Bookmarks 2026-02-23T03:00:10.548Z
by Owen Kibel
42 min read
Bookmarks for 2026-02-23T03:00:10.548Z
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AOC defends Taiwan stumble on Instagram as fiancé snores in background | Fox News Added: Feb 22, 2026
AOC blames critics, Trump after Munich hiccup backlash
Site: Fox News
AOC faces viral criticism after stumbling over Taiwan defense question, with fiancé's snoring heard during her lengthy Instagram response to critics.
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Is Climate Change A Religion? - YouTube Added: Feb 22, 2026
Is Climate Change A Religion?
Site: YouTube
In this "Fact Check" video from the Climate Discussion Nexus, Dr. John Robson asks whether global warming has become a religion or even a cult, with so many ...
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Kimberly Clausing on X: "I very much enjoyed this conversation with @FareedZakaria on the aftermath of the Supreme Court's tariff ruling Friday." / X Added: Feb 22, 2026
Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Astronomers discovered dusty galaxies formed one billion years after Big Bang - Google Search Added: Feb 22, 2026
Google Search
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Believed impossible, scientists manage to transform lead into gold - Earth.com Added: Feb 22, 2026
Once believed impossible, scientists manage to transform lead into gold
Site: Earth.com
For a trillionth of a second, lead became gold in CERN’s collider. The fleeting transformation may shape the future of high-energy physics.
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The gold rush is back in California's Inland Empire Added: Feb 22, 2026
The gold rush is back in California's Inland Empire
Site: SFGATE
In San Bernardino County, gold and silver mining companies are pushing to expand.
Calico Ghost Town Regional Park certainly did not feel like a ghost town last weekend. The line just to pay entrance fees at the San Bernardino County-managed attraction was at least a dozen cars deep, and neon-vested parking attendants tried to quell the sudden rush of traffic at the remote park as a shuttle ferried visitors from far-flung corners of the dirt parking lot to the town’s entrance. Once inside, visitors had their pick of a jam-packed schedule of events that included live bands, historical reenactments, pony rides and gun-draw competitions. Cold beers were poured at Lil’s Saloon at a nearly proportional rate to the number of parents buying prop guns for their kids as souvenirs. Thousands of people descended on the tiny ghost town north of Barstow last weekend for the fifth annual Calico California Days, an event advertised as a celebration of California’s early history. Visitors stepped back in time, panning for fake gold nuggets and touring long-abandoned mining tunnels. Performers in 19th century garb played banjos and staged gunfights. But while the event offered a glimpse of California’s past, the giant mining corporations that sponsored the festivities are already hard at work excavating the region’s future. The two-day Calico Ghost Town event was sponsored by three mining companies, including two that are actively seeking to expand their operations in San Bernardino County. Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, which operates a cement plant in Lucerne Valley along the edge of San Bernardino National Forest, provided a lump-sum payment of $2,500 to help defray the costs of the event, according to sponsorship agreements reviewed by SFGATE. So did Equinox Gold’s Castle Mountain project, which is awaiting approval to quadruple its operations at a mine that’s surrounded by Castle Mountains National Monument, which itself is surrounded by the vast Mojave National Preserve. Apollo Silver, which is in the exploration and development phase of a silver mine project in the Calico area, provided $5,000 in sponsorship funding for the event. Apollo calls its Calico project “one of the largest undeveloped primary silver assets in the U.S.” The payments act “as a way to provide opportunities to COUNTY’S businesses and to encourage a marketing environment targeting a niche audience,” states the sponsorship agreements. And at Calico California Days, the companies received about as niche an audience as they could imagine: Southern Californians, including some who could be directly affected by an influx of new mining operations in this pocket of the state, seeking a fresh dose of nostalgia for the Gold Rush era. ‘Calico lives again’ Spanning over 20,000 square miles of suburbs, exurbs, mountains and deserts, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the entire contiguous United States. The region’s diverse landscape has long translated into plenty of opportunities for mining companies looking to turn a profit. “No portion of California has more diversified mineral wealth than the County of San Bernardino… In its rugged mountains and desert [expanse], are found a wide range of geological formations from Paleozoic to Tertiary, and a great variety of rocks of igneous origin… The mines are scattered all over its thousands of square miles of territory, and have already added millions of dollars to the wealth of the State and the world,” California’s state mineralogist said over a century ago in 1893. Central Coast | 'Doomsday fish': Once-in-a-lifetime sea creature encountered in Monterey BayTechnology| A Calif. teen trusted ChatGPT for drug advice. He died from an overdose.Central Coast| He gifted Calif. one of its largest city parks. Then he shot his wife.Culture | Tragedy cut Sublime's fame short. Now the singer's son has the mic. Get SFGATE's top stories sent to your inbox by signing up for The Daily newsletter here. There are still around 90 active mines in San Bernardino County, extracting everything from sand and gravel to salt, iron and gypsum. And just off Interstate 15 near the California-Nevada border sits the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine, the only operational rare earth mine in the country. After shuttering in the early 2000s, that facility restarted a few years ago amid the rush for critical minerals and now produces over 10% of the world’s rare earth supply, according to MP Materials. Back in the 1880s, silver was king in San Bernardino County, and for a while, Calico was the epicenter of the region’s burgeoning mining industry. At one time, 70% of the state’s silver production came from the inland county, and 80% of that silver came from Calico specifically, where a town quickly popped up around the silver mine. Calico’s population grew to a couple of thousand people at its height, and the mine’s remote location, far from major population centers, led to the town establishing its own sheriff and courthouse. Like countless other California Gold Rush communities of that era, Calico quickly became a fully self-sufficient town in miniature, with stores, a cemetery and a schoolhouse. And like other mining boomtowns of that era, when the market shifted, the town just as quickly disappeared. In Calico, the boom was short, and the town’s population started declining alongside the silver market in the 1890s. The end of borax mining in 1907 officially transitioned Calico to its ghost town era. But unlike other Gold Rush ghost towns, Calico was carefully restored to its former glory with a theme park builder’s eye for detail. Walter Knott (of Knott’s Berry Farm) purchased Calico in the 1950s and then used old photographs to restore nearly all of the buildings to their 1880s-era appearance. The town was proclaimed “California’s official Silver Rush Ghost Town” by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005. “Calico lives again,” reads a sign, ominously, near the beginning of Calico’s main street today. The large stone slab notes that Walter Knott dedicated the town’s restoration “to the memory of the heroic silver miners who lived and toiled here.” “The preservation of this singular California heritage is also dedicated to you, the visitor, as a constant source of learning and enjoyment,” states the sign. A new gold and silver rush To hear Apollo Silver Corporation describe it, the Calico area’s peak mining era might still be ahead. Apollo’s Calico Project is located in the same historic Calico Silver Mining District that once housed the miners of Calico Ghost Town; the proposed project brings the two main silver properties in the area under the same ownership for the first time. An updated mineral resource estimate announced by Apollo last year found a combined total of over 180 million ounces of silver to be likely available. For comparison, only an estimated 15 million to 20 million ounces of silver was mined in Calico through 1896. Apollo is hoping that the Trump administration’s decision to add silver to the U.S. Geological Survey’s List of Critical Minerals could give the project a boost, calling the action an “emergency alarm” and Calico “an irreplaceable first responder.” “Calico has the potential to become a long-term strategic asset to the economic and military security of the United States, rather than simply a short-term trade story,” states a February post on Apollo’s website. The project also has another factor working in its favor, according to Apollo: its location in a “mining-friendly” county. The mining industry was the star of the county’s most recent State of the County presentation in September, where officials and local high schoolers highlighted the recent mining reactivation and expansion boom. The county of just over 2 million people now has 6,974 jobs in the mining and natural resources sector, with a 10-year forecast employment growth rate of 10.2%. “I’m proud to share that San Bernardino County is the largest mining county in California, with more than 90 active sites. Our county’s diverse mining industry is both an important and valued sector for our regional economy while also providing a highly competitive resource advantage to our nation,” San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Cook said in a recorded message during the annual event. One of the mining efforts spotlighted by the county was Equinox Gold’s Castle Mountain project, a massive expansion of a gold mine surrounded by protected public lands that’s been opposed by environmental groups. The project is in the early stages of the environmental review process; a scoping report that gathered public comments was published in December, and the Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County are now working on a draft environmental review document. A final decision is expected later this year. Equinox Gold wants to “effectively quadruple the annual mining rate from 18 to 80 million tons,” according to the scoping report, which would require 2,250 acre-feet per year of groundwater (an average California household uses between .5 and 1 acre-foot of water each year). Expanding the mine pits and installing a new water pipeline and power line would disturb an additional 1,800 acres of Bureau of Land Management lands beyond what the site has already impacted. The Bureau of Land Management and the county received over 2,000 individual submissions that raised concerns, via a form letter, about a litany of issues. Some worried about a proposed right-of-way through Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, while others highlighted negative impacts on Castle Mountains National Monument and Mojave National Preserve, increased traffic and pollution, threats to groundwater, and impacts on wildlife and vegetation. “Overall, the sentiment among commenters was that the scale of the project is incompatible with the protection of outstanding visual, recreational, and ecological resources and is unacceptable,” the scoping report states. These comments were not reflected in San Bernardino County’s own framing of the project in September (which predated the scoping document). At the State of the County event, one of the local high schoolers tasked with reading the prewritten presentation aloud said Castle Mountain mine “is expected to become the largest gold producer in California.” “Upon approval, Castle Mountain will substantially increase its production while continuing its commitment to environmentally responsible mining practices. Increasing the mine’s production is important to support the domestic production of both gold and silver, especially since gold is a mineral designated as essential to national security, advancing technologies and developing infrastructure,” the teenage presenter said. Chance Wilcox, California desert program manager at the National Parks Conservation Association, said in an emailed statement that “extensive energy development is already putting immense pressure on park ecosystems.” “Right now, a proposed expansion of Castle Mountain Mine, led by Equinox Gold, is threatening to industrialize the landscape at the doorstep of Castle Mountains National Monument just next to Mojave National Preserve,” wrote Wilcox, who said that the industrial infrastructure and transmission lines could attract ravens, which predate on desert tortoises, and that the expansion’s groundwater use could impact fragile aquifers and springs. “National parks are not industrial mining zones, and it is our responsibility to protect our public lands and the beauty of the Mojave from irresponsible development,” Wilcox continued. In an email to SFGATE, Aren Hall, environmental and permitting manager for Castle Mountain Mine, said Equinox Gold “takes seriously its commitment to responsible mining practices and transparent public comment and engagement.” “Concerns raised during the public scoping period are being evaluated as part of the environmental review process. ... Public comments are crucial as they inform the EIS/EIR process by their incorporation into project alternatives, which are intended to further reduce project impacts,” Hall wrote. And for Equinox, part of the public engagement process includes a front-row seat to Calico California Days, which the company has sponsored every year since its inception, Hall said. “These opportunities allow us to engage directly with the community, share factual project information, and listen to questions, comments, and concerns firsthand. This outreach complements the formal public scoping processes led by the Bureau of Land Management and San Bernardino County officials,” Hall wrote. “Most people don’t know that there’s still commercial-scale gold mining occurring [in California],” Hall added briefly when reached by phone. “So that’s an interesting conversation to have with folks.” It’s unclear how many of the thousands of Calico visitors last weekend noticed the mining companies underwriting their old-timey revelry. The energy was rowdy last Sunday, with impromptu gunfights often breaking out among visitors (adults and children alike) eager to whip out their newly purchased props. Yellow banners dotting the property listed the event’s three sponsors, who also had a dedicated space near the entrance of the event to set up tables, distribute materials and gain an audience among the crowd. In truth, that area was pretty quiet on Sunday afternoon, with most visitors seeming more interested in gunfighting, gold panning or beer chugging over learning about local mining endeavors. The gold panning station was in particularly high demand, with families lining up to sift through water for fake gold nuggets. But if they’d visited the present-day mining companies’ station, they could have pursued gold mining for real: Equinox was hiring. —The gold rush is back in California's Inland Empire—This LA waterside hangout has been keeping it weird for decades—Leonardo DiCaprio quietly funds a tiny library in the middle of LA—Meet the 'scam' influencer at the heart of LA's recent restaurant drama For more SFGATE LA stories, subscribe to our new weekly newsletter The Southland here.
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Google AI Studio will be able to generate full-stack apps
Added: Feb 22, 2026Google AI Studio will be able to generate full-stack apps
Site: TestingCatalog
Google AI Studio’s upcoming overhaul adds authentication, expanded framework support, and deeper integrations with Google services.
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Sunday Inspiration Quote of the Day by Mark Twain: 'A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read...' - 19FortyFive
Added: Feb 22, 2026Sunday Inspiration Quote of the Day by Mark Twain: ‘A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read…’
Site: 19FortyFive
Summary and Key Points: Mark Twain’s final years were marked by profound personal loss and radical political shifts. -Following the 1904 death of his wife and editor, Olivia “Livy” Langdon, a devastated Twain channeled his grief into sharp social satire and activism. -Serving as Vice President of the American Anti-Imperialist League, he used his platform […]
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Elon Musk confirms target window for next Starship launch - Digital Trends
Added: Feb 22, 2026Elon Musk confirms target window for next Starship launch
Site: Digital Trends
If you’re wondering what happened to the Starship, then rest assured, SpaceX engineers are still working to get it airborne again soon. In fact, in a post on X on Saturday, SpaceX chief Elon Musk confirmed an earlier stated target window for the 12th launch of the most powerful rocket: next month. Recommended Videos In […]
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Two traits that all high achievers have - Upworthy
Added: Feb 22, 2026It's not brains or talent. Expert says high achievers have two traits anyone can learn.
Site: Upworthy
She broke it down into a simple formula.
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A Grok update was apparently delayed because Elon Musk wanted it to be better at answering questions about Baldur's Gate | PC Gamer Added: Feb 22, 2026
A Grok update was apparently delayed because Elon Musk wanted it to be better at answering questions about Baldur's Gate
Site: PC Gamer
He wants it to be able to play League of Legends as well.
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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I Love Alysa Liu Even More If She Is Woke Added: Feb 22, 2026
I Love Alysa Liu Even More If She Is Woke
She left her personal politics at home so her whole country could root for her at the Olympics.
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Neuroscientists confirm this common bedtime routine greatly improves sleep
Site: Earth.com
Reading at night activates unique areas of the brain and improves memory, sleep, and cognitive abilities in adults.
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Mapped: A look at the American firepower positioned in Iran’s backyard | Fox News Added: Feb 22, 2026
Mapped: A look at the American firepower positioned in Iran’s backyard | Fox News
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Site: X (formerly Twitter)
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Elon Musk on AGI Timeline, US vs China, Job Markets, Clean Energy & Humanoid Robots | 220
Site: YouTube
Get access to metatrends 10+ years before anyone else - https://qr.diamandis.com/metatrends Elon Musk is the cofounder and CEO of Tesla, cofounder of SpaceX...
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US river seems to defy gravity as it flows uphill and through mountains for roughly 100 miles
Site: Earth.com
The Green River defies gravity: it flows through 99 miles of mountains thanks to movements hidden beneath the surface.
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Woman Uses AI to Apologize for Burning Down House, Biting Cop and Declaring She Had AIDS
Added: Feb 22, 2026Woman Uses AI to Apologize for Burning Down House, Biting Cop
Site: Futurism
A judge in New Zealand is being forced to confront an AI-generated apology to decide whether it's sufficiently sincere.
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How the free market can free NASA from the Space Launch System
Added: Feb 22, 2026How the free market can free NASA from the Space Launch System
Site: The Hill
The two biggest commercial space companies are stepping up.
As NASA tries to get the Artemis II mission off the ground, with its crew of four astronauts, for a flight around the moon, it is struggling with the albatross of the Space Launch System. The first wet dress rehearsal revealed multiple hydrogen leaks that delayed the launch for at least a month. A subsequent ground “confidence test” did not inspire confidence. NASA conducted a second wet dress rehearsal on Feb. 19 to determine the launch vehicle’s suitability for flight. Two questions arise: First, how was NASA saddled with an expensive, hard-to-operate heavy lift rocket? Second, how can NASA get out from under the Space Launch System, which is holding back the return to the moon and the establishment of a settlement on Earth’s nearest neighbor? An analysis by the Planetary Society suggests that the Space Launch System was more a creation of political parochialism than sound engineering. It was also the result of a perfect storm of bad policy decisions, with an economic recession thrown in for good measure. In spring 2010, President Barack Obama had cancelled his predecessor George W. Bush’s Constellation program, an attempt to send astronauts back to the moon and onward to Mars. At the same time, the space shuttle program, cancelled by Bush in the wake of the Columbia disaster, was winding down. Congress was looking at the possibility of tens of thousands of registered voters working in the aerospace industry losing their jobs just in time for the 2010 midterm elections, so it decided upon the Space Launch System as a solution. It would be built with legacy space shuttle parts, ostensibly to avoid the expense of developing a brand-new heavy lift rocket, but actually to keep the old shuttle workforce employed. Obama took the deal to help clean up the mess he was partly responsible for making. He threw in a new deep space program called Journey to Mars as a shiny object to keep his critics distracted, but it was in no sense a serious program. Fast forward to the present day. The Space Launch System has flown only once, during the Artemis I mission, and is preparing to fly again with Artemis II. According to the NASA Office of Inspector General, the Space Launch System costs $4 billion per flight, not to speak of the immense amount of money to develop the rocket. The Space Launch System will fly just three more times under the current schedule, once every two years. It is clearly not sustainable if we mean to open the moon for human settlement. Fortunately, help may be on the way. According to Space Policy Online, the House Science Committee has passed a NASA authorization bill that allows the space agency to procure commercial services to take crews and cargo to and from the moon without stipulating a time frame. The provision allows NASA to move away from the Space Launch System and all of its problems. The bill has to pass the full House and then the Senate before being signed into law, by no means a certain proposition. In the meantime, the two biggest commercial space companies are stepping up. SpaceX’s Elon Musk has already announced that he wants to build a lunar city within 10 years. The plan suggests developing a Starship rocket capable of Earth-to-moon-and-back travel, without involving the Space Launch System. Meantime, Blue Origin is developing its own lunar plans. They involve multiple launches of the New Glenn to put a Blue Moon lander on the lunar surface. So far, the plan still requires an Orion space capsule to be put into lunar orbit by the Space Launch System. But if Blue Moon can figure out a way to put an Orion around the moon using the New Glenn, it will be able to compete with SpaceX in a private race to the moon. Once the commercial sector gets involved in every aspect of lunar exploration and settlement, a new space age will begin that was unimagined when humans first went to the moon. NASA will still be involved, but increasingly as a customer rather than as a controlling government agency. The moon will be only the beginning. When Musk can turn his attention back to Mars, the first expedition will likely be a mix of commercial, NASA and international astronauts. And it can happen within the lifetimes of most people alive today. Mark R. Whittington, who writes frequently about space policy, has published a political study of space exploration entitled “Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?” as well as “The Moon, Mars and Beyond” and, most recently, “Why is America Going Back to the Moon?” He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner.
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This one tool will help you master the Android terminal emulator Termux
Added: Feb 22, 2026This one tool will help you master the Android terminal emulator Termux
Site: How-To Geek
Get instant commands, documentation help, and explainers for scripts or logs without leaving the terminal.
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The fuel set to propel NASA's moon crew is notorious for leaking. So why use it? | KSL.com
Added: Feb 22, 2026The fuel set to propel NASA's moon crew is notorious for leaking. So why use it?
If all had gone according to plan, four astronauts might have been returning just this week from a history-making, 10-day slingshot trip around the moon.
CAPE CANAVERAL — If all had gone according to plan, four astronauts might have been returning just this week from a history-making, 10-day slingshot trip around the moon.Instead, NASA's engineers have been grappling with the rocket and fuel meant to propel the mission, called Artemis II, troubleshooting an all-too-familiar problem.Just a few hours into a pre-launch test called a wet dress rehearsal in early February, launch controllers found that enough super-chilled liquid hydrogen fuel was leaking at the launchpad to prompt safety concerns. The hydrogen leaks kept cropping up, forcing NASA to halt fuel flow to the rocket multiple times.The issue ultimately left the space agency unable to complete the full test and led to more than a week of investigations and repairs.If pesky hydrogen leaks and a delayed moon mission evoke a sense of déjà vu, it may be because NASA has been through this before.Liftoff of an uncrewed test flight around the moon in 2022, called Artemis I, was delayed several times then nearly thwarted by similar hydrogen seepage before a team of jumpsuit-clad NASA workers swept in at the 11th hour and manually fixed a leaky valve. There are also records of engineers struggling with similar issues throughout the Space Shuttle program, which ran from 1981 to 2011.Leaks are a major concern on the ground: Hydrogen is very easy to ignite and energetic, meaning that too much of it in one area poses the risk of a catastrophic explosion.So as launch controllers navigate another "wet dress" rehearsal Thursday, the question remains: Why does NASA keep using this notoriously fickle fuel?A tiny molecule with a powerful punchEngineers pioneered the use of hydrogen as rocket fuel in the mid-20th century before it was used for the Apollo moon rockets — and most of the launch vehicles that have opted for the fuel since have also wrestled with leaks.For example, the Vulcan Centaur rocket, which is produced by U.S.-based military contractor United Launch Alliance and builds on decades of legacy technology, uses hydrogen to power the upper part of its rocket. And in 2023, a fuel leak caused a fireball explosion during Vulcan Centaur testing in Alabama, damaging nearby infrastructure and delaying the rocket's inaugural launch.Hydrogen's leaky tendencies can be attributed to the fact that it's the lightest element in the universe. It "tends to find its way out of things you want to try to contain it in," said Adam Swanger, a senior principa
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4 terminal tools I install on every Windows or Linux machine before anything else
Added: Feb 22, 2026
4 terminal tools I install on every Windows or Linux machine before anything else
Site: XDA
Fix your terminal before fixing your workflow.
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Scientists develop theory for an entirely new quantum system based on ‘giant superatoms’ - The Brighter Side of News
Added: Feb 22, 2026Scientists develop theory for an entirely new quantum system based on ‘giant superatoms’
Site: The Brighter Side of News
Chalmers physicists propose “giant superatoms” that could curb decoherence and route entanglement in quantum devices.
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We talk AI hardware, data centers, startup survival, and Nvidia’s dominance, with June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI | TechRadar Added: Feb 23, 2026
We talk AI chips, power, and startups with June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI
Site: TechRadar
We talk AI chips, power, and startups with June Paik, CEO of FuriosaAI
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Study confirms what we already know — chatbots get worse the longer you talk to them
Added: Feb 23, 2026
Study confirms what we already know — chatbots get worse the longer you talk to them
Site: XDA
Across several AI platforms, performance drops to 65% with more complicated back-and-forth conversations.
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Why Linux is the best place to learn coding
Added: Feb 23, 2026
Why Linux is the best place to learn coding
Site: How-To Geek
What's great for programming pros is good enough for beginners.
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THEY’RE GOING INSANE
Site: YouTube
SUPPORT THE SHOW BUY CAST BREW COFFEE NOW - https://castbrew.com/Join - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLwNTXWEjVd2qIHLcXxQWxA/joinHosts: Tim @Timcast (eve...
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President Trump Participates in Angel Families Remembrance Ceremony
Site: YouTube
The White House
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Gavin Newsom Calls Black People Dumb & Illiterate, Audience Cheers | Tim Pool
Site: YouTube
Far be it from me to criticize a group of people in a room who want to be called stupidBecome A Memberhttp://youtube.com/timcastnews/joinThe Green Room - htt...
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THEY ARE WEAK
Site: YouTube
SUPPORT THE SHOW BUY CAST BREW COFFEE NOW - https://castbrew.com/Join - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLwNTXWEjVd2qIHLcXxQWxA/joinHosts: Tim @Timcast (eve...
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Minnesota FGM prosecutions remain zero despite state felony law | Fox News
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Anthropic’s Pentagon Problems; Cleaning Up Cloud Storage | Technology for Feb. 22 - WSJ Added: Feb 23, 2026
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Scoop: Hegseth to meet Anthropic CEO as Pentagon threatens banishment Added: Feb 23, 2026
Scoop: Hegseth to meet Anthropic CEO as Pentagon threatens banishment
Site: Axios
Hegseth plans to present an ultimatu
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Pentagon-Anthropic battle pushes other AI labs into major dilemma
Site: Axios
The Pentagon is bashing Anthropic while holding high-stakes negotiations with its rivals
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Ocean species with a tongue made of iron discovered 18,045 feet deep
Site: Earth.com
Japanese scientists find a mollusk with a tongue covered in iron at a depth of 5,500 meters in a Pacific trench.
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Woke Leftists Have GUTTED Our Culture, Star Fleet Academy Is Trash And Must Be Stopped | Tim Pool
Site: YouTube
We cannot allow this to go on Star Trek was gutted and killed and it must be stoppedBecome A Memberhttp://youtube.com/timcastnews/joinThe Green Room - https:...
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What is a femcel? The psychology and culture of female involuntary celibates
Added: Feb 23, 2026What is a femcel? The psychology and culture of female involuntary celibates
Site: PsyPost - Psychology News
Are femcels just female incels? Research reveals key differences in psychology and aggression. Explore the hidden world of involuntary celibate women.
In recent years, the term “incel”—short for involuntary celibate—has become a fixture in public discourse, almost exclusively associated with men. The <a href="https://www.psypost.org/online-incel-forums-generate-dark-emotional-energy-that-reinforces-toxic-group-identity/">male incel subculture</a> is frequently linked to online misogyny, violent rhetoric, and real-world acts of aggression. However, a parallel but distinct phenomenon has emerged that remains largely obscured from the mainstream view: the "femcel."
Female involuntary celibates, or femcels, are women who feel they are unable to form romantic or sexual relationships despite wishing to do so. Unlike their male counterparts, whose grievances often turn outward toward women and society, femcels tend to direct their frustrations inward.
New academic research is beginning to explore this understudied population, revealing a complex subculture defined by loneliness, specific standards of beauty, and a digital evolution from support groups to ironic aesthetic movements. <h2>The Origins and Ideology of the Femcel</h2> The concept of involuntary celibacy was actually coined by a woman in the 1990s as an inclusive term for lonely people of all genders. Over time, the male faction radicalized into the modern incel movement, effectively pushing women out of the definition. In response, women formed their own spaces. According to research published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02796-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Archives of Sexual Behavior</a></em>, femcels congregate in online communities to discuss their exclusion from the romantic marketplace.
Hannah Rae Evans and Adam Lankford, scientists at the University of Alabama, analyzed thousands of posts from femcel discussion forums. They found that these women express three distinct types of sexual frustration: unfulfilled desires to have sex, a lack of available partners, and unsatisfying sexual activities. This suggests that for femcels, the issue is not merely a lack of sexual access, but a deep dissatisfaction with the quality and availability of intimate connection.
“When I first heard the term ‘femcel,’ I was immediately interested and wanted to know more about their communities. When I began exploring their online subculture, I saw so many different directions that our research could take because this is such an understudied population,” Evans <a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-research-delves-into-the-unexplored-psychology-of-femcels/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told PsyPost</a>.
A central pillar of femcel ideology is the "Pink Pill." This is a gender-flipped version of the "Red Pill" philosophy found in male-dominated online spaces. While the Red Pill claims to reveal the truth about female nature, the Pink Pill focuses on the harsh realities of female existence within a patriarchal society. Specifically, it emphasizes "lookism," or the belief that society values women almost entirely based on their physical beauty.
Scholars Debora Maria Pizzimenti and Assunta Penna explored this dynamic in their ethnographic study of the Reddit community r/Vindicta. They published their findings in the <em><a href="https://italiansociologicalreview.com/ojs/index.php/ISR/article/view/729" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Italian Sociological Review</a></em>. Their work describes how femcels view beauty not as subjective, but as an objective, measurable form of power.
In these communities, members often categorize women into a hierarchy. "Stacys" are highly attractive women who hold high sexual market value and receive good treatment from society. "Beckys" are average women. Femcels place themselves at the bottom, believing their physical features prevent them from accessing the privileges afforded to attractive women.
This belief system is rigid. Users often discourage "coping" mechanisms, such as the idea that personality matters more than looks. Instead, they focus on "looksmaxxing," or the pursuit of surgical and cosmetic enhancements to improve their social standing. <h2>The Psychology of Isolation and Inhibition</h2> While the online rhetoric can be harsh, the underlying psychological profile of a femcel appears to be one of profound isolation. Lola Cassidy, a researcher at the National College of Ireland, <a href="https://norma.ncirl.ie/8881/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conducted a quantitative study</a> comparing women who identify as femcels to a control group of women who do not. Her findings provide statistical evidence regarding the mental health struggles within this community.
Cassidy found that femcels reported significantly higher levels of loneliness compared to non-femcel women. The study utilized the UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale, and results indicated that many femcels selected the highest possible scores for feelings of isolation. This supports the qualitative observations that these online spaces serve as a refuge for women who feel entirely disconnected from social life.
In addition to loneliness, the study revealed that femcels exhibit higher levels of social inhibition. Social inhibition involves the avoidance of social situations and the suppression of emotional expression due to a fear of rejection or judgment. Cassidy suggests that this inhibition may predict a stronger preference for online social interactions. For femcels, the internet acts as a necessary buffer, allowing them to communicate without the immediate fear of face-to-face rejection.
The research also highlighted a link between femcel identity and "problematic internet use." This term refers to compulsive online activity that interferes with daily life. Femcels in the study scored higher on measures of problematic internet use than the control group. They were more likely to use social media for emotional regulation. This implies that for these women, online forums are not just a pastime but a primary coping mechanism for managing negative emotions. <h2>Femcels Versus Incels: A Distinct Difference</h2> A common misconception is that femcels are simply the female equivalent of incels. While they share the core experience of involuntary celibacy and use similar terminology, their reactions to this state differ significantly. Male incels frequently externalize their anger. They often blame women for their celibacy, viewing access to women’s bodies as a right that has been denied to them. This worldview has been linked to real-world violence and mass shootings.
Femcels, in contrast, tend to internalize their frustration. Evans and Lankford noted in their study that femcel discussions contained significantly less support for aggression and violence than what has been reported regarding male incels. While extreme views exist, the researchers are not aware of any mass violence committed by individuals identifying with the femcel community.
Ruby Ling, in <a href="https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/49b9996b-b108-4b77-8326-764953492723/view/f4502012-7065-4d04-8025-a477383259e8/Ling_Ruby_202109_MA.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a thesis</a> for the University of Alberta, conducted a comparative analysis of incel and femcel subreddits. She found that while both groups use derogatory language to describe the opposite sex, the nature of their grievances is different. Incels often dehumanize women, reducing them to their biological functions. Femcels, conversely, often express a desire for companionship and emotional intimacy rather than just sexual access.
Ling also noted that femcels tend to view their condition as fluid. While incels often believe their genetic fate is sealed at birth, femcels discuss how life events—such as aging, motherhood, or weight gain—can push a woman into "femceldom." This suggests a view of celibacy that is tied to a woman’s fluctuating social capital rather than an innate biological defect.
Furthermore, Ling’s research highlights the hostility femcels face from male incels. Male incel communities frequently deny the existence of female involuntary celibacy, arguing that women can always find a sexual partner if they lower their standards. This rejection forces femcels to create their own separated spaces, where they often discuss the "misogyny-laden obstacles" they face in dating. <h2>Radical Feminism and the Femcel</h2> The relationship between femcels and feminism is complicated. On the surface, femcel rhetoric often aligns with radical feminist theory. Both groups acknowledge the existence of a patriarchy that oppresses women. Both groups often criticize liberal feminism, particularly regarding the sexual revolution and hookup culture, which femcels argue benefits men while leaving women unfulfilled and used.
Ling’s analysis found that femcel forums often function as women-only spaces where members discuss male violence and the objectification of women. Themes of men feeling entitled to women's bodies are common in both radical feminist and femcel discourse. However, femcels rarely identify as feminists. They often feel that mainstream feminism ignores the specific struggles of "ugly" or socially awkward women.
Pizzimenti and Penna’s research on the r/Vindicta community supports this. They observed that while the community is a "Pink Pill" space that focuses on female strategies for survival, it is often antifeminist in tone. The focus is individualistic rather than collective. The goal is not to dismantle the patriarchy but to navigate it successfully by maximizing one's aesthetic value. This reflects a pragmatic, survivalist approach rather than a political movement. <h2>The Rise of "Femcelcore" and Heteronihilism</h2> In recent years, the femcel identity has migrated from obscure forums to mainstream platforms like TikTok, undergoing a significant transformation. Researchers Jacob Johanssen and Jilly Boyce Kay describe this shift in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/13675494241293731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Journal of Cultural Studies</a></em>. They distinguish between the "traditional" femcel—who is genuinely isolated and excluded—and the "aesthetic" femcel, or "femcelcore."
Femcelcore is characterized by a specific digital aesthetic. It often involves imagery of messy bedrooms, references to "sad girl" culture (such as the novels of Ottessa Moshfegh or the music of Lana Del Rey), and an ironic embrace of "toxic femininity." This new iteration is less about the inability to find a partner and more about a performance of alienation.
Johanssen and Kay argue that this trend represents a form of "heteronihilism." This concept describes a deep disappointment with heterosexual culture. It is a mood of fatalistic apathy. Women engaging in femcelcore may not be strictly celibate, but they express a sense of giving up on the promise of romantic fulfillment. They view heterosexuality as inevitably disappointing but inescapable.
This aligns with findings from Ada Jussila of the University of Turku, who analyzed the subreddit r/femcelgrippysockjail. Her work, published in <em><a href="https://widerscreen.fi/numerot/ajankohtaista/irony-exclusion-and-community-femcel-identities-and-community-dynamics-on-reddit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WiderScreen</a></em>, details how this community uses irony and memes to process mental health struggles and gendered expectations.
Jussila notes that the community is divided. Traditional femcels, who define their status by physical unattractiveness and rejection, sometimes clash with second-wave femcels who view the identity as a mental state or aesthetic. The latter group often engages in "ironic misandry"—exaggerated hatred of men used for comedic effect. This allows them to vent frustration while maintaining a safe distance from their true emotions. <h2>Community Dynamics and Gatekeeping</h2> The tension between these different definitions of "femcel" leads to intense gatekeeping within the community. Pizzimenti and Penna observed that forums like r/Vindicta have strict rules to maintain their focus. They explicitly state that the space is for "unattractive women" and forbid "coping" posts that try to deny the importance of beauty.
Jussila also observed this dynamic. In the communities she studied, users frequently debated who qualifies as a "real" femcel. Traditional members often try to exclude those they perceive as "average" women who are merely going through a rough patch in dating. This "othering" process helps the core group maintain a sense of identity, but it also creates a hostile environment for newcomers.
Despite this, these communities offer a rare source of support. For women who feel completely invisible to society, finding a group that acknowledges their reality is powerful. Ling’s research notes that these forums provide validation for experiences that are otherwise dismissed. Women share advice, support each other through trauma, and offer a space to vent without judgment. <h2>Mental Health and Well-being</h2> The mental health implications of the femcel identity are significant. Cassidy’s study found that femcels reported significantly lower mental well-being compared to the control group. This lower well-being was statistically predicted by their high levels of loneliness and social inhibition.
However, the relationship between internet use and well-being is complex. While femcels exhibit problematic internet use, Cassidy found that this usage did not directly correlate with their loneliness in the same way it did for the control group. This suggests that for femcels, online communities might not be the cause of their loneliness, but rather a symptom or a refuge.
Jussila’s work supports this, noting that the "femcelcore" aesthetic often glamourizes mental illness or dissociation. This can be a double-edged sword. It provides a language for expressing pain, but it may also trap users in a cycle of negativity. Johanssen and Kay warn that the "heteronihilist" mood of these spaces is anti-political. It encourages resignation rather than action, potentially deepening the user's sense of hopelessness. <h2>Conclusion</h2> The femcel phenomenon is a multifaceted reflection of modern pressures regarding beauty, relationships, and digital connection. It is not simply a female version of the incel movement, though it shares roots in the experience of involuntary celibacy. Research indicates that femcels are driven by internalized distress, loneliness, and a belief that they have failed to meet societal standards of womanhood.
From the rigid beauty hierarchies of r/Vindicta to the ironic despair of TikTok’s femcelcore, these women are navigating a world where they feel they do not belong. While they generally avoid the violent radicalization seen in male incel communities, their struggles with mental health and social isolation are profound.
Scientists Evans and Lankford emphasize that further study of this population is necessary. Understanding femcels can help researchers identify the factors contributing to radicalization and develop support strategies for those suffering from severe social isolation. As the definition of the term continues to evolve, it remains a powerful lens through which to view the changing dynamics of gender and connection in the digital age.
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Google Docs has a new AI feature and it's brilliant
Added: Feb 23, 2026
Google Docs has a new AI feature and it's brilliant
Site: MUO
If you can't find time to read your documents, Google Docs will now read and summarize them for you.
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Quote of the day by Robert Frost: 'It's a funny thing, when a man has nothing to worry about, he goes off and gets married' - The Economic Times Added: Feb 23, 2026
Quote of the day by Robert Frost: 'It's a funny thing, when a man has nothing to worry about, he goes off and gets married' - The Economic Times
Robert Frost, one of America’s most celebrated poets, is remembered not just for his verse but for his sharp and humorous observations on life. Among his many memorable lines, one stands out for its wit and irony: “It's a funny thing that when a man hasn't anything on earth to worry about, he goes off and gets married.” This quote captures Frost’s talent for blending humor with a subtle critique of human behavior. While it is often shared as a lighthearted joke about marriage, it also reflects his broader views on the way people complicate their own lives.Frost’s statement can be read as a reflection on human nature. It suggests that people often create challenges for themselves even when life seems calm and manageable. In other words, when a person feels at ease, they may still seek out additional responsibilities or complications, sometimes without fully realizing the consequences. Marriage, with its many duties and emotional investments, becomes the perfect example of a self-imposed challenge that people eagerly embrace. Frost’s humor lies in pointing out this paradox in a simple, conversational way, making the observation both amusing and relatable.Beyond the humor, the quote also speaks to the unpredictability of life and the choices we make. Marriage is widely seen as a major life decision, and Frost implies that the decision to marry may not always be prompted by necessity or urgency, but rather by a kind of human curiosity or restlessness. The line highlights the way ordinary decisions can carry extraordinary consequences, and how the things we pursue in life—sometimes on a whim—can bring unexpected complications. It’s a gentle reminder that life rarely stays as uncomplicated as it appears, no matter how calm one’s circumstances may be.Robert Frost: Life and Literary JourneyRobert Frost was born on March 26, 1874, in San Francisco. After his father passed away when Frost was just eleven, he moved with his mother and sister to Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he developed a love for reading and poetry. Frost attended Dartmouth College and later Harvard University but did not complete a formal degree. He married his high school sweetheart, Elinor White, in 1895, a relationship that inspired much of his poetry. Early in his career, Frost worked various jobs, including teaching and farming, while attempting to publish his poems.In 1912, Frost moved his family to England, where he met and gained support from British poets including Ezra Pound, who helped him get his work published. He returned to the United States in 1915 after publishing two collections, A Boy’s Will and North of Boston, and quickly became a celebrated figure in American literature. Over his lifetime, he won four Pulitzer Prizes, delivered a poem at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and received widespread recognition for his portrayal of rural New England life and his ability to reflect on universal human themes through simple yet profound language.Understanding Frost’s StyleFrost’s poetry often focuses on ordinary experiences and the natural world, but beneath this simplicity lie layers of meaning. He drew inspiration from New England landscapes and everyday people, weaving them into his poems in a way that combined traditional meters with everyday speech. Critics note that Frost’s work frequently blends humor, irony, and a subtle philosophical outlook. In lines like “It's a funny thing that when a man hasn't anything on earth to worry about, he goes off and gets married,” we see this approach clearly: a casual remark that, upon reflection, carries insight into human behavior and life choices.Frost’s approach to poetry was meticulous yet unpretentious. He preferred language that sounded natural and familiar, often using the rhythm and accents of New England speech. This helped make his poetry accessible to readers while preserving a depth that rewarded careful thought. His writing reminds us that humor and wisdom often live side by side, and even a short, witty line can reveal truths about human nature.
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NASA uses Mars Helicopter's SoC for rover navigation upgrade • The Register Added: Feb 23, 2026
- NASA uses Mars Helicopter's SoC for rover navigation upgrade
- Upgrade allows robot to travel ‘potentially unlimited distances’ without phoning home for help
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NASA’s Perseverance Now Autonomously Pinpoints Its Location on Mars - NASA
Added: Feb 23, 2026NASA’s Perseverance Now Autonomously Pinpoints Its Location on Mars - NASA
Site: NASA
There is no GPS at the Red Planet, but a new technology called Mars Global Localization lets Perseverance determine precisely where it is — without human
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Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw | Hacker News
Added: Feb 23, 2026Google restricting Google AI Pro/Ultra subscribers for using OpenClaw | Hacker News
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THEY KILLED HIM
Site: YouTube
The violence needs to stop, the left is out of controlBecome A Memberhttp://youtube.com/timcastnews/joinThe Green Room - https://rumble.com/playlists/aa56qw_...
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IT JUST GOT SO MUCH WORSE
Site: YouTube
BUY CAST BREW COFFEE TO SUPPORT THE SHOW - https://castbrew.com/Become A Member And Protect Our Work at http://www.timcast.comHost:Tim Pool @Timcast (everywh...
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Meekness isn’t weakness – once considered positive, it’s one of the ‘undersung virtues’ that deserve defense today Added: Feb 23, 2026
Meekness isn’t weakness – once considered positive, it’s one of the ‘undersung virtues’ that deserve defense today
Site: The Conversation
The word ‘meekness’ might seem old-fashioned – and not a positive trait. But understanding its original meaning can identify an important virtue.
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Google's Lyria 3 lets Gemini app users generate 30-second songs - Google Search Added: Feb 23, 2026
Google Search
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THEY DID IT AGAIN
Site: YouTube
SUPPORT THE SHOW BUY CAST BREW COFFEE NOW - https://castbrew.com/Join - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLwNTXWEjVd2qIHLcXxQWxA/joinHosts: Tim @Timcast (eve...
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SCOTUS to consider tossing climate suit Added: Feb 23, 2026
**SCOTUS to consider tossing climate suit **
Site: The Hill
{beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story SCOTUS to consider tossing climate suitThe Supreme Court will consider a bid from oil companies to toss out …
