Scotland's Turntable

 In a bygone era, musical discoverability was an easy thing - if you had money to burn and the ear of an influential program director or two. Some bands and artists ran up the charts with almost supernatural dexterity and a seemingly permanent exemption from the laws of gravity. Others played their hearts out and it was never enough. Today, new platforms have made it both easier and harder to get noticed. Algorithms analyze your choices on platforms like Spotify and YouTube to craft new suggestions. But sometimes good old word of mouth survives in hallowed spaces such as this Facebook group which combines nostalgic vinyl imagery with song suggestions. It's an elegant fusion of past obsessions conquering new horizons. Music varies from the eclectic, mystical pop of Kate Bush, the gritty realism of Tom Waits, hard rocking Led Zeppelin, Blue Oyster Cult and Scorpions, Marillion to the electronic work of Kraftwerk, Gary Numan and Ultravox. As expected, there's a fair amount of eighties Britpop classics and rarities, but there are also new vinyl re-issues and limited editions featured. I loved seeing records in non-standard colors or even picture disks. In a few cases, even the label art was beautiful. And occasionally something truly obscure gets to be aired again.

Members: 34.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Dance Accepts Everyone

Founder Adam Boreland created the dance-positive Facebook Group Dance Accepts Everyone in response to a news anchor's comment about Prince George's ballet lessons. According to an online biography, Adam is a highly trained professional dancer who has taken on principal roles in productions of Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Moulin Rouge and Peter Pan. From the perspective of someone with zero training in dance like myself, Adam's beautiful dexterity and grace seems almost super-human and impossible to achieve, but his infectious joy opens the door for anyone to join in. There is a somewhat humorous clip of a high kick gone wrong and the triumph of a smiling, tap-dancing granny of almost 102. A sinuously emotive sidewalk performance. A vintage Audrey Hepburn clip. Catch Adam himself live for his inspiring Monday Motivation sessions. Other posts highlight the way dancing informs other aspects of lives. Its ability to heal and rejuvenate. The way dance celebrates the union of music and movement.

Members: 412.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Windmills

In the arid Karoo of South Africa, windmills are lifelines, to supply scarce water to man and beast. They also serve as lone landmark in a landscape that seems almost featureless. One could almost say that they emphasize the atmosphere of desolation. But they can also be found in Namibia, Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Iowa, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya. In the American Great Plains, windmills transformed the terrain from desert to breadbasket of the nation. Penong in Southern Australia features 20 restored windmills as a roadside attraction. Dutch windmills are a completely different kettle of salted herring, partly because they fulfill a different function. Shorter and stockier, the iconic windmills of the Netherlands serve to take charge of an over-abundance of water, in a country that is partially below sea level. From the Middle Ages, mills stood at the heart of a community's economic activity, used in the production of flour, mustard, snuff, cocoa, oil, chalk and even paint. They can even be used for communication - the position of the sails can be used to share important messages such as deaths, weddings or even warnings during time of warfare. If you know of a windmill you'd like to share with the world, this Facebook group is the platform to show it.

Members: 67k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Death Stairs

 They can be found lurking below trap doors or behind secret corners, at the apex of precarious yet scenic trails, in tourist hot spots, on Airbnb, navigating public transport or even forming a nail-bitingly dramatic backdrop to fictional thrills on the big screen. Like it or not, death stairs are everywhere. While Amsterdam seems to be the world capital of death stairs, and China takes particular delight in terrifying innocent travelers with jaw-dropping engineering feats such as the Staircase to the Sky, British double-decker buses can compete with the best of vertical challenges. Whether you are looking at asymmetric mal-alignments, industrial spaces from hell, obsessions with efficient design that toss user safety to the wayside, rail-free circular steps or even wheelchair access ramps that are strangely inaccessible to the disabled, the users of this Facebook Group track down offenders to shame them. Even the Great Pyramid of Giza, with its claustrophobically narrow interior and the fabulous dwarven kingdoms of Tolkien are not spared.

Members: 952k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Vertigo by proxy.

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Steps and Stairs appreciation society

Weird (and wonderful) secondhand Finds That Just Need to Be Shared

We all love a bargain, or even just the opportunity to peer at an anonymous someone's pre-loved treasures. After all, one man's trash, as the saying goes... Whether it's Goodwill, Facebook Marketplace or just some anonymous car boot sale, if you're stumbled upon something random and truly awesome, snap a pic and share your story to this fascinating Facebook group. Items range from the quirky and the gorgeous to the occasionally gory. There are plenty of ceramics, for some reason, but other finds include hand-crafted dolls, music boxes, salt and pepper shakers, antique lamps, art and an extensive collection of bowling balls, but you will also see vintage telephones, miniature cottages, whimsical paintings, antique silver mugs and even a many-spouted tea pot (or should we say tea pot shaped porcelain folly?). Scrolling through the posts filled me with awe for the most eclectic collection of random wonders. 

Members: 3.5 Million, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

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I Love Cappybara

 Despite the fact that they are the size of a large dog, and can weigh as much as an adult human, cappybara are still classed as rodents. And yes, they do exist outside the strange reality of jaw-dropping social media memes. For scale, they are frequently portrayed with pets, such as cats, their rodent-like features at odds with their gigantic size. Even without captions, cappybara are effortlessly instagramable with their distinctly unphased expressions. Although many photos show them interacting with members of their own species, there are also snapshots of cappybara chilling in domestic environments. The I Love Cappybara Facebook Group is linked to Capybara's Planet, a group that promotes Cappybara-themed merchandize.

Members: 9.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: None.

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Sunrises and Sunsets of the World

Whether it be the silvery slithers of new light that signify the start of another day, or the golden, sun-drenched glory that marks the end of it, there is something romantic and special about sunrise and sunset. Both prompt you equally towards self-reflection with their beauty. When travelling, a sunset infuses the watcher with the magic of transitions - be they temporal or geographical. But they also touch of the timelessness of our shared appreciation of beauty. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's wise Little Prince exalted in the sunsets of his tiny home planet and mourned the fact that Earth's sunsets were a whole twenty-four hours apart. He might have loved this group, where you can experience a thousand sunsets around the world, simply by scrolling further. Goodnight, beautiful planet. Here's looking at you. 

Members: 114.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Wild Green Memes for Ecological Fiends

Kindness. After scroll through the posts here, I became absolutely convinced that this is a Facebook group that runs on kindness. What did it for me? One commmenter explaining the sad backstory of a (non-ecological) meme I must have seen on Facebook a million times before. But the caring here wears the garments of scientific lingo and the badges of species battling extinction. It flaunts insider knowledge on animals most people couldn't even spare a thought for. It crafts clever jokes and challenges members and visitors to think wider, think higher and think deeper. Enlightening us, for instance, on the distinction between critters and varmints. Even the virtual air feels a little more wholesome within this space.

Members: 836.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Feather Identification Worldwide

Legend has it that when you encounter an angel, he will leave a perfectly white feather nearby to be taken as a sign of his presence. But that doesn't mean that the multi-patterned feathers posted in this Facebook group for crowd-sourced answers are any less special. Ideally, besides a photograph optimized to illustrate size, a post should also feature details about the region and general habitat type where a photograph was found. Although the group is international, there is an abundance of plumage from Australia, which makes it even more interesting. There are feathers shown from ibises, hawks, pheasants, egrets, ducks, owls, cockatoo, ravens, kestrels, peacocks and even humble pigeons. A great space for birding enthusiasts, if you want to play along and have something to show.

Members: 7.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Barbie Vintage, Silkstone and Reproduction Collection

 As an icon of the 20th century, Barbie the intrepid trendsetter represents a role model to millions. But her global appeal is no longer limited to brand-conscious adolescents. Whole industries and online platforms have sprung up to support the numerous adult collectors of Barbie dolls. This Facebook group is one such entity - dedicated to showcasing and exploring the many faces of Barbie. Special attention is paid to the newer Silkstone range of fashion dolls, created to accommodate collectors with a skin texture and feel that mimics more durable porcelain. Posts show-case Barbie in dioramas with her plastic friends, ranging from wedding parties to popular media re-enactments and even historical guises. You will see Barbie modeling hand-made prom dresses, rocking a vibrant Italian style, showing off period cocktail dresses, designer edition dresses or even wearing the identity of the equally iconic Audrey Hepburn. One post shows what laundry day in the dollhouse looks like. Another shows Barbie looking stylishly demure in one of Ken's garments. There are even rescue stories of dolls found in distressing circumstances. 

Members: 76k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None

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The Women of Star Trek (Le Donne di Star Trek) In Love Memory (2025) ...

 From Uhura to Michael Burnham. Deanna Troi's composure. The sexy but forbidding Seven of Nine. Captain's Archer's calculating, yet gorgeous Vulcan mentor T'Pol. The formidable Captain Janeway. Brainy B'Elanna - an engineer as combustible as dilithium and anti-matter. The infinite depths of former revolutionary, Major Kira. Not to mention Dr Beverley Crusher, tough-as-nails Tasha Yar, Nurse Capell, Deanna Troi, elfin Kes, Ensign Tilly, Jadzia and Ezri Dax, the relatably cautious Hoshi and so many more. Over almost six decades, the Star Trek has seen a wide spectrum of female characters, all memorable and unique, and here's where you can see them all. There's a vintage snapshot of the legendary Majel Barrett in her very first Star Trek appearance as Captain Pike's Number One. Former beauty queen Persis Khambatta. We also see the Star Trek ladies out of costume or in other non-related productions. What's really great is that this Facebook group does not only pay attention to the familiar ensemble faces that returned week after week to the screen. Notable guest stars are also celebrated for their role in bringing Star Trek to life, such as Suzie Plakson as Worf's lost sweetheart, K'Ehleyr and Rosalyn Landor as the feisty Bringloidi babe, Breena Odell. 

Members: 6.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: A few AI images. 

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Hurtigruten Insiders

 It is somewhat surprising to discover that a remote and inhospitable region located within Norway's arctic territory is home to a population representing over 20 nations. But with the Domesday Clock currently set the closest it's ever been to midnight; it might be a relieve to know that the Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as a repository guarding the planet's biodiversity with its priceless collection of flora species. Its existence highlights the fascinating and important research taking place here, as well as its amazing natural and cultural heritage. Tourists to this area are drawn to the spectacular aerial dance that alternates between the enigmatic northern lights in winter and the midnight sun of the arctic's summer season, as well as its unique wildlife which includes several species of whales, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, puffins, barnacle geese, reindeer and of course, the rock stars of the arctic, the polar bear. As a Facebook group, Hurtigruten Insiders represents the shipping company that offers a gateway to this important region for 130 years, a great place to visit, if you are planning an icy adventure amidst its glaciers or just curious.

Members: 71.1k members, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

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My Cat is an Asshole

To be honest, mine too. There was a time, not that long ago, when Leo could not be trusted with a cat litter bag, as the above photos show. And as much as we all love our furry felines, those exasperating moments are part and parcel of being a cat parent. Of course, there are a few instances where My Cat is a Badass might seem more appropriate. Like the tuxedo who brought home a live foot snake as prey. But in general, you will see plenty of cats behaving badly, ranging from misdirected excretions, the selection and appropriation of unlikely toys or conspiring to deprive their long-suffering owners of that good night's sleep they really need. Meet the destroyers of upholstery, furniture and electronic peripherals. Super-picky eaters, who are hooked on gourmet cuisine. Or accident-prone grumps who rack up astronomical vet bills and then behave badly towards veterinary professionals who saved their lives. Innocent looking duos or trios of felines plotting mayhem. Siblings being brats. Cats sharing their favorite entertainment options, whether it's hijacking boardgame-play or randomly knocking things off surfaces. Cats showing their sweetest asshole faces.

Members: 498.4k, at the time of writing. 

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Tasty Treats with a Gothic Twist

Most Goth-themed Facebook groups and pages don't have plates of cookies in them. But this one does. There are also delectable cocktails and mocktails, bundt cakes, brownies, air fryer meals, bat plushies and black cats. Not to mention legendary Goth icons, vintage horror legends, Halloween themed art and dark, dark memes. For some reason nearly half of the edibles have cherries in them. No complaints here, though. Actually, it's really cool to see such an eclectic mash-up presented in such a gorgeously seductive ensemble. 

Members: 1.2k members, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Paper Mache on the Wild Side

For most of us, paper mâché represents that embarrassing crime against the art establishment that somehow managed to sneak into our school curriculum. Paper mache is not smooth and sexy, like clay, nor mind-blowingly arresting like oil-paintings. But in the hands of the professionals or perhaps a dedicated amateur, you could be surprised at the results. Meet surprisingly realistic dogs or engaging cat families. Auto-biographical trophies, and jaw-dropping masks. A delightful carousel horse. A stylish collection of bunnies. Quirky white mice. The sheer versatility of the art featured in this group and the fun spaces they populate is mind-blowing and inspiring.

Members: 50.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Wild Dogs of Africa

Although their evolutionary path parted ways with those of domestic dogs around three million years ago, Africa's painted dogs are nevertheless eerily similar to their distant cousins in the ways they move and socialize. But their exploits are larger than life by comparison. Hunting in packs, they take down larger prey such as impala, zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck and kudu by their sheer tenacity, persistence and close co-operation, or even brave a skirmish with a pair of crocodiles. There are signs that the African wild dog was once highly regarded by the San community and also in prehistoric Egypt and the oldest fossils go back 200,000 years. The Facebook Group dedicated to the Wild Dogs of Africa take us into their world through the lenses of wildlife photographers and safari tour guides. We also meet their fiercest defenders and advocates, such as Jealous and Edward Mpofu, and catch the dogs themselves in rare moments - such as expressing playful joy at a surprise shower of rain. 

Members: 13.1k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: inter-species violence.

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Work with ICELANDIC horses in Iceland

Volunteering with horses is a bucket-list activity for many young animal lovers and Iceland has a quaint and magical allure that attracts many visitors. As an ancient breed known for its sturdy resilience and unique fifth gait, Icelandic horses are popular choices for cross-country riding and even certain equestrian sports disciplines. They are gentle, with a rugged, yet endearing appearance. If you are looking for volunteering opportunities that include access to riding and working with horses, you can post your availability and skillset, or browse through the available listings. Even if you're not yet ready to take the plunge for this popular gap year activity, the posts should give you a good idea of what's required and what to expect. 

Members: 26.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Film Locations - Then and Now

What if I told you that you could trek through Tatooine, in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker? Brush shoulders with the aura of Tony Soprano. Dine at the very same table as Tootsie in the Russian Tea Room. Step into the sandals of Maximus Decimus Meridius from Gladiator in Italy, or the boots of Laura Ingalls, at Big Sky Ranch, California. For the members of this Facebook Group dedicated to sharing movie locations, it's all about recreating iconic and defining moments in pop culture. Occasionally, other famous events are re-immortalized, such as music videos or just a couple of celebrities hanging out. Some settings barely show the passage of half a century or more. Others seem almost disappointingly mundane, without that extra glow of Tinsel Town magic. If you're a film buff, you will enjoy the obscure and not so obscure references and clues. 

Members: 1 million.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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Random acts of knitting and crochet kindness

Some of them are deliberately flawed, but non-the-less endearing. They are made from the colorful little balls of yarn found within any knitter's stash. Apparently, they are called Izzy dolls, and you can probably make one in little more than an hour. With a few clever embellishments, you can its bland face into a familiar one - Paddington Bear or Mario. Take your pick. But the whole purpose of this group is not merely to create and post - there is a deeper sharing at play here. These adorable little knitted dolls are created to bring love and joy into the life of the random stranger who finds it and takes it home. Occasionally a grateful recipient shares the find. Take a moment to browse through all the adorable little ambassadors of kindness. You are sure to be inspired. 

Members: 92.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

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The Medieval Horse and its Equipment

The horse is such a central figure in popular media depictions of the Middle Ages that most people seldom notice the inaccuracies or misconceptions. For example, fantasy movies would have us believe that every average farm boy with dreams of grandeur just happened to have access to a well-bred Friesian stallion, never mind the fact that destriers were expensive, high-maintenance and exclusively reserved for the elite. There were times when laws prohibited the peasantry from even owning equines above a certain height, or at all. If however, you are interested in scratching beneath the glamor of modern myth to uncover some real facts, this fascinating Facebook group, dedicated to the tack and care of medieval steeds should give you plenty to digest. Posts include period depictions, book references, real artifacts from museums and links to re-enactments. 

Members: 2.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

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Beatrix Potter Loves

Most people don't know this, but Beatrix Potter, now synonymous with Victorian children's literature, was also a pioneer in terms of creating a brand identity and earning a healthy residual income from merchandising opportunities. What began as a letter to a child, became the iconic Peter Rabbit, a charming creature inspired by one of the author's own pets, Peter Piper. Ms. Potter was also an enthusiastic naturalist and an award-winning sheep farmer, and before you mistake her for a straitlaced prude, there was an anecdote about the time she rewarded one of her animal models with hemp seeds, and inadvertently got him stoned out of his skull. Even now, more than a hundred years later, her creations remain as recognizable and beloved as ever. One need only look at the images found in this Facebook Group, which includes jaw-dropping fan-art alongside beautifully rendered originals. If you love the relatable innocence of small woodland creatures, this one's for you. 

Members: 116.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

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The View From My Window

One of the best things of the Internet, in my opinion, is the way it brings the world to you. It's wonderful to be chatting to someone in World of Warcraft, who is on another continent, or find a kindred soul whom you would never have met, had it not been for the World Wide Web or Facebook. This Facebook group uses images shared as a medium of saying hello to someone far away. And it's not necessarily the stunning, touristy scenery that's shared in snapshots - just moments of life, little pieces or local, with a few words that say, in so many ways "Look, I am here!" Take glimpses through windows in Australia, Kenya, Argentina, Chile, Minnesota, USA, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malta, the UK, Madeira, the Orkney Islands, Norway and Northern Ireland.   You may see newsworthy moments, adorable pets, visiting wildlife, sunsets, water, greenery and snow-capped firs, traffic and laundry, flowers, swimming pools and lawn flamingos, garden gnomes in Germany, visiting kangaroos in Australia, marinas, seascapes and beach views, the vastness of Canada and quaint little gardens and so much more. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy this wonderful collection of crowd-sourced postcards and pictures.

Members: 1.6 million at time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None. 

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