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.
This Is A Real Spider… Wait’ll You See It Dance
It’s hard to tell for sure in the age of AI slop, but it seems that Maratus Vespertilio Spiders, or Peacock Spiders, are actually real. These gorgeous bugs are native to Australia, about a quarter inch in size, have incredibly vivid and colorful retractable ‘plumage’, and can dance like Fred Arachnostaire. The mating dance is more stressful than a Broadway show… lose there, and you’re out of the running for a Tony. Lose here, and your potential mate will eat you alive. Worth the watch, no matter what happens, and you can watch it all on this video from Australian Geographic
This Thought Pattern Can Make You Vulnerable To Extremism… Or Protect You From It.
(Leor Zmigrod in Psyche, Jun 2026)- “…What happens inside the brains and bodies of those who do not obey? If we end our explanations of authoritarianism or ideological behaviour by pointing to ‘the situation’, ‘blind obedience’ and ‘uncritical conformity’, we fail to ask these questions… One of the characteristics I have studied is called cognitive rigidity, and it captures whether a person struggles to adapt to change or uncertainty. We all exist on a spectrum from cognitively rigid to cognitively flexible thinkers. You might think you have a sense of where you lie on this spectrum, but in fact most of us have very little insight into our own cognitive rigidity. I’ve found that some of the most rigid thinkers describe themselves as spectacularly flexible while the most flexible people are often unaware of their own adaptability…”
Postcards From The Great American Road Trip
Hopefully, you’ve been getting out and seeing America this summer. If so, you’re participating in a ritual that goes back to the first roads and multi-passenger cars. Part of the ritual is bringing back the trophies of war, all the postcards from hotels, motels, parks, beaches, and roadside attractions you’ll be seeing. The Jordan Smith Archive has been collecting them too for decades, and their collection called “Cardboard America” is well worth looking at. There’s no website for them, but all (most?) of their collection is available on Flickr. We’re also linking you to two other sources, one that collects hotel postcards from the 60’s and 70’s, and one from Messy Nessy Chic that curates their faves from Cardboard America. Enjoy, and get back out on that road!
A Once-In-a-Decade Event Is Happening a Half Block From Our Shop
The Agave Americana by other names like American Aloe, Maguey plant, or spiked aloe. It’s not actually aloe (it’s a type of asparagus) but it is the most popular type of Century Plant. It can take 30 years to reach adult size, and the name “Century Plant” comes from the myth that it blooms only once in its lifetime. With proper care and conditions it can live for decades and bloom multiple times, each with a fast-developing central stalk that can reach up to 25 feet. Even if blooming’s not a once-in-a-lifetime event it’s still rare and its happening right now less than a block from our shop! Next time you’re in, just look a little way up Tenino Street and you’ll see it blooming in one of our neighbors’ yard with a stalk at least 12 feet high! Check out the pix below or read this article from PlanetDesert.com about the American Agave, but really, make the time to come see it for yourself!
