The Washington Post brings us this fascinating map that shows the second-largest religion in each U.S. state (Christianity is the largest religion in every state). Islam is the second-largest religion in 20 states and Judaism is number 2 in 15 states, mostly in the Northeast. The article also includes a map of the second-largest religions by county, and a map of the largest religious denominations by county (including Christian denominations). The maps were produced by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. We previously posted about similarly fascinating U.S. maps of the most commonly spoken languages other than English.

images via Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies

Monikers is a party game by Alex Hague and Justin Vickers that is essentially an updated and illustrated version of the classic game Celebrity. Celebrity is typically played by drawing slips of paper with names attached to them out of a hat and then the one that drew the name gives clues to their team based on said name. Monikers plays out in much the same way but with predetermined cards filled with names and some rules based on what can be done in certain rounds.

Monikers is currently raising funds via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

The concept is pretty simple: get your friends to guess a bunch of names printed on a set of cards. Each round has different rules about how you can give clues. In the first round, you can say anything you want. In the second, you can only use one word. And in the third, you can only do charades. It works really well, because the same cards are used in each round, so by the end of the game, you've made up a bunch of hilarious jokes together.

photos via Alex Hague

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

Fluxmob Bolt is a portable battery backup and wall charger by Fluxmob. The device measures 2.75″ x 1.33″ x 1.10″, weighs 3.1 ounces, includes a 3000mAh Samsung Li-Ion battery, and features prongs that can fold to be flush with the design of it. Though currently out of stock, the Fluxmob Bolt is typically available via Fluxmob’s website.

Existing portable batteries on the market are typically geared for emergency charging. This means that they are either too big to be practical or they don't hold enough charge to be useful everyday. Another issue we've found is that virtually every other battery backup on the market can ONLY be charged via USB and that can be a hassle. You'll need to bring around a USB wall adapter or hunt down a USB port. This inconvenient method of keeping smart phones and other devices charged inspired the creation of BOLT.

images via Fluxmob

via Robert Stephens

Today is the 70th anniversary of D-Day (aka Operation Neptune), and to mark the occasion, Santa Cruz-based jeweler Marty Bobroskie has posted photos of an original Neptune Monograph, the once top secret plans for the invasion. The copy belongs to Bobroskie’s 97-year-old father, John C. Crowell. During World War II he was an oceanographic meteorologist in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was tasked with forecasting the surf conditions for the invasion — a critical piece of information for the Normandy beach landings. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his role in the invasion planning.

photos by Marty Bobroskie

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor of electrical engineering and computer science Daniela Rus and her collaborators have demonstrated the feasibility of printable robotics that assemble themselves when heated. Specifically, an MIT video looks at the creation of a self-folding strain sensor and self-folding actuator. The current line of research builds on previous work by Rus in 2010 that looked into how origami could be used to create reconfigurable robots.

via Boing Boing

Chile-based photographer Jon Jacobsen creates surreal photographic portraits that he distorts using digital illustration techniques. The works exist both as digital illustrations and animated GIF cinemagraphs.

images by Jon Jacobsen

via Hi-Fructose

Timo the ragdoll cat prepares for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by honing his defensive and offensive maneuvering skills and looking picture perfect in his uniform while modeling with the ball. It appears that Timo likes soccer almost as much as he likes his hammock.

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

In this video posted by buzz1981891, two absolutely adorable dachshunds keep a balloon aloft by bouncing it off their respective noses as they run together through a Moscow, Russia park. It’s only when the balloon pops that it finally hits the ground.

reddit, Daily Picks and Flicks

Smite and Ignite is a metal album by the fictional band Pentakill from Riot Games, the developer of the video game League of Legends. The band features a series of characters from the video game, and the album features songs based and named on items from it as well.

Smite and Ignite is currently available to download for free from the band’s website.

You have seen the true voice of metal fall quiet, surrounded by the massed harmonies of your weak whispers. But listen closely to those whispers, and you shall find the seed of truth. Five Four voices. Five harbingers of destruction, waiting patiently for their time to rise. And on that chosen day, these five shall change your world forever. Sonic brutality has never ascended such heights before. These voices have already slain the dragon and butchered the baron. They have ravaged the fields of justice, burned Runeterra to the ground, and slaughtered millions of Teemos. When they come, their breed of metal shall smite your plebeian souls and punish your frail bodies. You will cower at their visage and tremble at the name… Pentakill.

Pentakill – Lightbringer

Pentakill – Deathfire Grasp

Pentakill – Thornmail

images via Pentakill

Kevin Ulrich of Brotherhood Workshop created a wonderful LEGO animated short featuring Star Wars characters that shows Han Solo shooting first and putting General Grievous in his place.

The scene is similar to one from Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) quickly offs a swordsman who challenged him to a duel:

via GeekTyrant

After quitting her corporate job six years ago, photographer Alison Turner has spent most of her time on the road traveling and photographing around the United States. She recently embarked on a trip to New Zealand, where she took a remarkably beautiful series of “Vanscapes”, landscape photos she snapped through the window of her rental camper. Her photographic travels are all posted on her Instagram account, and National Geographic has more on her story.

photos by Alison Turner

via LENSCRATCH, This Isn’t Happiness, Junk Culture

Comedian Steve Patrick Adams somewhat accurately predicts personality traits in correlation with beloved Bill Murray characters in his humorous webcomic “What Your Favorite Bill Murray Movie Says About You“.

Bill Murray is clearly the most likable person on this planet. I'd even go so far as to say that he is the most likable in ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS, if it weren't for the chance that another world exists with its own Bill Murray. In case you aren't aware, beyond being an awesome guy, he also has a movie career. It seems like everyone has their favourite Bill Murray film and whatever yours may be, it greatly reflects your personality.

via Blame It On the Voices

PBS Idea Channel host Mike Rugnetta explores what IKEA says about the human condition. Rugnetta and PBS Idea Channel previously joked about the same topic as their April Fools' Day gag, but this time they’re serious.

While a huge corporate entity may not be the most likely place to find discussion points for the human condition, we’re going for it anyway. For example, what is “The IKEA Effect”? What is it about building your own furniture that is so satisfying (or frustrating)? And those stores… oh, we can undoubtedly find some metaphors in their labyrinthine layouts. So what DOES Ikea say about the human condition?

What Does IKEA Say About The Human Condition? – April 1st

Earlier this week storm chaser and photographer Mike Hollingshead was following a massive storm in Nebraska in hopes of photographing a tornado, but instead stumbled upon a cataclysmic hail storm. He shot these jaw-dropping photos of hail damage in the small town of Blair, Nebraska. According to Hollingshead, there where hailstones the size of grapefruits lying on the ground. A local car dealership was particularly badly hit. Hollingshead has much more storm photography on his website where he also sells prints. The Weather Channel has more on the storm and its aftermath.

photos by Mike Hollingshead

via MetaFilter

In Season 4 of Louie, the eponymous sad-sack character fell hard in love with Amia, the niece of his older Hungarian neighbor. Amia, played by the incredibly talented Eszter Balint, didn’t speak any English nor did Louie speak any Hungarian, which made communication challenging for them. Additionally, show did not provide subtitles to Amia’s half of the conversation, which kept the audience as confused as Louie. Slate has since translated some of these conversations into English, giving a much fuller perspective of the relationship and how much they really did care for one another.

Here’s the wonderful violin scene from Season 4 “The Elevator Part 3“.

CameraSim 3D is a DSLR camera simulation by Jon Arnold built within a 3D gaming engine in order to provide an easy-to-use tool for photography instruction. The simulation includes several features found on a DSLR camera like ISO, aperture, and shutter speed as well as white balance and more. CameraSim 3D is scheduled to launch sometime later this year.

via reddit, PetaPixel

CinemaSins has released a new video for their ongoing series that reveals “Everything Wrong with Dragonball Evolution in Many Many Minutes.”

No movie has been more requested for sins treatment than ‘Dragonball Evolution.’ Not because everyone requests it… but because those who saw it were scarred for life, and they are a very vocal group.

After an honest day’s work at Sunflower Farms in Cumberland Center, Maine, the 44 Nigerian Dwarf goats who help to create the chêvre and feta cheese for which the farm is known, go for a run with their human co-workers.

Our 44 Goat Babies go for a little adventure each night. They love to run back and forth following their human friends! There is not much cuter than the pitter pat of all those feet.

via reddit, Daily Picks and Flicks