Friday links

The classic 1970 exploding whale video from the early days of the internet, and the Dave Barry column that made it famous.

An Italian village is selling homes for $1.25 so it doesn't become a ghost town.

Watch Beetles Shoot Hot Chemicals From Their Butts to Escape Toad Bellies. This has to be a metaphor for something - discuss amongst yourselves.

Check out this 1861 Victorian sex manual - it's chock full of useful information.

Alcohol Helps Clean Toxins From the Brain, Study Shows. This reminds me of the theory that alcohol thins the brain cell herd, as it were, by killing off the slower neurons and, therefore, contributing to the overall health of the herd. Not buying it. 

Kind of related to the above: Chemical found in McDonald’s fries may be cure for baldness, study finds. The new healthy diet - alcohol and McDonald's fries. 

ICYMI, Monday's links are here, and include the physics of sunsets, World Nutella Day (with a canonical list of Nutella recipes), the world's oldest bottle of wine, NatGeo's visit to the coldest city on earth, and the last photo taken of President Abraham Lincoln.