This is some footage from a GoPro HERO10 Black (pay me, please) aboard a drone operated by Iceland Aerials as it flies around and over the currently erupting Geldingadalsgos volcano. The first shot alone is worth hitting play for — absolutely stunning. I felt like I was there. I also felt like if I really was there and carrying the One Ring I would have just thrown it about a mile back and hoped for the best.

In everything is bigger in Texas news, this is a video from San Antonio of a large Texas brown tarantula that a homeowner spotted wandering the backyard all the way from the home’s back door. Well how about that! Say, isn’t San Antonio where the Alamo is? “Sure is.” I thought so. *crosses ‘see the Alamo’ off bucket list*

Note: Keep your volume in check, screaming mom.

This is a short video of a mom playing the virtual reality edition of Blair Witch and freaking out in the process. I like how her daughter hightails it out of there, that was some good decision making. The dog on the sofa in the background looks up, but settles back down again pretty quickly, leading me to believe this mom may get scared easily, and frequently. You know, I still remember the first time I screamed bloody murder at the Oculus Rift loading screen.

In feel-good news, this is a video of a Spanish-speaking customer at a Taco Bell in Kenosha, Wisconsin putting on an employee’s headset and helping translate a drive-thru order. That is beautiful. Per the translator’s wife:

“My husband and our family went to Taco Bell for dinner. The workers were asking each other if they spoke Spanish and everyone said no. He was by the counter waiting for our food and said I do. The young lady asked ‘Will you do it?’ He said yes because he didn’t want the person to be stuck waiting and leave with no food. Kindness goes a long way. Workers where happy and customer too!”

Good people. Also, I’m afraid I have no choice but to go to Taco Bell for lunch now. The seed has been planted, and that seed is going to grow into a taco tree, bearing a bountiful harvest of farts this afternoon. Obviously, I’d steer clear of the farmer’s market if I were you.

Old dogs: learning new tricks is easy for some of them. My old dogs? My old dogs can’t even remember their old tricks. They’re incredible at pooping inside if its raining out though. This is a video of a 10-year old English Mastiff driving a golf cart into its owner’s truck, then fleeing the scene on paw. So, do you think the owner would have been able to solve this mystery without the security cam footage? Sometimes I wonder. About a lot of things, really. Like why are we all here? I haven’t come to a definitive conclusion yet, but based on my life so far I’m leading towards some sort of punishment.

Because chemistry and physics are magic, this is a video of a guy wowing his friend with a length of stretched out nickel-titanium wire (aka Nitinol, a shape-memory alloy) that, when heated in a glass of hot water above its transition temperature (the temperature at which it was deformed), returns to its original coiled shape. How about that! He then asks if the show of magic makes his friend want to kiss him, but his friend is too bewitched to reply. *shrug* All friendships are different. Still, shape-memory alloys — are you thinking what I’m thinking? “Transformer sex dolls!” Okaaaay, no you are not.