Happy Tidings Friday! If you're enjoying this newsletter, send it to a friend. And you can find even more links every day on Seabird. On to this week's story highlights...

​‘It could knock a whole street down’​

A fascinating look at the teams defusing the World War II bombs that still turn up in England, a common enough occurrence that it can happen twice in one day.

The Guardian | Samira Shackle

​A deep dive into the UX of the Nostromo’s self destruct procedure​

And from 2019, a user experience analysis of Alien's design for blowing up a spaceship.

Jaye Hackett

​Brits are arguing over who gets to see a 230-foot long embroidered cloth​

Competition is fierce for Brits hoping to see the Bayeux Tapestry's depiction of the island's conquest. [Gift link.]

The Wall Street Journal | Joe Stonor

​Is AI the end of math as we know it?​

Mathematicians ponder the future of their field when AI is generating more proofs than humans do, often without human effort to comprehend them.

Quanta | Jordana Cepelewicz

​The people holding up the internet​

Tracking down the barely compensated individuals maintaining some of the key code that keeps your phone and computer running properly.

Sheets.Works

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​A reckoning in Springfield​

Reporting from Ohio on how a blatantly racist Trump campaign led to the tragic death of Pierre Damas Bel. [Gift link.]

The Atlantic | Stephanie McCrummen

​After bankruptcy, he was banned from sports betting sites​

How prediction markets can take advantage of addicted gamblers who have self-excluded from more tightly regulated sports betting platforms.

NPR | Bobby Allyn

​Year of the horse​

A deep dive into the history, and potential end, of Central Park's horse-drawn carriages.

The New Yorker | Michael Schulman

​The cruelty of a beloved American pastime​

On catch-and-release fishing: "[As] I’ve learned more about fish and their apparent capacity to feel pain, I now wonder: Was I just stabbing a bunch of fish in the mouth and throwing them back in the water, injured and vulnerable?"

Vox | Kenny Torrella

​Comedy wildlife photography award finalists 2026​

In lighter news, photos from the finalists in Nikon's Comedy Wildlife Awards.

The Guardian | Matt Fidler

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​From ‘MILF Island’ to ‘The Rural Juror’​

An appreciation of 30 Rock's cutaway productions.

The Ringer | Alan Siegel

​Porridge makers from opposite sides of globe triumph in world championship​

Do you make a mean porridge? Perhaps you can compete with the world's best to win the Golden Spurtle.

BBC

​Remembering Washington's most beloved ferry​

A look back at the MV Kalakala, the impressively stylish Puget Sound ferry that debuted in 1935.

Lakedale Resort

​What makes a man smuggle wild birds in his pants?​

Finally, in bird news... a question that is not often asked.

Jezebel | Jim Vorel

Tidings is edited by Jacob Grier. The links in our newsletter were all shared first on Seabird, our minimalist platform simply designed for recommending worthwhile links. Learn more about us here and join to discover and share articles like these every day. Your recommendations may appear in a future edition of Tidings.