Month: February 2026

The Lasting Legacy of Heaven’s Gate: A Cult’s Continuing Online Presence | February 28 2026, 04:09

Remember the American cult that had 39 members simultaneously self-extinguish in a mansion near San Diego, believing that they would be picked up by aliens? Well, their website is still up and running. The earliest version of this site from 1999 is virtually indistinguishable from what’s on the site now. The only difference is the ® symbol, which was after the name of the cult in 1999, but not now.

I Googled what’s up with their trademark registration. Just recently, in 2020, the company “The Evolutionary Level Above Human Foundation” registered (or renewed) rights to this trademark. The category is indeed listed as Lace, Ribbons, Embroidery, Fancy Goods, but the name of the company leaves no doubt that they are thinking about aliens.

I Googled some more. Turns out, this foundation, The Evolutionary Level Above Human (TELAH), acts as the “guardian of the legacy of the group ‘Heaven’s Gate'”, and has sued Stephen Havel and other defendants for copyright and trademark infringements, accusing them of illegally distributing archival materials and selling themed merchandise. The last update shows the parties are obligated to hold a meeting by the end of March 2024 to try to negotiate confidentiality and authentication of evidence without further judicial intervention.

Specifically, the foundation consists of real people from Arizona, Mark and Sara King, and the organization is registered as a corporation. They respond to emails and send out books and cassettes if you transfer them money.

Other former members are trying to challenge their “right” to use cult materials, such as recordings on tapes in court.

In short, some kind of life goes on there.

That is, the next time you think of Flat Earthers as “some pranksters pretending to be weirdos”, remember these folks, maintaining their website and selling books by their “prophets”.

Tesla vs. Gasoline: Analyzing Fuel Costs in 2025 | February 26 2026, 04:07

We bought a Tesla in mid-2025 – comparing gasoline costs to electricity costs.

Looking just at charging the Tesla, the stats are separate. Since buying, we’ve used 5000 kWh costing $738 – covering 13,550 miles. Meaning, traveling 18 miles (28 km) costs one dollar. On a Toyota RAV4, one dollar spent at the gas station gets me 10 miles (16 km).

Decoding Leather Products: From Genuine to Synthetic | February 23 2026, 18:11

Today I learned how the hierarchy of leather products is actually structured. Everyone knows that faux leather is completely synthetic; it’s a layer of polymer on a fabric base. There is also cheap leather, often labeled as Genuine Leather, which technically remains an animal-derived product. It turns out to be the lower, looser layer of the hide, which on its own lacks strength or aesthetics, so it’s turned into a sort of sandwich, encased in a thick layer of plastic (polyurethane) with embossing. Essentially, cheap leather is split or compressed leather scraps (Bonded leather or bi-cast/tri-cast), glued together with plastic. It’s essentially akin to plywood or particle board.

How such leather is produced: 1) Leather scraps and waste are taken 2) they are shredded into small fibers 3) mixed with a binder – polyurethane or latex – resulting in a mass similar to pulp 4) this mixture is evenly distributed on a substrate, which typically serves as fabric or paper material 5) a roller or plate with a pattern mimicking natural leather is then pressed onto the surface of the mixture, creating a texture reminiscent of real leather. 6) After drying, a protective coating is applied to enhance the strength, wear resistance, and appearance of the material.

Expensive leather is called Aniline or Full Grain. Essentially, it is made from the top part of the hide (which is exposed to air on the animal). It is dyed with transparent dyes, and contains no plastic. Nubuck or suede is part of the hide which, excuse me, comes in contact with the flesh.

Many also judge the quality of leather by its smell, thinking that a distinctive aroma is the main sign of authenticity and high class. This is easily mistaken. The scent we associate with expensive leather is often the result of chemists’ work. Manufacturers of cheap bonded leather products use special fragrance sprays that mimic the smell of expensive tanning. Real high-quality leather, such as vegetable-tanned leather, smells more like wood, oak bark, or mimosa, because these substances are used in its processing.

Another professional secret concerns the edges of the product. If you see that the edge of a bag or belt is neatly filled with a thick layer of “rubber” or paint so that the structure of the layers is not visible, this is often not done for design’s sake. Such a technique helps to conceal that very plastic sandwich which makes up the material. Craftsmen working with truly high-quality Full Grain leather often leave the cuts open or just slightly polish them with wax, because they have nothing to hide — the fiber structure of such leather is equally dense throughout its thickness.