September 20, 2016
The science of carb-loading seems a little hodgepodge, but ultramarathoner Karl Meltzer went whole hog: Fueled by bacon, beer, candy, and ice cream, the 48-year-old finished the Appalachian Trail in record time, 45 days, 22 hours, and 38 minutes to cover 2,190 miles. Interestingly, an unknown hiker may have just broken every Appalachian Trail record, including Meltzer’s, but she didn’t bring along a GPS device to prove her claim. / vocativ.com, GearJunkie
“Long before there was castration anxiety, there was something far more sinister: the myth of phallus-stealing witches who kept wriggling, dismembered members as pets.” Europeans used to believe in penis-stealing witches—a new meaning to “wiener dog?” / Vice
“The thing is, people are never acclaimed for having the breasts to do something brave—it’s always got to be the balls.” The gender of the body politic is never in question, but it should be. / The Baffler
In video, Terence Crutcher is compliant and unarmed. / YouTube
The Russian doping department researched herbs like Siberian ginseng before prescribing steroids to its athletes. / thefern.org
“Despite no longer being controlled by state emergency managers, the city of Flint does not have control over its affairs.” State of Michigan changes rules of Flint’s receivership at last minute to avoid lawsuit over lead poisoning. / Rewire
“I don’t feel as an African-American writer I have to write about anything.... When I started the book I didn’t think, I’m going to comment on present-day society. Just the simple fact that things in many ways haven’t changed in 150 years is a fact and is a part of the story of race in America.” Colson Whitehead on the inspirations and challenges of writing The Underground Railroad. / Google Play
“Who in this world finds a pressure cooker with a phone and just takes the bag?” In true New York fashion, luggage thieves made off with heavy cargo this weekend—until they realized they had a bomb, which they’d somehow defused during their caper. / DNA Info
In Alabama, Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Mississippi, there are more prescriptions for opioids than there are people. / tennessean.com
We bemoan the sameness of outdoors culture, we despise all bros and bras, and we absolutely love anyone who will push a catamaran down a mountain. / Vimeo
The wildfire raging in Big Sur just became the costliest to fight in US history, surpassing $200 million, which doesn’t include damages done to people’s homes. / Associated Press
One hidden cost to preserving and promoting special places: “last-chance tourists” will show up and destroy everything. / Quartz
See also: “Great Barrier Reef coral dead, damaged from bleaching event, survey finds.” / abc.net.au
A convoy carrying food and medical supplies to Aleppo and a warehouse operated by the Syrian Red Crescent were bombed, leading the United Nations to halt aid operations and drawing condemnation from all quarters. American officials claim Russian warplanes were behind the attack, while Russians suggested terrorists had followed the convoy in a truck and shelled it with mortars. / The Independent, The Wall Street Journal