Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day, me hearties! Instructions, translators, and Dave Barry’s 2002 column.

Making, and eating, the 1950s’ most nauseating Jell-O-soaked recipes.

Fourteen extremely detailed close-ups of animal eyes.

Hey, Firefly fans: Tomorrow (September 20) is Unification Day. Related: The biggest comparison of sci-fi spaceships ever is complete at last.

Ninety-five percent of children in the ’50s were out of diapers by age 18 months; now it’s 10 percent. The Evolution of Potty Training.

ICYMI, Thursday’s links are here, including Samuel Johnson’s Scotland-bashing, Pony Express history, how Richard III died, and weird ways to stop lava.