2025.05.25

[lsanderson]

‘It’s Minnesota’s park’: High rollers and Tilt-A-Whirls, Valleyfair celebrates 50 years
Alex V. Cipolle and Jacob Aloi
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/05/25/valleyfair-amusement-park-in-shakopee-celebrates-50-years

Ebola and hantavirus outbreaks prompt raft of conspiracy theories in divided US
Ever-growing influence of social media and AI means such ideas spreading at faster rates than before, experts say
Edward Helmore
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/25/ebola-hantavirus-conspiracy-theories

Explosion threat at southern California chemical tank eliminated, firefighters say
US officials credit overnight cooling and monitoring for stabilising tank after leak fears triggered mass evacuation
Staff and agencies
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/25/chemical-tank-crack-california

Thai rescuers join effort to free seven people trapped in Laos cave
Group have been stuck in flooded cave in central Laos for five days after heavy rain caused landslides
Rebecca Ratcliffe and Navaon Siradapuvadol
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/25/laos-flooded-cave-thai-rescuers

The world is heading toward a financial crisis – the state of US politics has left us ill-prepared
Eduardo Porter
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/25/financial-crisis-trump-economics

‘The knickers that get thrown are bigger now!’
fans, love, coming out - and turning 82 -- Barry Manilow
Steve Rose
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2026/may/25/barry-manilow-interview-fans-love-coming-out-turning-82

Mature cheese-roller beaten by young, YouTubing upstart
Tom Kopke from Germany out-tumbles local hero Chris Anderson on a meltingly hot day in Gloucestershire
Steven Morris
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/25/cheese-rolling-german-youtuber-tom-kopke-beats-all-time-champion-chris-anderson

Films more likely to star an actor called Chris or a talking animal than a woman over 60, study finds
Emma Thompson among voices supporting anti-ageism campaign, which has uncovered striking findings in top-grossing UK films over past three years
Catherine Shoard Film editor
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/25/films-more-likely-to-star-an-actor-called-chris-or-a-talking-animal-than-a-woman-over-60-study-finds

What does sex mean to you? I’m a sex educator – here’s why I don’t define it at all
There is no universal definition of sex – and questioning what ‘counts’ can open the door to more fulfilling intimacy
Maya Walsh-Little
https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2026/may/22/definition-of-sex-educator

Sea-hugging railways and magical views: five of Europe’s best coastal train lines
Dramatic coastal scenery and train rides make a winning combination. Our rail expert picks journeys over and along the sea
Nicky Gardner
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/may/25/five-best-coastal-railways-trains-europe

Comments

Coastal Train Trips

[kayla_allen]

It's not on their list, but I'd surely nominate as an honorable mention the Great Western line along the coast through Dawlish. I've been down there once, and it was wonderful. I'm glad we took the time to stop over and look around before continuing onward. Alas, climate change suggests that this line won't last much longer, and it's been damaged before. And the government doesn't want to spend the money to resurrect the older inland route as an alternative, since the Treasury thinks that rail is a useless money pit, but roads are good investments.

Re: Coastal Train Trips

[lsanderson]

Golly, that excuse seems familiar.