impressive festival record, collecting Best Film awards at the Anaheim International and Cambria Film Festivals, Best Comedy Short at both the Orinos Film Awards and Independent Short Awards, Best Short Film at the Vegas Movie Awards and Falcon International Film Festival, and Best Romantic Comedy at the Top Indie Film Awards. It has also been officially selected for festivals including Norwich, Carmarthen Bay, Queen Palm, Austin Comedy, and JellyFest. Directed by Stephen Gallacher and written by Chris Croucher, the short tells a warm, witty story about courage, human connection, and the small inner voice that sometimes gives us the push we need to reach out to one another.  It’s lovely.

Hillywood's Star Wars Parody Is Their Most Epic Production Yet

The Hillywood Show is never one to tighten its belt when it comes to budgets, and this parody of Star Wars looks like it was pretty expensive to make.  It’s huge fun, too.  Filmed using anamorphic lenses to capture the sweeping 2.39:1 cinematic aspect ratio of the original trilogy, this restoration delivers a spectacular UltraWide presentation in stunning 4K or 8K resolution.  All your favorites are here – Luke, Yoda, Han, Leia, Chewbacca – and what Star Wars parody would be complete without an appearance or two by Darth Vader!

The commenters of YouTube are ecstatic. Viewers are hailing the parody as Hillywood's most ambitious and polished production to date, marvelling at the painstaking recreation of the original trilogy's sets, costumes, lighting and cinematography. Fans singled out everything from the inspired casting - particularly Jim Beaver as Obi-Wan (although I was rather taken with Supernatural’s Matt Cohen as Han Solo) to the pitch-perfect vocal performances, while the now-iconic lightsaber guitars became an instant favourite. Long-time followers described the video as a triumphant return, with many sharing how Hillywood's parodies have brightened their lives for years. Just as enthusiastically, commenters applauded the prominent "No AI" message, celebrating the production as a showcase for the creativity, craftsmanship and passion of a talented cast and crew working entirely by hand.  Altogether, if you are a Star Wars fan, you will find much to enjoy in this parody – and even if you are just a toe-dipper into this particular universe, you will find something to smile about here!

Free Posters for GCSE English Literature AQA Power & Conflict Poetry Collection

If you need something to brighten up your classroom wall, then look no further.  I took a little while to create these posters – and trying to tame AI to produce something faithful to them was an uphill struggle.  

However, here are the finished items, which you can download free of charge here.  And yes, they do use AI but because that means that you and I do not have to worry about copyright issues. I see so many posters created by well-meaning teachers who have blithely used the work of others to illustrate the literature that they teach – I wanted to avoid that altogether and now technology has finally caught up with that desire!

I started with Ozymandias, which I have very fond memories of studying while I was at school. Its message is as powerful today as it was when Shelley wrote it, reminding us that even the mightiest rulers, empires and achievements are ultimately fleeting, while time and nature outlast them all.  

My teacher did some marvellous things with her voice when reading the poem out loud – and although in hindsight it may have been a little too bombastic (you should have seen her doing Charge of the Light Brigade), we enjoyed her theatricals.

Bot and Cat: An Emotional Animated Short Film That Will Melt Your Heart

A robot works deep underground for a civilisation long since disappeared (that would be us).  It is a lonely existence and when a cat strays from the surface and finds its way down to the bot’s subterranean lair, what’s a cat expected to do except steal the shiny, bouncy antenna thing from the bot’s head.  And so ensues a chase to the surface and the discovery of a new friendship for both bot and cat.  Sounds very simple?  Well, it is – but the secret of good story telling always lies in the way it is told.  Bot and Cat manages to be very, very straightforward yet deeply profound at the same time. It’s charming yet thoughtful simultaneously.

The commenters of YouTube love it. Many describe the seven-minute animation as an emotional masterpiece, praising its beautiful storytelling, evocative music, gorgeous backgrounds and polished animation. Viewers say they were left in tears by the robot's touching journey, with one remarking they'll "never get tired of 'robot goes against its programming to experience the beauty of nature' stories". Others were astonished by how few people had seen it, repeatedly calling it "underrated" and predicting the studio behind it is destined for future success. Several even suggested it outshines big-budget Hollywood productions, while hoping it goes on to win festival awards and reach the much wider audience they believe it deserves. Agreed!

Created by a group of students (collectively known as HermitCat Studios for their thesis project at Canada’s Sheridan College, this wonderful piece of work utilises the talents of Mo Hassan, Jenna Pomfret, Julia Lin, Nomy Fang, Rie Wong, Daniel Young, Travis Li, Yi-Ting Yuan, Kiwi Prommart, Charlotte Royal, Yoonji Nam and Heidi Pan. The original (and rather lovely) score is by Johnny Knittle.  Watch Bot and Cat below.

Confessions of a Dachshund: Otto's Hilarious Tale of Freedom and Frustration

It’s a dog’s life… I always thought that phrase was much too popular because most dogs live the life of Riley these days.  Likewise, “I’ve been working like a dog” has long since lost any impact it might once have had.   So, when Otto the Dachshund popped his weary little head and doleful eyes on my feed, I was a little wary about what he might have to say about the challenges his life presents…  and I was right.  Yet this pampered pooch learns a lesson or two in his confessions and he does it in such a droll manner that he won me over (almost) immediately. 

This highly amusing tale tells the story of how Otto has his day (like every dog should)  – and manages to escape the clutches of both his needy human and his canine companion Kasper, to finally taste a little freedom.  What he does with it is up to you to find out, but the build up to the climax is something of a shaggy dog story, despite Otto being short-haired and rather regal looking.  Regardless, I would recommend that you sit back and watch Confessions of a Dachshund, which was written, filmed, and edited by Sparky Jones.  A special shout out to Tony Ingram who voices Otto with the kind of middle-aged angst that makes this narrative completely and utterly believable. Ahem.

 

UBTech U1 Robot: Is This the Most Human-Like Humanoid Robot Yet?

Have a guess which of the two people above is a robot.  It’s probably not too difficult to work out which is which – but the UBTech Robotics model on the right is, I must admit, incredibly humanlike.  The company’s new life-sized companion robots were unveiled in late June 2026 and they all appear… young, beautiful and generally quite remarkable to look at.  The range is collectively called the U1 Robot – and for anyone who has ever seen a slice of science-fiction where a robot is placed within a human household (I don’t need to go into the consequences here!), it looks very much like we’re one step closer to that kind of scenario.

At any point in human history, however, we see how new inventions have been very quickly put to unanticipated uses by people.  Give them an alphabet and graffiti follows very quickly – you get where I am going here.  So, while the U1 robot is something of a technological marvel, I shudder to think about a few of the uses it might endure once it gets into some people’s living rooms to offer its emotional support.  I anticipate a robot revolution within a decade, frankly… Perhaps I shouldn’t worry – it is, after all, a lifeless chunk of technology, comprising silicon, 88 servo joints and the (locally stored to ensure privacy) artificial intelligence – and all the other bits and pieces that make it up.

Although the eyes move while conversations are happening between robot and human (and the head moves according to the human’s movement), the lips don’t – and perhaps that isn’t a bad thing. It’s a reminder, after all, that the U1 is a robot and not a person.  There does seem to be a lag in conversations, too – but as this is the first humanlike model the company has launched, we know that this will see improvements over the forthcoming years. After all, how fast did the first mass-produced cars travel?  There have already been over 13,000 orders (and the U1 is not desperately cheap) so this there is certainly a demand for this kind of emotional support.  Watch the video below (and read the comments if you want something a little less diplomatic than the words I have written!).

The Gelada: Unique Primate on the Roof of Africa

High up in the Ethiopian mountains lives the Gelada. It lives nowhere else and, isolated in these remote Ethiopian Highlands, the primate has developed a way of life all of its own. To begin with there is that patch of red skin; one might guess something with which to attract the opposite sex, but why there? Moreover the gelada exhibits behavior that has led scientists to believe that deceit, crime and punishment are not simply human traits after all.

The Ark in Space has a photo-filled feature on this amazing primate in the wild.

Image Credit 

Tailless - Can a Lizard Without a Tail Find Love?

A lizard without a tail is not considered the catch of the year by his peers and so poor Sam, tailless but hungry for a little love, is in something of a pickle.  He is forced to watch as boy lizard with full tails get the girl, leaving him without a hope in the world. However, h’s a plucky little guy and with the help of his best friend, he goes about finding a replacement - from the things we leave behind.  Will his new-found prosthetic enable him to discover love? Or has he really been looking in the wrong places all this time?

This charming animated short was created by a group of ESMA students as their degree project.  It was directed by Liselotte Allard, Alphonse Année, Margot Brun, Frédéric Dewit, Eva Dugué, Esther García Fernández, Lourenço Soares and Camille Szostek. Music was composed by Jeffrey Brice. Sound was by Mickaël Merrheim, José Vicente and Yoann Poncet. The voices were provided by Liselotte Allard, Eva Dugué, Esther García Fernández and Frédéric Multier.

Dinoconda: The World's Fastest 4D Roller Coaster? | POV Video & Facts

“That is the most terrifying ride on the planet Earth” – so exclaims one of the young men who I have just watched riding Dinoconda at China Dinosaurs Park. It’s a roller coaster with a twist – it’s 4D. So, while the track throws you through dizzying loops, corkscrews and stomach-churning drops, your seat has a mind of its own, rotating independently and flipping you forwards and backwards at precisely the wrong (or right!) moment. The result is a ride that seems to ignore the normal rules of physics and leaves even seasoned thrill-seekers questioning whether they would dare to ride it again.  For me, it would be a million times no. A million pounds to do it? No. Five million? No, no, no, no. no. Ah, well, maybe.

I honestly don't like roller coasters at the best of times, but riding one with seats that rotate independently of the track and flip you head over heels without warning is a step too far for me.

Now I have established my fear of rollers (and I broke out in a cold sweat just watching this one), let’s discover a little more about it. Located at China Dinosaurs Park in Jiangsu Province, Dinoconda is widely regarded as one of the most extreme roller coasters ever built. It is one of only a handful of operating 4D coasters in the world and reaches speeds of around 78 km/h (48 mph) while hurtling riders through a maze of inversions, vertical drops and gravity-defying twists. Unlike a conventional coaster, however, the experience is never quite the same twice because the seats rotate independently of the track, making it almost impossible to predict which way you will be facing next.  Just the thought of it makes me feel queasy. 

The video below is particularly fascinating because it has been filmed from the end of the train, allowing you to see exactly what the seats are doing as the coaster races around the circuit. Most onboard videos only show the rider's view, which hides the remarkable engineering taking place beneath them. This perspective reveals why 4D roller coasters occupy a category all their own - and why so many people (including our young friend I mentioned at the beginning) describe Dinoconda as one of the most exhilarating and intimidating rides on Earth.

Would you be brave enough to take your seat? Yes? Please, take mine! Watch the video by The Coaster Scoop below.

The Kings of the Sea – The Bloody Medieval History of the Isle of Man

I don’t suppose the Isle of Man gets much attention, on a global scale at least.  I suspect (rather despondently) that quite a few people who would describe themselves as Britain would have no idea where it is on a map – and that even more (particularly those who have not lived in the UK very long) might not even have heard it at all.  Most people imagine it as a sleepy, peaceful island in the northern Irish Sea – and don’t spend too long wondering if it was or wasn’t always like that.

Well, it wasn’t – and this short but very informative TED-Ed lesson takes us back to medieval times, when the island’s kings gave the Game of Thrones scriptwriters a definite run for their money.  Family feuds, civil wars, struggles for control of the seaways that surrounded the island – all these and more contributed to a time in history when the times were rather more turbulent (to say the least) than they are today.    In 1223, for example, King Ragnvald ordered his son to murder his uncle Olaf.  Unfortunately, Olaf got wind of the plot against his life, so blinded and mutilated his nephew. Some years later, it was realised that the letter was possibly a forgery, making this familial conflict even more of a tragic waste than it was.  At least they didn’t have dragons – they would probably have fought themselves into extinction had that been the case. Watch the video below.

Pineapple Fields Forever

The pineapple: we eat them fresh, cooked, juiced, and preserved but probably with little thought about where they come from or how, in fact, they grow.  So, the often vast plantations on which the fruit is propagated can be something of a revelation. Welcome to the world of the pineapple.

Image Credit jpphoto

Cosmic Fling: A Charming Animated Short About a Lonely Space Garbage Man

Cosmic Fling is an unexpected delight.  We don't often get to see new animated stories told with marionettes. It tells the story of an average down-to-earth garbage man. Well, not quite. Stan works in outer space – and it’s his job to clear up the mess that humans (inevitably) leave behind. If you think that’s far fetched, read our article about lunar leftovers to see how the moon became a trash can (and why the future might see jobs like this created).  Poor old Stan ekes out his existence harpooning space debris – and that’s what he uses for sustenance too.  Whether he has done something heinous to deserver this, we are never told, but I think that Stan simply thought the job seemed like a good idea at the time…

Regardless of how Stan ended up on his lonely satellite, what he really misses is company – and what he longs for is love.  So, when Beatrice turns up on a comet, he is smitten.  Yet all too soon, she is whisked away and Stan must wait until she returns to try and win her heart. Comets always come back, don’t they?  You have probably guessed the answer to that (if you didn’t already know), but this lovely animated short, directed by Jonathan Langager and written in partnership with Ali Scher, shows that if nothing else, love springs eternal.

Cosmic Fling won the Bruce Corwin Award for Best Animated Short Film at the 35th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which took place in 2020.  And here it is finally on YouTube. Watch it below.

The War Drums Have Begun: Fans Love House of the Dragon's New Season 3 Opening Title Sequence

If the comments beneath HBO Max's newly released House of the Dragon Season 3 opening credits are anything to go by, viewers are more excited than ever to return to Westeros. The overwhelming reaction? Those drums.

Hundreds of fans singled out the newly enhanced opening theme, with its thunderous percussion giving the familiar melody a much darker, more militaristic feel. "The drums of war" became the phrase repeated, with many commenters saying the change perfectly signals that the long-awaited Dance of the Dragons has finally erupted into full-scale conflict.

One fan joked that the composer must have been asked, "How many drums do we need?" before replying with a single word: "Dracarys." The updated music has also stirred quite a bit of nostalgia – if that’s quite the right word; I suppose it is, considering Game of Thrones was first shown in 2011. For many, hearing the iconic theme instantly transported them back a decade to the original, proving that Ramin Djawadi's unforgettable score still packs an emotional punch.

The visuals received almost as much praise. Viewers admired the animated tapestry, describing it as a striking retelling of the rise and fall of House Targaryen. Several commented that the opening sequence feels less like television credits and more like a living history book charting the destruction of an empire.  It's all very Bayeux on acid,

Of course, eagle-eyed fans also spotted a few details that sparked debate. The appearance of the Blackfyre sigil prompted plenty of speculation about its symbolic meaning, while others questioned whether it was an intentional piece of foreshadowing or simply a production mistake.

Despite a handful of criticisms - including complaints from some book readers about changes from George R. R. Martin's source material - the mood about these titles is overwhelmingly positive. Many called the premiere "epic", "brutal" and "visually arresting", while others declared, "We're so back."

If fan reactions are any indication, Season 3 has struck exactly the right note: louder, darker and ready for war.  Watch House of the Dragon's new Season 3 opening below.

The Proclaimers - You May Offend - A Blunt Conversation Under a Spotlight

The Proclaimers’ new single “You May Offend” arrives like a blunt conversation held under a spotlight.  It is part protest song, part philosophical provocation – and it’s aimed squarely at… all of us. Delivered with the duo’s unmistakable vocal delivery (and a beautiful arrangement), it’s a song that wants to be heard clearly, even when what it is saying might make the listener uncomfortable. This is songwriting of the highest quality - it gets in, delivers its message, and gets out.  The message is one designed to make us all reflect - this is grown-up pop music.

Lyrically, it sketches a world where expression is both inevitable and dangerous. The repeated idea that “as you breathe, as you grow… you may offend” frames speech as something that cannot be neatly sanitised without consequence – as, perhaps it always has been. Set against the accompanying visual concept of omnipresent “listening machines” and anonymous operators scanning for “dangerous thoughts,” the song extends its argument into a broader dystopian allegory: a society where tolerance becomes conditional and surveillance extends beyond behaviour into intent. The chorus, invoking tolerance as a “street that runs both ways,” captures the song’s central tension.  It is a demand for reciprocal openness that sits uneasily alongside its own awareness of social friction.  But it tells us to prepare ourselves to offend – and infers that it is even a necessary part of personal growth.  It's almost like a father telling a child don't suffer fools gladly, just for the sake of being nice.  Who the fools are - well that's up to you to decide.

Ultimately, “You May Offend” feels like The Proclaimers leaning into confrontation as an artistic choice. It is not interested in neutrality; it is interested in the uneasy space where speech, interpretation, and consequence collide. Whether you agree with its premise or not, it is difficult to ignore - and that, perhaps, is exactly the point.  Watch the video for "You May Offend" below.

Lisbon's Legendary Tram 28. No brakes. A baby. One wild ride - Animated Short

Lisbon is a beautiful city but comes with its own peculiar dangers – as you are about to discover through the eyes of a pair of hapless German tourists.  We can see that Helga is the one in charge – or certainly the one who is invested in the holiday a little more than Hans, who is more interested in his car magazine than taking in the scenery. And it is some scenery.  Their chosen vehicle to see the sites is Tram 28 (known locally as Eléctrico 28E), probably the Portuguese capital's most famous form of transport. More than just a tram, it's a moving piece of history that rattles through some of the city's oldest and most picturesque neighbourhoods.  Little do the tourists know that they are about to participate in a history update (as it were), as the tram is about to embark on its most infamous journey - and it's going to take them along for the ride..

I won’t tell you how the tram becomes driverless. I won’t tell you how the brakes fail. I won’t tell you how the tourists suddenly find themselves responsible for a mono-browed pequeno lisboeta. I kid you not.

What I will tell you is that Helga and Hans (sorry, made these names up!) are about to have the ride of their life – and perhaps, in doing so, might rekindle the flames of their relationship.  o28 is a thrill a minute – in some ways reminiscent of cartoons of yore where vehicles suddenly lose control and the laws of physics are completely and utterly ignored until things – one way or another – resolve themselves.  In this instance, we’re taken on what can only be described as a roller coaster ride through the picturesque streets of Lisbon, with danger lurking at every corner (literally).

There are some lovely touches here – I loved the “World’s Greatest Driver” mug in the cab, the little heart-shaped contrail a plane makes, and the fact that the beautiful red Ferrari(esque) sportscar the tram looks like it will hit at one point is exactly the same as the one on the cover of Hans’ car magazine.  I also loved the way that o bebé lisboeta blithely enjoys the whole experience, even turning momentarily into Cupid at one point..

This is an animation that you will want to see through the end (and into the credits where we’re given some little Easter eggs too).  Well done to the Rubika students who produced this magnificent, thrilling and very funny animated short.  They are Otalia Causse, Geoffroy Collin, Louise Grardel, Antoine Marchand, Robin Merle, and Fabien Meyran (direction), Cyrille Marchesseau and David Gana (music) with sound and mixing by Alexandre Jaclain and Kamal Ouazène.  What a spectacular showcase for their professional strengths.  I have enjoyed all of this year's Rubika thesis films, especially Yalla, Apocalypse Dog and Sur Mesure, but if I had to stand up and be counted, I would have to say that this was my favorite so far.  Watch o28 below.

Cruz Beckham's Wear You Down Review: I Love the Song, But What Is It About?

I will give Cruz Beckham 6 out of 10 for his attempt at moonwalking in this video for his latest single Wear & Tear.  It was a brave decision but didn’t quite hit the heights. However, I will give the song itself a healthy 9 out of 10.  So, there’s my jukebox jury for the song – even though his legion of fans would probably be indignant at the fact that I haven’t awarded it the perfect ten.

I must admit that Cruz Beckham's Wear You Down leaves me completely bewildered. I've listened to it more than once, but I'm still none the wiser as to what it's about. Is it describing a toxic relationship, addiction, fame, an intrusive inner voice, or something else entirely? One moment the narrator is offering someone the world in exchange for their name, the next claiming to be "the blood in your veins" before repeatedly declaring, "I wanna wear you down." It's certainly atmospheric and undeniably dramatic, but whether there's a hidden meaning or simply a collection of evocative phrases is anyone's guess. Perhaps I'm missing something obvious. Or perhaps the beauty of the song lies in the fact that everyone can interpret it differently. Either way, I'm left with more questions than answers - and a sneaking suspicion that I'm not the only one.

What I can get my head around is the music itself. It's an intriguing hybrid that somehow manages to bridge two very different decades. There's a definite whiff of the late 1960s in its hazy psychedelia and melodic sensibility, with echoes of the later Beatles, while the jangling guitars and laid-back groove transported me straight back to the indie scene of the 1990s. Imagine the Stone Roses borrowing a few pages from the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour notebook, then asking Kula Shaker to sprinkle a little extra psychedelic dust over the finished product. It shouldn't really work, but somehow it does. Whatever else Wear You Down may or may not be about, it has a sound that's oddly familiar without ever feeling like a straightforward imitation.

Judging by the comments on YouTube, I don't seem to be alone in hearing those influences. Listeners have described the song as having "very Stone Roses" and "90s vibes", while others picked up on distinctly Beatlesque touches, with one even hearing a Lennon vibe and another comparing it to George Harrison's If I Needed Someone. There were also mentions of early Pink Floyd and plenty of appreciation for its retro feel, with one fan saying it was "like traveling to the past". Nostalgia seems to be a recurring theme: "I feel 23 all over again," wrote one commenter, while another said, "Those vibes are reminding me of my youth." Others were more succinct but no less enthusiastic: "Absolutely brilliant," "F**king love it," "Finally an authentic band," and perhaps most tellingly, "It's actually not bad. It grows on me." That last comment may prove prophetic, because this is exactly the sort of song that reveals a little more of itself with each listen.

Quick question though – why is it that in some parts of the video one of The Breakers is doing an Invisible Man impression?  There doesn’t seem to be a reveal? Is it because there had to be a stand-in for some parts of the video and this seemed liked a neat way of doing it? Answers on a postcard, please!  Watch and listen below...

The Leaning Tower of Toruń: Medieval Mystery, Myth and History in Poland

In the thirteenth century, what is now the Polish city of Toruń was controlled by the Teutonic Order, a German-speaking Catholic religious order founded a century before in Acre which by the 1200s had evolved into a military power in the Baltic region.  Crusades were conducted against pagan peoples in Prussia and Lithuania, and a powerful territorial state governed directly by the Order had been established.  To defend the town against Prussian tribes, Lithuanian raids and even potential threats from local Polish and Pomeranian rulers (note – these threats did not present simultaneously), the Order built and maintained walls and a series of towers around Toruń.  There was just one problem... Image

Image

Two of the towers leaned. Although only one remains, it still somehow manages to stand. Historians believe the other was demolished sometime in the second half of the 19th century, when many sections of Toruń's medieval fortifications were removed as they were no longer needed for defence and the city expanded – and not because it leaned too far one day.  If built today, rather than Prussian tribes, they would no doubt be surrounded by an army of health and safety inspectors demanding their removal.  Back in the thirteenth century, it was considered expeditious to keep one’s fingers crossed and hope for the best. Medieval engineers, although highly skilled, had failed to realise how much the loamy ground would settle after construction. They had little choice but to accept the lean, keep a wary eye on it and hope the tower stayed upright.

Monty Python's Nude Pianist Honoured with Terry Jones Statue in Colwyn Bay

Or should that be the other way around?  Probably, but I think Jones may have liked it this way!

Here's the story. In the winter of 1970, British television viewers were given thirteen new episodes of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, with a host of new secondary characters to help while away the winter nights.  By far the most talked about was The Nude Pianist played (mostly) by the late, great Terry Jones.  The pianist (who wasn’t always naked to start with) proved so popular that he became slightly more of a fixture in the third series in 1972-3.  

Why?  The character perfectly captured the programme's surreal, subversive humour. His calm indifference to his own nudity made the joke even funnier. At a time when British television was still relatively conservative, the sight of a naked pianist popping up unexpectedly between sketches was both shocking and irresistibly absurd, ensuring audiences eagerly anticipated his return.

Now, the sea front of Jones’ home town of Colwyn Bay on the North Wales Coast has a permanent commemoration of this cheeky little character in the form of a sculpture by Nick Elphick.  

Sir Michael Palin has apparently described the statue as a fitting tribute, joking that commemorating a comedian with a monument might seem a little absurd. However, he added that Terry Jones would have appreciated the irony of such a playful, slightly subversive memorial, making him especially pleased with the idea.

Subversive? Well, if you are reading this from our home page, click “read article” below to get a better idea of why what Palin said got to the bottom of this particular piece of art in an instant.  Thank you to Kuriositas reader Sonny Chapman for taking the pictures.

ATEEZ (에이티즈) Turn Being 'BAD' into an Art Form

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a nightclub, a telenovela, a dance battle and a blockbuster action film all arrived at the same party, then ATEEZ's 'BAD' is here to answer your oddly specific question. The title track from GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5 swaps the group's usual apocalyptic intensity for something hotter, bolder and thoroughly danceable, with Brazilian funk rhythms driving an irresistibly swaggering chorus. The video, meanwhile, gleefully throws subtlety out of the nearest window, serving up flirtation, jealousy, spectacular choreography and enough visual flair to keep freeze-frame enthusiasts occupied for days. It's loud, stylish and gloriously over the top – exactly the sort of music video that reminds you K-pop often treats "less is more" as a quaint historical curiosity.

Some K-pop groups become famous for catchy songs, some for impressive choreography, and some for looking impossibly cool while standing perfectly still. ATEEZ somehow managed all three at once. Since debuting in 2018, the eight-member South Korean group has built a global following through performances so energetic that they occasionally give the impression that the laws of physics are merely polite suggestions. Their music videos feature pirates, rebels, alternate realities and enough dramatic symbolism to keep internet theorists occupied for years. Meanwhile, fans – known as ATINY – enthusiastically piece together the group's sprawling fictional universe, proving that a catchy chorus and a mystery are a powerful combination. Whether storming festival stages or collecting international awards, ATEEZ continue to demonstrate that if you're going to take over the world, it helps to do so while executing perfectly synchronised dance moves.  Of course, on the other hand if my (long departed) grandmother was to watch this, she would come out with one of her favorite phrases: "No wonder kids are daft".

Watch BAD below:

The Fire Rainbow: Beautiful and Rare Circumhorizontal Arc

If you are very lucky you may see a fire rainbow once or twice in your life. It sounds almost as if it could be the title of one of a series of children’s books – Harry Potter and the Fire Rainbow has a certain ring to it: but this phenomenon is not fiction. If you are in the right place and at the right time then a fire rainbow is something that you will remember.

Image Credit Flickr User Emerging Birder

Image Credit Flickr User PhillipC

To name it properly, a fire rainbow is a circumhorizontal arc. It is also known as a circumhorizon arc but whichever you chose, scientists (and aficionados) call it a CHA. It is given its name because it looks as if a rainbow has spontaneously combusted as it made its way across the sky. One might even suspect that some malign fairy or goblin has blown the rainbow up to stop some errant human discovering that elusive pot of gold at its end...

Gravy Train Review: An Enjoyable North London Crime Comedy Caper

If you like Guy Ritchie TV shows and movies, you are probably going to enjoy this.  Gravy Train tells the story of a twenty pound note – or rather the people through whose hands it passes on one day in North London.  There’s a diverse cast of characters including the prerequisite number of villains and the obligatory slightly bent copper - it wouldn't be a crime comedy-drama otherwise, now, would it? There’s even a London Geezer voiceover at the beginning and the end to contain the somewhat preposterous goings on in Arsenal and its environs.  Don’t be put off by any of that, though – this is a hugely enjoyable watch with high production values (despite what I imagine was quite a low budget), a great cast, some very deft direction by Benny Slater and great production by Izzy Sexty.  This is their final major project (FMP) at the London Screen Academy (LSA). 

Part of the film's appeal lies in the strength of its ensemble. Rather than relying on a single star turn, Gravy Train succeeds because each performer brings something distinctive to the screen, creating a vivid gallery of characters who are by turns funny, exasperating, sympathetic and alarming – but mostly not quite who they might appear to be at first glance.  It’s well-paced – very little time to get bored with a character before we move on. I laughed out loud at the kid asking for money for a hospice (“Every pound saves lives!” which shows he hasn’t quite grasped what they’re for (but I think you will find he wouldn’t care). Oh, did I say it has a great soundtrack, too? It has a great soundtrack, too.

Give it a watch below.  And next time you come across a twenty pound note, spend a moment reflecting on all the lives it has previously touched…

Custom Made

Everyone is nervous, at least to some extent, on their first day at a new job.  Yet spare a thought for young Pierre (as I have called him).  He is the only human living in a world of animals and even his recent couture diploma isn’t going to get him very far when it comes to competing with his colleague, whose eight legs put her at a distinct advantage to him when it comes to completing new dresses on time. So, his first day is going to be challenging, to say the least. Regardless, plucky Pierre decides to give it his best job, even if it comes to some unfortunate improvisation…

This charming animated short was directed by Léa Cousty, Chloé Astier, Hugo Bourriez, Victoire Le Dourner, Raphaël Guez, and Mélanie Fourgeaud during their studies at Rubika in Valenciennes, France.  Music is by Valentin Lafort and sound design by Henri Petitprez.  The French title Sur Mesure means Custom Made in English (I hope no one minds me using the translation as the title to this post!). This is an incredibly accomplished animation for a group of students (however talented).  It features a simple but very well-told plot, and is a visual treat for the eyes. I was particularly struck both by the character and background design.  Bravo to all involved.   

NuxGame And The Hidden Architecture Of A Crypto Casino Provider

A casino once announced itself with chandeliers, carpets, marble, and a door that felt slightly too important for a normal Tuesday. Online, the doorway is quieter. A player taps a screen, opens a wallet, waits for a balance, and expects the magic to behave. That is where a crypto casino provider becomes part architect, part mechanic, and part stagehand.

The Lobby Is No Longer A Room

The old casino lobby had one job before anything else happened: make people feel they had entered a designed world. The digital lobby has the same job, but its bricks are menus, wallet flows, game thumbnails, bonus prompts, and loading states. If one of those pieces feels uncertain, the spell breaks before the first game opens.

That is why crypto support should not sit in a lonely payment corner. It touches registration, limits, player records, fraud review, withdrawals, and support conversations. The player sees a simple deposit. The operator sees a wallet ledger, exchange-rate handling, transaction confirmations, risk flags, and a support ticket when something looks slower than expected.

I Identify as a Surfboard: Last Words of a London Shelf

Walking through Brockley in South East London this morning, my eyes were drawn to the rubbish that was collecting - but not being collected - near the station.  However, this wasn’t what grabbed my attention – it was the street art (graffiti, vandalism – what you will) that adorned the remnants of a piece of shelving that had been unceremoniously bound and dumped by the bins.  It must have looked so forlorn that a would-be Banksy took (no more than a few seconds, in my judgement) the time to spray a pithy little message in the words of the abandoned shelf itself.   The message? “I identify as a surfboard”.

Now it was early in the morning, but I was struck by the sheer pathos of this plaintive proclamation.  What also hit me was the angsty anthropomorphism of the face painted atop of the message.  The existential distress bore all the hallmarks of Munchian despair. What hopes had been dashed? What dreams of sun and sea-spray had been denied?  Here was a humble shelving unit, condemned by society to a life holding tins of baked beans and chopped tomatoes, finally finding the courage to articulate its authentic self in its last gasps of existence before its inevitable appointment with the crusher at the recycling plant.

"I identify as a surfboard" it declared, with a spartacan (have I just invented a new adjective?) confidence that reality stubbornly refused to endorse. As commuters hurried past towards the station, I wondered how many had paused to consider the shelf's predicament. Had any offered words of encouragement? Had anyone suggested Brighton or Bognor or even Bondi? Or was this yet another example of modern society's inability to listen to the voices of the marginalised supermarket shelving community?

Eventually I moved on, leaving the shelf to contemplate its fate alone. Yet its message lingered with me all day – perhaps because I had nothing better to do… But perhaps we are all, in our own way, shelves identifying as surfboards: yearning for adventure while being fundamentally designed for storage. Or, maybe, I should try harder to stop overthinking in the mornings.

Must-Have Art History Coffee Table Books in 2026

When you look for art history coffee table books, people generally look for home library books that offer museum-quality reproductions alongside clear introductions to major art movements. Actually, the market for printed art books remains remarkably durable, and it continues to play an important role in museum retail and art publishing. For example, the book market reached a record €24.9 billion in turnover in 2024, according to the Federation of European Publishers. Despite the growth of digital media, print books continue to account for the majority of book sales.

Physical books also offer a tangible experience that many readers value when engaging with visual culture. Some readers look for coffee table books that combine visual appeal with historical context. Therefore, to help you choose, we reviewed frequently recommended art history titles from museum publishers and major book retailers. We also compared digital learning apps that offer summaries of foundational educational texts when reading a detailed Bookey app review, and reviewed books that appear repeatedly in trusted art history recommendations!

Ukraine's Tunnel of Love: Nature's Romantic Railway

Hidden in the forests of north-western Ukraine lies a place that seems less like a real location and more like a setting from a fairy tale (at least at first sight). Near the small town of Klevan, in Rivne Oblast, a leafy green corridor stretches into the distance, its walls and ceiling formed entirely by living trees. It is known simply as the Tunnel of Love - "Тунель кохання" (Tunel Kokhannia).  Ask anyone in Kievan for The Green Mile Tunnel as it is sometimes referred to on the internet, and they will look at you blankly.  Ask for The Tunnel of Love and a local will immediately know where you want to go.  They might even give you a knowing wink if you are with your loved one. Image

Image

At first glance, you can see exactly why the place acquired the name. The word кохання (kokhannia) means romantic love, rather than the broader word for affection or liking. So, the name carries a distinctly amorous meaning, and you might assume the tunnel was deliberately designed as a place for lovers.   If I was a filmmaker, I would want to shoot my happy ending here.