Popcorn Shorts
Cool stuff that’s too small for a big article
Just like it says, Popcorn Shorts is about the kind of things we think are really interesting, but don’t really need a large article to explain them. From the sublime to the ridiculous, check in here for crunchy bits of info you’ll love to munch. By the way, much (but not necessarily all) of our delicious Popcorn comes from articles we’ve posted on our Facebook page. If you’re on Facebook, please stop by and “Like” us and we’ll keep a fairly-constant-but-not-frequent-enough-to-be-annoying stream of these coming to your virtual door!
‘Beautiful companions’: Growing mushrooms brings life to lockdown
(from the National Post article)– “Grow kits piqued Andrew Langevin’s interest in mushroom cultivation several years ago. After he lost his long-held job in the film industry at the outset of the pandemic, he started growing mushrooms professionally to sell at farmers’ markets. He has since added a lion’s mane version, with plans to add a few more strains this year, including pink and golden oyster mushrooms. ‘It’s relatively low-barrier. They’re more expensive than making your own once you have the system set up to do so, but they’re not that expensive.” says Arevalo (they typically range from $25-$35). “And it can really bring a sense of amazement…”
The rise of domestic extremism in America
(from the Washington Post article) “Domestic terrorism incidents have soared to new highs in the United States, driven chiefly by white-supremacist, anti-Muslim and anti-government extremists on the far right, according to a Washington Post analysis of data compiled by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The surge reflects a growing threat from homegrown terrorism not seen in a quarter-century, with right-wing extremist attacks and plots greatly eclipsing those from the far left and causing more deaths, the analysis shows… Since 2015, right-wing extremists have been involved in 267 plots or attacks and 91 fatalities, the data shows. At the same time, attacks and plots ascribed to far-left views accounted for 66 incidents leading to 19 deaths…”
The 51 Best Bar Patios in Portland
(from the Wilammette Week article) “In anticipation of the post-vaccination summer, we revisited 51 of our favorite bar patios in Portland. Some of them are institutions, others only opened in the last year. All of them, though, are awesome, often for different reasons, which is why we’ve categorized them based on what you need, whether it’s a place to reunite with the fam, go on a date, or watch the sunset after work. This is not us hanging a “Mission Accomplished” banner on the pandemic. We know we’re not yet back to normal. But normal, or something like it, at least appears in reach. And that’s worth raising a glass to—from a safe distance.”
Researchers Develop Liquid That Absorbs And Stores Solar Energy For 18 Years
(from the India Times article)– Today, solar energy is engulfed with a couple of challenges — the first is that it’s only available during the day and the second is that of the storage of this energy for long-term use. However, a team of scientists from Sweden might have found a solution for the second challenge. They’ve developed “solar thermal fuel” — a special kind of fuel that is capable of storing the sun’s energy for up to 18 years. It has been in development for over a year by researchers from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden…”
