Tuesday links

"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." It's the birthday of H.L. Mencken, noted curmudgeon, satirist, and political and cultural critic.

"Jay Walking" and the Fight for the Streets.

The Paradox of the Elephant Brain - with three times as many neurons, why doesn’t the elephant brain outperform ours?

From 1930, Information Tests To Try On Your Children.

The Biggest Things Ever to Be Transported by Sea.

Having a beer might help get your creative juices flowing.

ICYMI, Thursday's links are here, and include drinking cold water and other 19th century causes of death, three simple rules for fire ants when building a tower, and the anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, on which War and Peace and the 1812 Overture are based.

Tuesday links

It's William Shatner's 85th birthday: here he is in 1978 'singing' Rocket Man, plus a Star Trek/Monty Python mashup.

How Capicola Became Gabagool: The Italian New Jersey Accent, Explained.

Meet the Amazonian Terminators of Dahomey, the Most Feared Women in History.

Watch this baby elephant try to figure out how his trunk works.

22 Vintage Pictures of Old Los Angeles Restaurants with Wacky Shapes.

Why Does My Nose Run When It’s Cold?

ICYMI, Monday's links are here, and include instructions from 1984 on sending an 'E mail', amazing submarine concepts, Spring equinox science, myths, and music, and Amsterdam’s floating cat sanctuary.

Watch this baby elephant try to figure out his trunk

He appears completely unable to figure out what the heck to do with that thing hanging on his face. From the Youtube post:

While guiding in the Kruger National Park, me and my guests came across this breeding herd of elephants who were about to cross the road and we decided to stop and watch them cross. That's when this little one appeared from the long grass and had us entertained for a while. He clearly was frustrated with his trunk if you look at the way he was shaking it, blowing air through it and trying to step on it. The reason he is doing this is not known but it could be that there might have been something in his trunk that made it itch or maybe he just didn't understand this long thing on his face... either way it was very funny and made our day...

via Arbroath