#uncategorised — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #uncategorised, aggregated by home.social.
-
What Was the First Meme?
Cause of Death: Replaced by Itself, But Faster.
Subject Introduction: A Very Small Joke With Very Big Ambitions.
Before memes were screenshots, reaction images, or oddly specific jokes about ‘that one friend who…’, they were… an idea.
Literally.
Richard Dawkins coined the word ‘meme’ in The Selfish Gene to describe how ideas spread—like ‘cultural genes’, hopping from brain to brain, mutating as they go.
Which means, technically, the first meme wasn’t even funny.
Much like about 87% of modern memes, if we’re being brutally honest.
Ahem.
A disappointing start, I know.
But if I’m performing a proper cultural autopsy, I have to ask a more important question: what was the first recognisable meme? The first thing humans collectively saw, copied, and thought, yes, this… but slightly worse when I do it?
Candidates include:
- Kilroy Was Here (a doodle man peeking over walls during WWII).
- Dancing Baby (a slightly cursed 90s CGI infant – seriously, don’t Google it, you’ll have nightmares).
- “All Your Base Are Belong To Us” (early internet chaos in sentence form).
Each one carries the same DNA: repetition, variation, and a quiet insistence on being seen again.
Cause of Death: The Internet Got Involved (Obviously).
The first meme didn’t die because it failed.
It died because it succeeded too well.
Once the internet arrived, memes stopped being rare cultural oddities and became… everything, really.
What was once:
- Slowly shared.
- Slightly altered.
- Passed between small groups.
…became:
- Instantly global.
- Aggressively remixed.
- Posted 47,000 times before brunch. ☕
Memes didn’t just evolve. They accelerated beyond survivability.
The lifecycle shrank dramatically:
- Birth (someone posts it).
- Peak (everyone posts it).
- Irony phase (people mock it).
- Death (people mock people who still use it).
- Resurrection (someone posts it again three years later, ironically).
Total lifespan: roughly the length of a lukewarm cup of tea.
The ‘first meme,’ whatever it was, couldn’t survive in this new ecosystem. Not because it wasn’t strong, but because modern memes reproduce at a rate that would concern scienticians, epidemiologists, and at least one exhausted moderator on Reddit…
Surviving Relatives: The Chaos Continues.
Though the original has long dissolved into the cultural bloodstream, its descendants are thriving.
Modern equivalents include:
- Reaction images (emotion, but outsourced).
- Absurdist memes (logic has left the chat).
- Hyper-specific memes (you either get it, or you don’t—and that’s the point).
There’s also a noticeable shift: memes are no longer just shared.
They’re layered.
A meme references another meme, which references a cultural moment, which somehow references an emotion you had in 2013 and never properly recovered from.
At this point, understanding a meme sometimes requires:
- Context.
- Research.
- A degree.
Which feels like a lot for something featuring a blurry cat. 🐈
And yet we persist.
Legacy: What the First Meme Says About Us.
The first meme, wherever it came from, revealed something quietly profound:
Humans like to repeat things.
Not just repeat them, but reshape them. Personalise them. Make them ours, then send them back out into the world slightly altered, like a message in a bottle that now includes a joke.
Richard Dawkins probably did not expect his academic concept to eventually produce Minions saying things like ‘Wine O’Clock.’ 😂
Memes are, at their core, a form of connection.
A way of saying:
“I saw this.”
“I felt this.”
“Did you also feel this?”
Even the most ridiculous meme carries that same underlying impulse.
Which means the first meme didn’t really die.
It just… multiplied.
Endlessly.
Mutating.
Slightly more unhinged each time.
Final Diagnosis.
The first meme:
- Status: Deceased (technically).
- Cause of death: Extreme reproduction and cultural overstimulation.
- Legacy: Alive in every slightly overused joke you’ve ever sent.
And perhaps the strangest conclusion of all:
We’re not just observing memes.
We are the transmission system.
Which raises an uncomfortable but important question:
If memes evolve through us, who, exactly, is in control here?
Which means humanity may have accidentally evolved into a giant emotional forwarding system.
It’s enough to make you want to dance…
What do you think of memes, reader? Terminally online art form or humanity’s final evolutionary stage? 👀
Ciao :)(:
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Like This Post? Then Check Out These Posts:
Rate this:
#1 #2 #3 #General #Humour #Life #Personal #Random #Uncategorised -
If I go running a couple of times a week am I a runner? #Uncategorised #Running
-
If I go running a couple of times a week am I a runner? #Uncategorised #Running
-
If I go running a couple of times a week am I a runner? #Uncategorised #Running
-
If I go running a couple of times a week am I a runner? #Uncategorised #Running
-
If I go running a couple of times a week am I a runner? #Uncategorised #Running
-
Who Was the First Person to Say ‘Oops’?
A deeply unnecessary investigation into humanity’s most honest word.
It arrived, as all important questions do, at a completely inconvenient time.
I’d just dropped something for absolutely no reason. Not dramatically. Not even interestingly. Just enough to create that quiet, personal moment where your brain sighs and your mouth, without consulting you, goes:
“Oops.”
And then I paused.
Because… who started that?
Who was the first human being to mess something up, look at the consequences, and decide that the correct verbal response was a soft, rounded, “Oops”? Not panic. Not denial. Not a full monologue. Just… a gentle linguistic shrug.
Because someone, somewhere, had the first “oops” moment. And the rest of us have been casually inheriting their mistakes ever since.
Possible Answer #1: The First Human Error (Prehistoric Edition).
Picture it.
A very early human. Let’s call him… Dave.
(It feels right).
Dave has just invented something groundbreaking.
Fire, perhaps.
Or a chair that is mostly stable. 🪑
Either way, it’s going well. Until it isn’t.
A rock slips. A spark flies. A carefully balanced situation becomes significantly less balanced.
Dave looks at the mess.
Dave makes a noise.
Not a word. Not yet. Just a sound. Something instinctive. A small, rounded exhale of regret.
“Oop.”
And there it is. The prototype.
Humanity’s first beta test in regret.
Not quite language. Not quite thought. But definitely the first recorded instance of well, that could have gone better.
Possible Answer #2: The Medieval Scribe Incident.
Fast forward a few thousand years.
A monk is painstakingly copying a manuscript. Ink. Quill. Absolute concentration. This is not a job where you can casually hit ‘undo.’
And then…
A drop of ink lands exactly where it shouldn’t. ✒️
There is a long pause.
He stares at it.
He considers his life choices.
He briefly considers walking directly into the sea.
And then, quietly, rebelliously:
“Oops.”
Historians will never confirm this. But emotionally, it feels accurate.
Possible Answer #3: The First Person Who Didn’t Panic.
Here’s where things take a turn.
Because maybe the first ‘oops’ wasn’t about the mistake at all.
Maybe it was about restraint.
At some point in history, someone made a mistake and didn’t react dramatically. Didn’t shout. Didn’t spiral. Didn’t immediately blame someone else or invent a new identity.
They just… acknowledged it.
Softly. Briefly. Without ceremony.
“Oops.”
Which, if you think about it, is wildly advanced behaviour.
It’s the linguistic equivalent of quietly tidying your own disaster before anyone notices:
- “I see what I’ve done.”
- “I accept this.”
- “I will now move on, ideally without making it worse.”
It’s not panic. It’s not denial.
It’s… emotional efficiency.
“Oops” Was Never About the First Person.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
We’re asking the wrong question.
Because ‘oops’ doesn’t belong to one person. It belongs to everyone who’s ever slightly messed up without wanting to make a big deal about it.
It’s not a word that was invented.
It’s a word that inevitably happened.
Give humans:
- Objects.
- Expectations.
- And just enough confidence…
…and ‘oops’ appears shortly after.
It’s less a word…
and more a side effect of being alive.
Possible Answer #4: You (Yes, You).
Let’s be honest.
The most convincing answer is also the most inconvenient:
The first person to say ‘oops’…
is you.
Not literally first ever, but first in your version of it.
Because every time you say it, you’re recreating the moment:
- The tiny mistake.
- The brief pause.
- The acceptance that things have gone slightly sideways.
You’re participating in a tradition that stretches back through time, carried not by records or monuments, but by dropped mugs, mistyped messages, and that one time you waved back at someone who wasn’t waving at you.
The Smallest Word with the Biggest Honesty.
‘Oops’ might be one of the most human things we do.
It doesn’t fix anything.
It doesn’t explain anything.
It barely even apologises.
But it acknowledges reality in the gentlest way possible.
And maybe that’s why it stuck.
Because in a world full of overreactions, overthinking, and overcomplicated explanations…
Sometimes all you need is a quiet little:
“Oops.”
Preferably before the smoke starts. 🔥
Now I need to know: What’s the most ‘oops’ moment you’ve ever had? The small ones. The ridiculous ones. The ones that didn’t ruin your life but definitely ruined your afternoon. Share it (purely for research purposes, obviously).
Ciao :)(:
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Like This Post? Then Check Out These Posts:
Rate this:
#1 #2 #3 #General #Humour #Life #Personal #Random #Uncategorised -
What If the Universe Is a Petri Dish?
Cause of Death: Overexposure to late-night thinking and one (1) documentary.
Specimen recovered from the internet, circa ‘2:14am on a Tuesday.’
Cause for initial interest: one person staring at the ceiling at 2:14am, suddenly struck by the overwhelming suspicion that existence might be… supervised.
The theory is simple, elegant, and deeply inconvenient:
What if the universe is just a petri dish?
And we (congrats!) are the bacteria. 🦠
It thrived in dimly lit bedrooms, comment sections, and that specific moment halfway through a science video where the music gets a bit too atmospheric and the narrator says something like, “But what if… we’re not alone?”, which is never as comforting as they think it is.
For a brief, glorious period, this idea spread like, well… bacteria.
It colonised group chats. It lingered in shower thoughts. It looked panic directly in the eye and said:
“What if we took this further?”
And like all cultural organisms, it grew.
Cause of Death: Fatal Collision with Practicality.
Time of death: unclear. Likely gradual. Possibly during a work meeting.
The petri dish theory didn’t die dramatically. There was no single debunking, no intellectual mic drop. It simply… ran out of energy.
Because here’s the problem with believing you’re in a cosmic experiment:
You still have to do the washing up. 🍽️
At some point, the human brain—heroically committed to survival—steps in and says, “This is fascinating, but also, we have emails.”
The theory collapsed under the weight of its own implications. If we are being observed, the observers are either:
- Extremely patient.
- Deeply uninterested.
- Or currently watching us scroll while eating snacks and thinking, ‘Huh.’
Worse still, the theory offered no actionable next steps.
You can’t exactly tap on the glass and ask for clarification. There’s no ‘Contact Researcher’ button.
And so, like many late-night revelations, it dissolved in daylight…
Surviving Relatives: The Ideas That Carried On the Family Name.
Though the petri dish theory itself faded into the background hum of ‘things we think about but don’t mention at dinner,’ its DNA lives on.
It has several thriving descendants:
The Simulation Hypothesis.
Same dread. Better graphics.. Now we’re not bacteria, we’re code. Slight upgrade.
“We’re Just a Tiny Part of Something Bigger” Content.
Usually accompanied by sweeping drone footage and music that suggests you should feel both inspired and slightly insignificant.
Algorithm Anxiety.
Not quite cosmic, but eerily similar. You are being observed. You are being studied. And yes, it is adjusting based on your behaviour.
Your phone already knows you briefly considered buying a medieval cloak at 1:12am. That’s not reassuring.
‘Main Character Energy’ vs ‘NPC Energy.’
A modern reinterpretation of the same question:
Am I the subject of the experiment… or just background data?
The core idea didn’t die. It just rebranded. Like all good cultural phenomena, it adapted to its environment—which, in this case, is Wi-Fi.
What the Petri Dish Told Us About Ourselves.
The real fascination wasn’t the theory itself. It was why we liked it.
Because hidden inside the absurdity is something oddly human:
We want to matter… but not too much.
The petri dish idea offers a strange comfort. It suggests that:
- There is a system (even if we don’t understand it).
- There is observation (even if it’s indifferent).
- There is purpose (even if it’s accidental).
It turns chaos into a kind of experiment. And experiments, at least, imply intention.
Also—and this is important—it lets us blame things.
Bad day? Probably the researchers.
Spilled coffee? Classic petri dish interference.
Existential crisis? Honestly, expected under lab conditions.
But perhaps the most revealing part is this:
we didn’t cling to the theory because it was true.
We clung to it because it was interesting.
Final Notes from the Lab.
The petri dish theory now rests in the great archive of Human Thoughts That Escalated Quickly, alongside ‘what if my dog knows more than he’s letting on.’
It didn’t change the world.
It didn’t answer anything.
It didn’t even survive a decent night’s sleep.
But for a moment, it made the universe feel strangely inspectable.
And maybe that’s enough.
Because whether we’re in a petri dish, a simulation, or just a very confusing timeline where everyone collectively decided to pretend they understand taxes—
We’re still here.
Still wondering.
Still poking at the glass, just in case something pokes back.
Cause of death: Natural fading due to daylight and responsibilities.
Status: Dormant. May re-emerge at 2:14am. 🌌
What do you think, reader?
Ciao :)(:
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Like This Post? Then Check Out These Posts:
Rate this:
#1 #2 #3 #General #Humour #Life #Personal #Random #Uncategorised -
I Tried Manifesting and Summoned My Anxiety
An Unhelpful Guide to Harnessing the Power of Your Thoughts (Please Don’t).
Manifesting, as Google has told me (and several suspiciously calm influencers), is a simple thing. ✨
You think positive thoughts. You visualise success. You align your ‘energy’ with the universe (somehow), and in return, the universe, like an overenthusiastic waiter, brings you exactly what you ordered.
No substitutions. No refunds. No, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Naturally, as someone whose brain occasionally treats ‘What if everything goes wrong?’ as a hobby, I thought: Yes. I am ready for this level of responsibility.
(I cannot be trusted to reply to emails, but this feels manageable).
Turns out…
Well, let’s just say, this guide exists to help you follow in my footsteps. Not successfully, may I add, because that’s impossible, but accurately.
Step 1: Set Your Intention (Keep It Vague but Ambitious).
This is key when manifesting. Start by deciding what you want.
Be bold. Be specific. Say something like:
“I want to feel calm, confident, and completely in control of my life.”
Immediately after this, your brain will respond with:
“Define ‘calm.’ Also, what if we fail publicly? And should we prepare a statement in advance?”
Ignore this. This is just your mind warming up. It’s like emotional stretching.
You’re on the right track.
Step 2: Visualise Your Ideal Reality.
Close your eyes and picture your best self.
They say it can be anything. You, in your underpants, eating ice cream and watching YouTube camping videos forever more. But let’s park that for now.
Instead, imagine you’re walking into a room. You’re relaxed. You’re glowing. You know what to say and when to say it. You don’t replay conversations from 2007.
Hold this image.
Now watch as your brain gently replaces it with:
- That time you waved back at someone who wasn’t waving at you.
- A hypothetical future where you trip over nothing.
- A full HD replay of saying the wrong thing in a meeting.
Congratulations.
You are no longer visualising success.
You are storyboarding your downfall. 🎬
Step 3: Repeat Positive Affirmations.
Affirmations are key.
Say things like:
- “I am calm!”
- “I am confident.”
- “I am not going to spiral.”
Repeat them daily.
Your brain, however, will begin a counter-presentation:
- “Are you calm, though? Really? Let’s review recent evidence.”
- “Confident? On what basis?”
- “Spiral? Oh, we can absolutely spiral.”
At this stage, you are no longer affirming.
You are hosting a panel discussion. And your anxiety has a microphone.
Step 4: Trust the Process.
This is where most people succeed.
Unfortunately, this is also where things take a turn.
Because trusting the process requires letting go of control. And letting go of control is, for your anxiety, the equivalent of pressing a large red button labelled:
‘DO SOMETHING DRAMATIC.’
You will begin to notice signs:
- Increased overthinking.
- Sudden awareness of every possible outcome.
- A deep, philosophical concern about a text you sent three hours ago.
You are not failing.
You are… manifesting something. It’s just not what you ordered.
But that’s not a bad thing…
Step 5: Interpret the Signs (Incorrectly, but with Confidence).
Every small inconvenience is now a message from the universe.
Spilt your tea? A sign.
Missed a call? A sign.
Nightmares at 2am? A very strong sign.
Someone typing ‘k’ instead of ‘okay’? Catastrophic sign.
You will attempt to decode these signals like a conspiracy theorist with a corkboard and absolutely no off switch.
Somewhere along the way, you will realise:
You are not manifesting your dream life.
You are curating a personalised anxiety experience.
Step 6: Escalate (Because That Seems Sensible).
At this point, a reasonable person might pause.
Instead, you double down.
You journal. You visualise harder. You try to ‘raise your cosmic vibrations,’ which appears to involve sitting very still while thinking louder.
Louder.
LOUDER.
Your thoughts become… enthusiastic.
Not positive. Not negative. Just loud.
Like your brain has found a megaphone and no adult supervision.
Shouty, shouty thoughts.
The Moment of Clarity (or Collapse, Depending on the Day).
And then, somewhere between your fifth affirmation and your brain’s twelfth objection, it hits you:
Maybe the issue isn’t that you’re bad at manifesting.
Maybe it’s that your mind doesn’t need encouragement.
It’s already generating scenarios. Constantly. In high definition.
You didn’t summon success.
You just gave your anxiety a creative brief.
A Slightly More Honest Takeaway.
Here’s the thing no one puts in the guidebooks:
Your thoughts are powerful, but they’re also… chaotic. And a little bit naff.
Trying to control them perfectly is a bit like organising a group chat where everyone is you, and none of you agrees.
Manifesting didn’t fail.
It just revealed something slightly more useful:
Maybe the goal isn’t to think perfectly, but to notice what you’re thinking without immediately turning it into a full-blown production of Les Mis.
(Featuring you, your fears, and a surprisingly committed internal chorus).
A Gentle Disclaimer Disguised as Wisdom.
So if you’re thinking of manifesting, go ahead.
Visualise. Affirm. Dream big. Think underpants and ice cream.
But maybe don’t panic if your brain occasionally responds with,
“Cool idea. Here are 47 ways it could go wrong.”
That’s not failure.
That’s just your mind… being aggressively thorough.
And honestly? It means well.
Even if it does come with a warning label…
“You don’t have to control your thoughts.
Dan Millman.
You just have to stop letting them control you.”Have you ever tried manifesting… or just accidentally manifested a full-blown spiral? 😅
Peace Out :|:
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Like This Post? Then Check Out These Posts:
Rate this:
#1 #2 #3 #4 #47 #brunchpics #EatTheRich #General #Humour #Life #Personal #Random #ShortKingProblems #Uncategorised #ViveLaFrance -
In the Spotlight: 208 – Namur
Have you ever fought someone… on stilts? 🪵
No? Excellent. There is a place where you can.
This is the Joutes de Namur. It sees two rival teams, the Mélans and the Avresses, clash, ON STILTS, in front of thousands of spectators. Their aim? To knock the other off. If this isn’t to your liking, there are also lovely snail and turtle sculptures, the King of Lairs, and a statue of AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson. If you want to know what the hell is going on here… read on. Today, we’re visiting the Lady of the Meuse, Namur.
Go On, Then…
Namur (Nameur [Walloon], Namen [Dutch]) is a city and municipality in Wallonia, Belgium, with a population of around 115,330 and covering roughly 67.93 square miles. Or, for my metric cousins, about 15 times bigger than Tokelu.
You’re welcome!
But numbers don’t really do Namur justice. They’re far too… efficient, for a place such as this.
As the political capital of Wallonia, Namur has spent centuries quietly expanding beyond the walls of its imposing citadel, evolving into a place where history, culture, countryside, and the occasional giant snail all coexist quite happily.
It’s the kind of city that doesn’t rush to impress you. Instead, it gently taps you on the shoulder and says:
“Take your time. We certainly did.”
Europe’s Biggest Anthill.
Let’s start with the obvious: the citadel of doooooom!
The locals probably call it that. I mean, I would.
Perched high above the city like it owns the place (which, historically, it actually did), the Citadel of Namur is the crown jewel of the city. So impressive, in fact, that Napoleon Bonaparte allegedly referred to it as ‘Europe’s biggest anthill’ when he conquered it in 1794.
Which is impressive.
And slightly insulting.
Beneath the citadel lies a labyrinth of tunnels, around 493 yards of them, now restored and open to visitors. Wandering through them feels a bit like stepping into history’s backstage area, where secrets echo, and you half expect a 17th-century soldier to pop out and ask for directions.
That’s about four-and-a-half Big Bens.
Of tunnels.
Yes, that makes sense.
Snail Sculpture: A City in No Rush Whatsoever.
It’s not me being cruel when I say Namurois and Namuroise are very slow. If there’s one thing Namur has embraced, it’s its reputation for being… unhurried.
Enter the snail: the city’s unofficial mascot and symbol of its relaxed pace of life. Not content with just being associated with snails, Namur has immortalised them in one of its more delightfully bizarre public artworks.
In the town square stands a bronze sculpture of two cartoonish men, apparently arguing over two snails.
One is on a leash. One is in a cage.
Questions are raised.
Few are answered.
Although I guess it’s pretty obvious…
Source.Created by cartoonist Jean Legrand and later sculpted by artist Suzanne Godard in 2000, the duo represents the stereotypically slow-witted (but lovable) locals. They’ve appeared in newspapers, puppet shows, and now, permanently, in bronze, forever debating snail ownership like it’s a matter of national importance.
Turtle Sculpture: Because Why Stop at Snails?
Yes, there are also turtles. Halfway up the stairs to the citadel (specifically the stairs, not the sensible ramp), you’ll encounter a giant bronze turtle.
Naturally.
Source.Perched on its back is a man gazing out over the Meuse River and the city beyond, as if contemplating life, existence, or perhaps just wondering why he chose a turtle instead of… the stairs.
Created by Jan Fabre in 2015, the sculpture was originally temporary. But the people of Namur loved it so much they collectively decided, “No, this stays.” And honestly, fair enough.
If your city already has a philosophical relationship with snails, a giant turtle feels like a natural progression, right?
Isaac Cordal: Tiny People, Big Questions.
If giant sculptures aren’t your thing, Namur also offers the exact opposite: over 40 miniature figures hidden around the city. Ooh, it’s like a treasure hunt! Without the treasure. Unless satisfaction is enough. Oh, it isn’t? Fair play.
In Isaac Cordal’s work, these tiny, anonymous civil servants are tucked into corners, ledges, and unexpected places, quietly existing in their own little worlds.
Finding them becomes a sort of urban scavenger hunt. Part exploration. Part crouching suspiciously in public. Each figure invites you to reflect on consumerism, social inequality, and the absurdity of modern life.
Erm… apparently.
Or, alternatively, you can crouch awkwardly in public trying to photograph a tiny man in a suit without alarming passersby.
Good luck!
Local Artists: Creativity with a Personal Touch.
Namur’s artistic spirit doesn’t stop at public sculptures. Or tiny men. The city is full of local artisans crafting pottery, woodwork, and textiles infused with Walloon traditions.
You’re not just buying souvenirs. You’re buying stories.
And avoiding another fridge magnet.
Goddamn magnets.
The Stilt Walkers: Six Centuries of Not Falling Over (Impressively).
Now we arrive at one of Namur’s most gloriously unusual traditions: stilt jousting.
It’s medieval. It’s dangerous. It’s… surprisingly well organised.
Dating back to at least 1411 (when it was officially banned for those over 13, which clearly was a bad idea as I’d love to see children doing this), this centuries-old spectacle involves people standing on stilts and attempting to knock each other off.
Sore knees be damned.
It is exactly as chaotic and brilliant as it sounds…
Source.Do they look like unhinged Santa’s elves?
Yes. Yes, they do.
Today, the tradition is alive and thriving, even earning recognition from UNESCO in 2021 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Once male-dominated, it has evolved—women and girls now make up a growing and competitive part of the community.
But there’s still a ban on children? Oh, that’s not right at all.
It’s not just about balance and strength, but teamwork, tradition, and a shared willingness to risk dignity for the sake of culture.
Long live the échasseurs.
Brian Johnson: Rock, Roll, and a Surprisingly Intimate Gig.
You might not expect a global rock story to intersect with a city known for snails and turtles, but Namur delivers on this.
After Bon Scott died in 1980, AC/DC recruited Brian Johnson and prepared for a comeback that would become legendary with Back in Black.
Before conquering the world, they tested him here.
In Namur.
In front of just 1,000 people.
A small crowd. A huge moment. Yes.
THIS is where Brian Johnson’s first album received its world premiere. All because they were a bit nervous about how he would go down. So why not test him out on the Belgians?
It became the second best-selling album of all time with 50 million records sold, and all because the Belgians loved it.
Probably.
And so Namur remembered.
As you do.
They even renamed the square Esplanade AC/DC. Johnson himself even returned to see it, proof that once you’ve played Namur, Namur doesn’t forget you.
Sniff, I hope for that honour one day…
King of Liars: Where Honesty Is… Optional.
Finally, we arrive at perhaps the most charmingly suspicious tradition of all.
Yes, somehow above AC/DC, snails, turtles and mini men.
During the Fêtes de Wallonie, Namur celebrates the art of lying. Not casual fibbing, either. I’m talking professional-grade storytelling.
Finally, a competition I might actually win.
Inspired by the Academy of Liars in Moncrabeau, France, and linked to Namur native Nicolas Bosret, the city hosts its own ‘King of Liars’ contest. Each year, a winner is chosen and ceremoniously enthroned on a tiny stone stool.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, the best stories aren’t the truest ones; they’re the most entertaining…
The Wonders of Namur.
#3: The Old Town.
The wonderful Old Town is a riot of colour and architecture, buildings jostling for space like they’ve got somewhere better to be. The narrow streets and laneways are romantic, a hotchpotch of styles that speak to the inherent joy of a beautiful little city.
#2: St Aubin’s Cathedral.
A beautiful, slightly intimidating behemoth. It is the only Late Baroque cathedral in Belgium, the oldest parts dating back to 1047, but largely rebuilt in the 1700s. Yes, there are cars all around it, but that’s because Namur doesn’t get anywhere near the number of tourists that other Belgian cities do. So you might have it all to yourself.
#1: The Citadel.
Proof that underrated does not mean unimpressive. You can perhaps best see this in the wonderful Citadel, especially gorgeous under the lights, alongside the Sambre and Meuse rivers. The original Citadel dates to 937, achieving its current form in 1675. It is absolutely stunning and proof that this little-known city is worth your time.
#1:The Citadel.#2: St Aubin’s Cathedral.#3: The Old Town.(Click to Enlarge).
Pro Tips for Surviving (and Thriving) in Namur.
1. Respect the Pace (or the Snails Win).
Namur operates on a delightfully unhurried rhythm. Don’t try to rush it. You’ll only stress yourself out while everyone else is calmly enjoying a coffee. Eurgh. Slow down. The snails will beat you anyway. 🐌
2. Look Up, Look Down, Look Everywhere.
Between the looming Citadel of Namur and the tiny hidden works of Isaac Cordal, Namur rewards curiosity. The best moments aren’t always on the map. They’re tucked into corners, stairways, and unexpected viewpoints. If you’re not slightly lost, you’re doing it wrong.
3. Embrace the Quirky (Fully, No Half-Measures).
From snail mascots to stilt jousting, Namur leans into its oddities and so should you. Try the local food, chat to artisans, and if there’s a festival (especially the Fêtes de Wallonie), dive in. Lean into the weird. Fully. They say if you haven’t left Namur with a joust mark across your face, you haven’t been to Namur…
Final Thoughts.
Namur doesn’t try to impress you.
It just… does.
Slowly. Quietly. Slightly absurdly.
And before you realise it, you’re watching people fight on stilts…
and thinking,
‘Yes. This makes perfect sense.’ 🪵
Be Sure to Check Out My Other European Spotlights By Clicking Here!
Post Sources.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/brian-johnson-statue-namur, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/djoseph-et-francwes, https://tourismattractions.net/belgium/namur-local-traditions, https://www.exploremeuse.be/en/did-you-know-that-the-namur-citadel-is-one-of-the-largest-citadels-in-europe, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/le-cheval-bayard, https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/namur-belgium, https://travel.bhushavali.com/2019/09/top-5-places-to-see-namur-belgium.html, https://www.wallonia.be/en/news/namur-stilt-walkers-tradition-embracing-modernity, https://notesfromcamelidcountry.net/2022/05/13/namur-a-charmed-life-in-the-slow-lane/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namur
Image Sources.
https://en.ardenneincoming.be/groups/namur-citadel.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Aubin%27s_Cathedral, https://www.islands.com/1870050/city-belgium-namur-charming-castles-culture-art-river/
Would you visit Namur, reader? Likes, shares & comments greatly appreciated!
Ciao :)(:
Type your email…
Subscribe
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Δ
Like This Post? Then Check Out These Posts:
Rate this:
#1 #2 #3 #General #Humour #Life #Personal #Random #Uncategorised -
The Fearsome Kushtaka
Or, Never Trust Anything That Holds Hands While It Sleeps. 🦦
There are two types of people in this world: those who see an otter and think, ‘Aww, look at its tiny hands!’ And those who don’t. Especially after reading about the Kushtaka. These people think:
‘That thing absolutely has a side hustle stealing souls.‘
And like most bad decisions in human history, it starts with trust.
We’ve collectively decided that anything fluffy, floaty, and mildly smiley is incapable of wrongdoing.
This is how we ended up with emotional support animals, suspiciously charming villains, and absolutely no contingency plan for shape-shifting land-otter people lurking in the forests of Southeast Alaska. 🦦
Oh yes, you read that correctly.
So… what is the Kushtaka? And more importantly, should we be side-eyeing all otters?
The Folklore: The Lie of the Fluff.
In the traditions of the Tlingit and Tsimshian peoples, the Kushtaka (literally ‘land otter people’) are not your average woodland mischief-makers. These are shape-shifters. Tricksters. Emotional manipulators with a flair for theatrical timing.
Well, who doesn’t?
They lure people.
With cries for help.
A baby. A friend. Your name.
Your brain saying, “Just one more episode.” And if that doesn’t unsettle you, here’s the part where it gets worse:
In the best-case scenario, you’re turned into one of them. Best case. Worst case? Well, let’s just say you’re not coming back for dinner. Heck, you are dinner.
Alternate worst case: you come back… different.
They’re not just spooky for the sake of it, either. The Kushtaka exist in a world where the line between life and death is fragile, where disappearing into the wilderness or sea wasn’t just possible, but common.
In that context, the Kushtaka aren’t random monsters. They’re an explanation. A way of saying: something took them, and it wasn’t nothing.
Which is deeply unsettling, because it suggests the universe has a customer service department—
and it’s run by otters.
Bloody otters. 🦦
The Fact: Otters Are… Suspiciously Capable.
Now, before we accuse every otter of running an interdimensional recruitment scheme, let’s look at the facts.
Otters are incredibly intelligent. They use tools. They’ve been around for millions of years. They live on nearly every continent. They hold hands while sleeping so they don’t drift apart, which is super adorbs.
And yes, they are what scienticians call ‘charismatic megafauna,’ which is a polite way of saying they’re so cute we stop asking questions, and a phenomenal name for a band.
But here’s where things get interesting. Humans have a habit of projecting our own emotions onto animals. We see an otter floating peacefully and assume it’s thinking peaceful thoughts, like ‘I love my friends,’ or ‘This pebble is sure swell.’
We do not consider that it might be thinking:
‘Step one: gain their trust. Step two: become legend. Step three: no witnesses.’
Well, I do, but I’m not most people…
The Twist: Maybe the Kushtaka Isn’t About Otters at All.
Here’s the part where everything flips slightly sideways.
What if the Kushtaka isn’t about evil otters at all… but about humans being dangerously trusting?
Think about it. The Kushtaka often appear as someone you know. Someone familiar. Someone you’d follow without question. It’s not the claws or the teeth that get you, it’s the moment you think, ‘That’s safe.’
In that sense, the Kushtaka isn’t a creature. It’s a warning.
Don’t wander off alone. Don’t follow every voice. Don’t assume something is harmless just because it looks comforting.
Which, frankly, applies just as well to late-night online shopping and ‘quick five-minute scrolls.’
Even very trustworthy-looking people with excellent PR teams.
So… Should You Fear Otters?
No. Probably not. I think. Well, not unless one asks you to follow it into the woods. Then maybe just… politely decline.
But the Kushtaka does leave us with a slightly uncomfortable truth: the things we trust most easily are often the things we understand least.
For example, me and online delivery time estimates.
Also, and this is important, if something is too cute, it may simply be hiding something.
Don’t trust pandas.
No reason. Just… don’t. 🐼
The Real Monster Might Be… Us (But in a Chill Way).
In the end, the Kushtaka isn’t here to ruin your next zoo visit. It’s here to remind you that the world is a strange place, full of stories that blur the line between reality and meaning.
And maybe that’s the point.
We take something as simple as an otter and turn it into a symbol of danger, mystery, and transformation, because humans are very good at turning uncertainty into stories we can live with.
Even if those stories occasionally involve soul-stealing woodland cryptids.
So next time you see an otter—online, in a documentary, or just living its best little life—stop and take a moment.
Appreciate the cuteness.
Respect the mystery.
And maybe… don’t follow it anywhere.
Because nobody wants to become an otter.
…actually, that sounds quite nice.
Take me, Kushtaka. I’m ready. 🦦
The Kushtaka. Source.
Be Sure to Check Out My Other Cryptids & Mysteries By Clicking the Titles Here!
Be honest, reader—would you trust the otter… or the story?
Ciao :)(:
Type your email…
Subscribe
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Δ
Leave a comment Cancel reply
Δ
Click Here for Credits (click on image to enlarge)Image Credit
https://allthatsinteresting.com/native-american-ghost-stories/10Post Sources
https://mysteriesofcanada.com/aboriginal-mysteries/kustaka-monster-of-the-pacific-northwest/, https://thesquonkandthehag.com/2023/04/20/the-kushtaka/, https://www.islandpointlodge.com/learn-about-kushtaka-and-other-folklore-near-petersburg-alaska/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushtaka, https://sitka.com/news/?page_id=191, https://www.outdoorlife.com/adventure/tlingit-legend-of-kooshdaa-kaa/, https://believingthebizarre.com/the-legend-of-the-kushtaka/, https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Kushtaka, https://esoterx.com/2013/01/09/the-fearsome-alaskan-tlingit-kushtaka-if-its-not-one-thing-its-an-otter/, https://www.facebook.com/tim.hatfield.5/posts/alaskan-cryptidthe-kushtaka-k%C3%B3oshdaa-k%C3%A1a-is-a-shape-shifting-creature-from-the-t/26174198095598317/Like This Post? Then Check Out These Posts:
Rate this:
#1 #2 #3 #General #Humour #Life #Personal #Random #Uncategorised -
Gang guilty of gunning down mum in drive-by shooting targeting rapper outside funeral
-
OpenAI shuts down Sora video — Disney deal off
-
OpenAI shuts down Sora video — Disney deal off
-
OpenAI shuts down Sora video — Disney deal off
-
OpenAI shuts down Sora video — Disney deal off
-
OpenAI shuts down Sora video — Disney deal off
-
New Post: Immigration Bail and Switching In-Country After Kaur: Why Immigration Bail Blocks In-Country Applications https://immigrationbarrister.co.uk/kaur-case-why-immigration-bail-blocks-in-country-applications/ #SkilledWorkers #Uncategorised #WorkVisas
-
New Post: Immigration Bail and Switching In-Country After Kaur: Why Immigration Bail Blocks In-Country Applications https://immigrationbarrister.co.uk/kaur-case-why-immigration-bail-blocks-in-country-applications/ #SkilledWorkers #Uncategorised #WorkVisas
-
New Post: Immigration Bail and Switching In-Country After Kaur: Why Immigration Bail Blocks In-Country Applications https://immigrationbarrister.co.uk/kaur-case-why-immigration-bail-blocks-in-country-applications/ #SkilledWorkers #Uncategorised #WorkVisas
-
New Post: Immigration Bail and Switching In-Country After Kaur: Why Immigration Bail Blocks In-Country Applications https://immigrationbarrister.co.uk/kaur-case-why-immigration-bail-blocks-in-country-applications/ #SkilledWorkers #Uncategorised #WorkVisas
-
New Post: Immigration Bail and Switching In-Country After Kaur: Why Immigration Bail Blocks In-Country Applications https://immigrationbarrister.co.uk/kaur-case-why-immigration-bail-blocks-in-country-applications/ #SkilledWorkers #Uncategorised #WorkVisas
-
Inside one UK city’s robot revolution where people get their deliveries from droids
-
Inside one UK city’s robot revolution where people get their deliveries from droids
-
Inside one UK city’s robot revolution where people get their deliveries from droids
-
Inside one UK city’s robot revolution where people get their deliveries from droids
-
Inside one UK city’s robot revolution where people get their deliveries from droids
-
London’s cycling trips hit 1.5 million a day as ridership surges 43% since 2019
-
London’s cycling trips hit 1.5 million a day as ridership surges 43% since 2019
-
London’s cycling trips hit 1.5 million a day as ridership surges 43% since 2019
-
London’s cycling trips hit 1.5 million a day as ridership surges 43% since 2019
-
London’s cycling trips hit 1.5 million a day as ridership surges 43% since 2019
-
Netflix fans hail ‘must-binge’ new drama series by Game of Thrones producers
-
Kamala Harris comes out swinging against ‘thin-skinned tyrant’ Donald Trump
-
Kamala Harris comes out swinging against ‘thin-skinned tyrant’ Donald Trump
-
Kamala Harris comes out swinging against ‘thin-skinned tyrant’ Donald Trump
-
Kamala Harris comes out swinging against ‘thin-skinned tyrant’ Donald Trump
-
Kamala Harris comes out swinging against ‘thin-skinned tyrant’ Donald Trump
-
Ex wife of Premier League star Kieran Tripper has her home ram-raided by thieves
-
Royal Marine sniper makes ‘bulleyse’ shot on £35m drug boat flying backwards from helicopter
-
Snapchat memories could be deleted unless users pay
-
Snapchat memories could be deleted unless users pay
-
Snapchat memories could be deleted unless users pay
-
Snapchat memories could be deleted unless users pay
-
Snapchat memories could be deleted unless users pay
-
DEFRA says: delete your emails to … save water?!
It’s a long, hot summer. And the National Drought Group of DEFRA has put out an official press release on how you can help save water. [DEFRA, archive] You might think the issue involves the government-advocated data centres that use vast amounts of fresh water each day for cooling. Or perhaps the water companies that […]
https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/08/14/defra-says-delete-your-emails-to-save-water/
#Uncategorised #AgnsPannierRunacher -
installed Wordfence on my multisite WordPress today
https://www.wordfence.com/The hint came from a mailing list, run by my web-space provider: operations-discussion.lists.hostsharing.net .
I am rather curious, whether this will help me fighting this warning:
…: [HS] Traffic-Warnung
Who has been causing excessive traffic on my WordPress? Just guessing … – bots, that use my blogs for training AI so
https://wp.jochen.hayek.name/blog-en/2025/07/20/wordfence/
#Uncategorised -
Meta AI posts your personal chats to a public feed
Meta’s got a new chatbot app, Meta AI. You can ask it questions in text or voice, much like ChatGPT or Gemini. [Meta] There’s one difference — the other chatbots don’t reveal your conversations to the world. Some maniac at Meta put up a public feed of people chatting to the bot. [Twitter, thread] There’s […]
https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/06/14/meta-ai-posts-your-personal-chats-to-a-public-feed/
#Uncategorised #Meta #MetaAI -
Meta AI posts your personal chats to a public feed
Meta’s got a new chatbot app, Meta AI. You can ask it questions in text or voice, much like ChatGPT or Gemini. [Meta] There’s one difference — the other chatbots don’t reveal your conversations to the world. Some maniac at Meta put up a public feed of people chatting to the bot. [Twitter, thread] There’s […]
https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/06/14/meta-ai-posts-your-personal-chats-to-a-public-feed/
#Uncategorised #Meta #MetaAI -
Meta AI posts your personal chats to a public feed
Meta’s got a new chatbot app, Meta AI. You can ask it questions in text or voice, much like ChatGPT or Gemini. [Meta] There’s one difference — the other chatbots don’t reveal your conversations to the world. Some maniac at Meta put up a public feed of people chatting to the bot. [Twitter, thread] There’s […]
https://pivot-to-ai.com/2025/06/14/meta-ai-posts-your-personal-chats-to-a-public-feed/
#Uncategorised #Meta #MetaAI