Melanie McFarland

Rampaging raccoons: how the American mammals took over a German city – and are heading across Europe Many in Kassel have embraced the animal but the EU classes it as an invasive species and ecologists are divided about what to do next

On top of that, they're also relocating to Europe without having to contend with much red tape. Just feasting on schnitzel without a care in the world. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Pet raccoon with meth pipe in its mouth found in driver's seat during Ohio traffic stop, police say A pet raccoon named Chewy was in the driver's seat of a car in central Ohio earlier this week, holding a glass meth pipe in its mouth, according to police.

In case you forgot, Drunk Raccoon's cousin also made headlines earlier this year. www.cbsnews.com/news/pet-rac...

Raccoon goes on drunken rampage in Virginia liquor store and passes out on bathroom floor A raccoon broke into a closed Virginia liquor store and drank alcohol from the bottom shelves over the weekend.

You know who's had a terrific year? Who just dominated 2025?Trash pandas. Just enjoying the finer things, all willy-nilly. apnews.com/article/drun...

Something to contemplate. (I'm mid-game right now.)

On Rosa Parks’ Anniversary, America Faces a New Era of Historical Erasure Federal cuts and political pressure from Trump-aligned officials and Project 2025 are dismantling the very archives that document Black history. We must stop them.

A worthwhile read from Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez
open.substack.com/pub/alisav/p...

a newspaper clipping that reads: “PSYCHOANALYST THE WEEK. Dorothy Dandridge, Hollywood night club singer, said she clicks with customers because she psy-choanalyzes them before she sings to them. Because she was scared by night club audiences, she took a course in psychology at UCLA, trying to find out what made people tick. "Now," she says, "I can spot the different types the minute I see them at their tables. And, I pick a special song for each type." Miss Dandridge neglected to mention that: 1) she is beautiful; 2) she sings well.”

A thing we're launching at @salon.com is a weekly art-over-algorithm newsletter on culture and entertainment that isn't decoding the latest trends but rather looking closely at stuff that's (hopefully) built to last. It's called The Swell, it's free, and it starts next week. www.salon.com/newsletter

"You will be visited by three spirits."

The three spirits:

Post something random or have an awful December

We outgrew "Stranger Things" years ago With the cast no longer fitting their child-sized roles, it's past time we all moved on from Hawkins, Indiana.

"This is the fate of long-running series about kids. At some point, all such shows lose their battles with biology," @mctelevision.bsky.social writes.

a man wearing ear buds and a ring with the letter t on it Alt: A man gives Ina Garten the side eye

I know. I was like, "Ina...girl..."

The One Ingredient Ina Garten Adds to Canned Cranberry Sauce for Instant Elegance Ina Garten just shared her simple trick for elevating canned cranberry sauce—and it comes together in under 20 minutes. Her secret? Stir grated apple into the sauce, then mix in raisins and chopped pe...

Not kidding www.foodandwine.com/ina-garten-c...

To the sauce vs. jelly cranberry argument, I need to add that I read Ina Garten's supposed cranberry sauce hack and noticed that it includes raisins. Never before have I doubted the queen but this time I ... I must.

Also perfect for Thanksgiving sandwiches -- stays in place!

a man in a suit and tie is saying help help ALT: a man in a suit and tie is saying help help

I am trapped in one such house right now.
There are no onions, garlic or seasonings here.

🤣

Few things are better at solidifying my status as a cat person than being around a blind, incontinent dog who needs to be pet 24/7 and loudly barks until you do his bidding.

Don't bring your pistol to the holiday party, and other advice on how to be a stellar guest Do not be the person who shows up to a meticulously prepared multicourse Tuscan feast with a bucket of chili

And now, my annual holiday re-sharing of a piece I wrote two years ago. Because some of y'all still don't know how to be in public. www.salon.com/2023/11/22/g...

...And Wookie Monster

Ronnie "McLovin" Nibbles

Oldest living survivor of Tulsa Race Massacre dies at 111 years old | CNN Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, died at 111 years old Monday, her grandson Ike Howard confirmed.

May she rest in power 🙏🏽

www.cnn.com/2025/11/24/u...

12 Days of Christmas gifts be like

Days 1-4: hella birds
Day 5: jewelry
Days 6-7: hella birds, part 2
Day 8: maids? milking? idk what they’re milking but I’d guess/hope not the birds
Days 9-12: performance art

Yes, in case you haven't discovered the glory of #TheChange, this long weekend is the perfect time to correct that. Here's what I wrote about it last year. S2 dropped earlier this year & is available on BritBox. Alas, Channel 4 didn't renew it for a 3rd. www.salon.com/2024/08/19/m...

I’ve started watching a show at random and so far it’s about a woman going thru menopause who takes a break from her annoying family and goes to a small town in the woods where she meets Sir Bronn of the Blackwater. I need to give in and give Britbox my $

Curious, what hardiness zone are you in?

a man is swimming in the water with the word baywatch on the bottom Alt: David Hasselhoff is amazed and confused by the ocean.

Good morning.
Just got the news that Fox is reviving..."Baywatch."

"The Beast in Me" is the perfect story for a predator's era This vicious thriller shows how far the wealthy will go to satisfy their bloodlust and bring it out in others.

For @salon.com I examined how #TheBeastInMe speaks to (waves hands around wildly) all this. www.salon.com/2025/11/19/t...

Sharing this before 5pm for once!

Find a penny, pick it up.
Then put it in a box, convincing yourself that one day it will be worth, like, 5 times what it is now.
Then forget you did that.
Then, decades from now, when a relative is going through your things & asks what it is, you can say, "I think kids used to swallow those."

Welp, Andy Richter's run could only take him so far, I guess. #DWTS