The Curious Tale of Denishawn

Or how two people managed to continuously take their clothes off in public throughout the 1920s and get away with it.

Image Credit Flickr User New York Public Library

In 1915 a pair of newlyweds formed a company that was to become instrumental in the formation of modern dance as a genre. This odd pairing was to become infamous for performing in as little clothing as possible as much for their revolutionary dance styles. Quite a trick in the early part of the twentieth century.

Service Bus

 
Poor old Rolf all he wanted was a drink to quench his thirst on his long bus journey, but he forgot to pack anything.  Despondent, he notices a service button and, without realising that he is about to change his life, presses it.  You might think that the picture above is something of a spoiler, but that is hardly the end of Rolf’s misery – much, much worse is yet to come.

This highly entertaining animated short is a 2025 Graduation Project by students at The Animation Workshop/VIA University College.  Elmer Mikael Lødemel was the Director, Painter, Animator, and Storyboard Artist. Niels Gram Riisgaard worked as the Line Producer, CG Generalist, and Background Painter. Matthew Ponquett was the Art Director and Animator. Simon Koch Pedersen served as a Generalist, Animator, and Concept Designer. Sam Byrne was the Animation Lead and a Storyboard Artist. Andreas Smidt acted as the Technical Director and CG Generalist. Lea My Ib was a Storyboard Artist and Story Artist for FX Animation.

Graduation projects from The Animated Workshop are something I look forward to each year – the talent is, simply put, outstanding.  I can only hope that these wonderful artists go on to highly valued professional careers in the industry.

Watch Service Bus below…

Insane Glassdoor Reviews: When Employees Go Full Rant Mode

Glassdoor is supposed to help people find great companies. But sometimes it’s just a therapy session with a public audience. Hidden behind anonymous usernames, former employees use the platform to rage, vent, and absolutely roast their past employers. Some reviews are helpful. Others are so brutal, they’re unforgettable.

Below are some of the wildest, funniest, and most jaw-dropping Glassdoor reviews ever posted. These aren’t your average complaints. These are full-on meltdowns that expose bad bosses, chaotic workplaces, and straight-up nonsense.

1. “Avoid Avoid Avoid” – Mopals, Toronto

A software developer at Mopals warned future applicants to run. “Good salary, on paper,” they wrote. But once they started, the red flags flew. No direct deposit. Handwritten paychecks. No pay stubs. T4s that never arrived. The final straw? “You won’t be getting your last paycheck.” Their advice: walk out right after cashing it.

2. “Lack of Management Intelligence” – Guff Media, Los Angeles

This ex-employee didn’t hold back. They called out management for being reactive, clueless, and inconsistent. “Decisions are not met with follow-through,” they said. The solution? “Hire a management staff that can handle the work.” Ouch.

3. “Sinking Ship” – Ziff Davis, San Francisco

This review paints a depressing picture. A siloed company where people don’t even say hello. “You can sit next to people who won’t even talk to you for over a year,” the employee wrote. The culture was described as toxic, competitive, and outdated. Their advice: “Stop bullying your people.”

4. “Suck Eggs and Some Snails” – Starbucks

One ex-Starbucks worker skipped constructive feedback and jumped straight to insult comedy. Their advice to management was simply, “Suck eggs and some snails.” It makes no sense, but it’s impossible to forget.

5. “If This Is Night, You Say It’s Night” – Libsys, India

One software engineer claimed the CEO treated employees like “labour,” banned tea breaks before lunch, and paid salaries late. The air conditioning never worked, policies changed hourly, and the manager was “shakki” (suspicious) enough to hire someone just to spy on staff. The takeaway? “You’ll never get fat because they won’t give you time to eat.”

6. “Bloodsucking Company” – Atos, India

This reviewer said they had to pay out of pocket for work expenses, got minimum pay, and used buggy tools that rarely worked. Their summary: “It’s a bloodsucking company.” A reminder that even big brands can run messy operations.

7. “Like Peanuts to Monkeys” – J.P. Morgan, Mumbai

This former Java developer didn’t mince words. They described management as ego-driven and dismissive. “They still think you’re a MONKEY,” they wrote. They claimed the company treated staff like interchangeable parts, not people.

8. “24-Hour Shifts Without a Cab” – MarketsandMarkets

This one’s hard to read. The reviewer described unethical practices, no research training, fake forecast data, and late-night shifts without transport for women. “Some women stay 24 hours in the office,” they said. The company even forced staff to write positive reviews to protect its brand.

9. “Stop Playing With Someone’s Career” – Rockstand Digital

A current employee blasted the company for having no structure, no direction, and a founder who bullies staff. “No one has any views on what they are working,” they wrote. Their warning: most good employees only last three to four months.

10. “Unhygienic HR Staff” – Datavail, India

After going through multiple interviews, a candidate was told they would not be offered the salary originally promised. “Unhygienic, unhealthy and unprofessional,” they called the HR team. It might’ve been harsh, but it’s a reminder that first impressions matter—even during hiring.

How Real Are These Reviews?

Glassdoor reviews can be brutally honest. But sometimes they’re exaggerated or fake. Companies have been known to encourage staff to leave glowing reviews. Some even try to remove negative ones. Others quietly ask staff to write “balanced” feedback.

According to one anonymous commenter, their boss “made us write positive reviews on company time.” Another admitted to writing fake reviews packed with perks they wished they had, like “work-from-home Fridays.” The goal? Trick execs into thinking those perks already existed.

And yes, it is possible to remove Glassdoor reviews, but only if they break site policies. That means harassment, threats, or exposing private information. If it’s just angry, rude, or even insane, it’s probably staying up.

Why Do Employees Rage Online?

Simple. People feel ignored. One bad boss, a missed paycheck, or a toxic team can make someone snap. Glassdoor becomes the punching bag. It’s anonymous. It’s public. And for some, it feels like justice.

But here’s the kicker. Sometimes the angry review helps a company. It reveals problems. It forces change. Other times, it scares off good talent.

What You Can Learn from This

For employers: don’t ignore the noise. Reviews that sound insane might still have a grain of truth. Track patterns. Fix real issues. And don’t try to game the system. It always backfires.

For job seekers: read between the lines. Look for recurring complaints. Compare with what people say on Reddit or Blind. If multiple reviews mention late pay or a “suspicious CEO,” believe them.

And for everyone else: remember that anonymous doesn’t mean harmless. One review can shape a company’s reputation. Or ruin it.

Final Thoughts

These reviews may be funny, but they reflect real frustration. Sometimes it's bad culture. Sometimes it's bad leadership. Sometimes it's just a bad fit.

Use Glassdoor as a tool, not a bible. And if you’re an employer facing one of these firestorms? Don’t panic. Learn from it. And maybe don’t treat your team like zoo animals.

If all else fails, remember there are ways to remove Glassdoor reviews—but it’s a legal and policy game, not a magic eraser.

And if you’re the kind of person who signs off with “suck eggs and some snails,” maybe take a nap first.

Potlems

If you are planning on traumatising your children today but are short of ideas, pop them in front of this animated short.  Potlems, written and directed by Alberto Allegri Rodríguez will bury itself deep into your offspring’s deepest consciousness and will, no doubt, be resurfaced by a well-meaning therapist in about two decades.  It’s easier than being that mum in a wood in a hood, I suppose.

Hats off to Alberto and his team at The Animation Workshop.

Potlems tells the story of Ginger, a cute little porcelain teapot being brought into the world by a very visible but very bonkers Creator.  Yet something has happened – Ginger has a glitch – he has a frown instead of a smile. And that just simply won’t do in this surreal, merry-go-round, quasi operatic world of unquestioning, frenzied, breakable happiness.  Once the Creator notices him properly, it can only mean one thing – poor Ginger needs to be fixed and returned.  There’s nothing a little celestial kintsugi can’t mend, after all.

I have to say I found this animation at once entrancing and unnerving.  It’s beautifully made, but is so layered my mind kept returning to it time and time again after the first watch - as if it had undergone some metaphorical histological sectioning that put it on replay mode while I tried to figure it out.  So, go on, plonk Junior down in front of this – it will do for them what the Singing Ringing Tree did for me in the way back when.  

Crown Shyness – The Mystery of Coyness in the Canopy

A basic human reaction to being near someone you don't want to be near is simply to move away.  Something like that happens with a number of tree species.  Their crowns do not touch each other at the canopy level.  Yet, the true reason for this adaptive behavior (which helps a species to cope in its environment with greatest success and least conflict with others, including its own) is still something of a mystery.  A number of reasons have been put forward, but none proven definitively.  If only the trees could talk…

More exactly, the reasons for crown shyness is believed to vary across different species.  Crown Shyness was first given its name over a century ago and since then it has been hypothesized that the reasons for this are multiple – with one species having a reason for manifesting this striking behavior while others have different reasons.

What is Splooting?

Over on our sibling site, Ark in Space, there is a new feature full of pictures of (mostly) squirrels splooting.  If you haven’t come across this phenomenon before, it’s worth a look.  Why? Well, if you ever come across a splooting squirrel, you might well first think that it is in some sort of health crisis.  In fact, it’s trying to avert one.  Replete with a lovely set of photographs (absolutely splootiful), this article outlines the reasons behind this peculiar animal behavior.  There’s also a look into how and when the word itself came into being – it has a slightly longer history than you might imagine!

Image Credit

Coulrophobia – Are You Afraid of Clowns?

Did you find Heath Ledger as The Joker scary? Then perhaps you suffer from coulrophobia, the abnormal fear of clowns. Join a self-confessed coulrophobic for a look at these guys and see if you are too- as if you don’t already know!

Image Credit Flickr User SilentMind8

Locks Student Short Film Directed by Ryan Coogler

Before the global acclaim of Sinners and Black Panther, Ryan Coogler was already crafting powerful, intimate stories, and his 2009 student short Locks is a striking example. Set on the streets of Oakland, this understated but deeply moving film follows a young man heading to the barbershop, in what at first seems like a simple routine.

Shot with quiet confidence and a naturalistic eye, Locks captures the texture of everyday life while gently revealing something more profound. Coogler's gift for human storytelling is already evident here - in the silences, in the gestures, and in the subtle choices his protagonist makes.

With a runtime of just over seven minutes, Locks doesn’t rely on dramatic twists or flashy visuals. Instead, it builds a quiet tension that speaks volumes, leaving the viewer reflective long after the final frame. Shot during his time in the prestigious Master’s programme at USC School of Cinematic Arts, this student short demonstrates Coogler’s instinctive gift for storytelling under pressure

A compelling early work that hints at the voice and vision Coogler would soon share with the world. Watch and enjoy Locks below.

Neighbourwood: A Curious Encounter in the Canopy

High above the forest floor, tucked away in a treetop house, lives an owl with a brilliant mind and a family legacy of scientific achievement. Driven by determination and intellect, he spends his days wrestling with a complex physics equation, seeking the solution that will secure his place among his esteemed ancestors (who include Nikowla Tesla).

But life in the canopy is about to get noisy. When a woodpecker moves in next door, the owl’s peaceful world is shattered by constant tapping. No matter what he tries, the racket won’t stop — and neither will his growing frustration. As his concentration slips away, so too does his grip on the problem he’s been trying to solve.

What happens next isn’t what he expected. And while we won’t spoil the ending, let’s just say that inspiration sometimes arrives in the most unexpected ways.

Neighbourwood is a beautifully animated short film directed by Eddy Hohf, Patrik Knittel, and Fynn Große-Bley. With a playful, expressive score by Alexander Wolf David, the film tells a wordless but vivid story about focus, frustration, and the strange harmony that can grow out of chaos.  Watch and enjoy below.

The Nictitating Membrane: The Third Eyelid

From the picture above you could easily imagine that the animal kingdom had suddenly been enveloped in its own zombie apocalypse.  Yet this is not a still from a forthcoming episode of The Squawking Dead. Thanks to high speed photography, these photographs capture the nictitating membrane in action. It is also known as the third eyelid, haw and the inner eyelid. It is drawn across the eye to protect and moisturize it while retaining visibility. The Ark in Space today has a feature on this extraordinary structure of the eye.

Image Credit Flickr User Simon