Thursday links

August 29th, 2:14 AM: Skynet Becomes Self-aware.

Extreme Ironing: The Insane Sport You Probably Never Knew About.

Fishing With Sulphuric Fire.

From 1921, here's the Intelligence Test That Thomas Edison Gave to Job Seekers.

Harris’s List: The 18th Century Guide Book to London’s Prostitutes.

What Can a Hacker Do With Your Stolen Fingerprints?

ICYMI, most recent links are here, and include Gene Kelly's birthday, why we pour milk on cereal, the anniversary of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii, and signs that you're smarter than average.

August 29th, 2:14 AM: Skynet Becomes Self-aware

xkcd

According to the 1991 movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day, August 29th is the day Skynet becomes self-aware. 

The quote: 

The Terminator: The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes on-line August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug. 

Sarah Connor: Skynet fights back.

Tuesday links

August 29th, 2:14 AM: Skynet Becomes Self-aware.

When Margarine Was Contraband. Related: Operation Margarine: Tracing the wartime rise of ersatz butter.

How Depression-Era Women Made Dresses Out of Chicken Feed.

Physiognomy of eyebrows: everything you wanted to know about eyebrow interpretation from the 16th century.

How and when did humans first discover fire?

Accidental Discoveries that Revolutionized Medicine.

ICYMI, Friday's links are here, and include the invention of air conditioning, why fly eyes, honeycombs, and soap bubbles are hexagons, some extremely cool wind-propelled sculptures, and a set of creepy and beautiful Scooby Doo background paintings.

Monday links

Warning signs and labels of note.

The secret world of endurance tickling.

Whatever Happened to Pay Toilets?

August 29th, 2:14 AM: Skynet Becomes Self-aware.

400 Years of Equator Hazings: Surviving the Stinky Wrath of King Neptune's Court.

Fascinating Facts About the Invention of the Slinky.

ICYMI, Friday's links are here, and include crash-test shopping carts at 73 mph, the history of mac and cheese, a Panama Canal timelapse from a ship’s POV, and, for LBJ's birthday, stories of how he used to mark his territory.