Today is Columbus Day here in the U.S., and apparently elsewhere, as the Wikipedia explains this is celebrated in a bunch of other countries under various names. But the name of the occasion here is also in flux, as it is also now Indigenous Peoples' Day for many as part of the backlash of what can at the very least be called the excesses of the Age of Exploration that lead to the Age of Imperialism. This might explain why I feel this snuck up on me this year, as it doesn't seem to be as prominent as it once was, despite still being a Federal Holiday.

Also, happy Thanksgiving to Canada, where this is celebrated on the second Monday in October. I like how the U.S. version falls on Thursday, but mid-October is a much better time for a celebration of fall than late November, which is too close to the holiday season, not to mention my birthday. So good on you, Canada. I'll try and hunt down some pumpkin pie to celebrate.

Celebratory Round-up
Thanks Ant, Neutronbeam, and Max.

Story

• North Carolina bear meat infects 10 with rare parasite - WKBN27.

Science

• ‘Phenomenal’ tool sequences DNA and tracks proteins — without cracking cells open - Nature.
• Colossal snake measuring over 50 feet long found in India - The Brighter Side of News.
• 'Islands' of regularity discovered in the famously chaotic three-body problem - Phys.org.
• Can a Supplement Really Help Control Your Pesky Eye Floaters? - ScienceAlert.

Media

• VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGi 153. Thanks The Flying Penguin.

Follow-up

• Tea And Coffee May Affect Your Heart Health, New Study Says - HuffPost UK Life.
• SpaceX catches returning rocket in mid-air, turning a fanciful idea into reality - Ars Technica.

The Funnies

• Savage Chickens.