Month: November 2016

If you’re planning some kind of outdoor nocturnal mischief this November, we recommend you avoid the 14th, when a gargantuan supermoon will light up the night sky. If you’re not, we recommend that you get outside and enjoy it.

Supermoons aren’t rare—we typically get between four and six each year—but this month’s is extra special for a few reasons. It’s a full moon, for one, and will be orbiting extraordinarily close to Earth. We haven’t been this close to our lunar satellite since January 1948, and we won’t be again until November 2034.

The Moon’s proximity to Earth and its position relative to the Sun will create a jaw-dropping spectacle, with the Moon appearing up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than normal full moons.

If you’re the early-to-bed type or expect to be stuck inside that evening, don’t fret: the supermoon’s peak will actually occur during morning rush hour at 8:52 a.m. EST. Plus, we’ll remind you the day before.

And while you’ve got your calendar out, take note: we’ll get another, albeit lesser, supermoon again on December 14.

In the Guatemalan cities of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez, mourners visiting loved ones in the cemetery during their Day of the Dead celebration aren’t content to bring flowers. They spend weeks creating elaborate, airborne kites and inflatables in honor of those who have died.

Every November 1, locals create buoyant tributes to the dead out of rice, bamboo support structures, and cloth tapestries, tying messages of tribute before holding them aloft. It can take up to 20 people to send one of the massive creations into the sky. The largest usually sit as monuments; others are able to catch wind and glide upward. Some who celebrate the day believe that when a kite is able to drift further away, the message it carries gets closer to Heaven.

Kite-building takes anywhere from 40 days to five months, with locals sourcing as much of the materials from nature as possible. To keep them light, tissue paper is used for exteriors. The largest can reach 57 feet in diameter, and groups who create the most inventive kite are awarded a monetary prize for their efforts.

[h/t Fest300]

The days of office vending machines stocked with soft drinks may be coming to a close. According to The New York Times, a growing number of workplace storefronts are looking to eliminate sodas from their inventory, eliminating the option of a sugary drink for their employees. And while people can certainly get their fix anywhere else, early observations indicate that making soda unavailable from workplace vendors may help curb employee cravings 24 hours a day.

At the University of California, San Francisco, every campus food supplier—including branded locations like Subway—was told to remove soda from shelves, the Times reports. As a health sciences center, UCSF was curious to see if the lack of availability had any measurable health effects on its 24,000 employees. While they’re currently in the process of evaluating 214 blood samples collected to observe changes in metabolic activity, a preliminary survey of 2500 workers indicated that consumption was being reduced by roughly a quarter. For some workers, who reported drinking up to a liter (or roughly three cans) a day, that’s significant.

UCSF’s changes—which have also been adopted by more than 30 medical centers around the country—come as policymakers are attempting to dilute soda consumption by raising sales taxes. In Berkeley, California, the introduction of a higher tax has been associated with lower intake. The World Health Organization has argued that a 20 percent price hike could result in a corresponding 20 percent reduction in soft drink ingestion.

USCF internal medicine specialist Kirsten Bibbins-Domino has also spearheaded a statistical analysis based on Mexico’s recent 10 percent excise tax on soda purchases. If the program continues, consumption may be reduced to the point where it could help prevent roughly half of new diabetes diagnoses in adults 35 to 44 over a 10-year period.

Those results could conceivably influence local legislation. Next week, California voters in San Francisco, Albany, and Oakland, and voters in Boulder, Colorado, will decide whether to implement soda taxes in their respective regions. Between escalating prices and limited workplace availability, soda fans might find their indulgence of choice getting harder and harder to swallow.

[h/t NY Times]

Play-Doh is getting a 21st century update. Hasbro and Play-Doh recently launched the Touch Shape to Life Studio, tech that can transform real-life creations into interactive animations on your screen, Gizmodo reports.

Here’s how it works: In a brightly lit room, open the Play-Doh Touch app on your iPhone or iPad and scan your creation against a white surface. Once the image is scanned, you can interact with the animated Play-Doh creation to make it run, jump, dive, fly, dance, and explore different interactive 3D digital backgrounds. You can also create characters and objects that unlock new content and activities within the app, and even scan non-Play-Doh creations.

The studio kit includes plastic cutters, tools, and shape stamps for creating characters to unlock new backgrounds, as well as seven cans of Play-Doh in various colors and a white star-shaped studio platform for scanning.

The Play-Doh Touch Shape to Life Studio sells for $40 from Hasbro, while the Play-Doh Touch app is free and exclusive to the Apple App Store. It’s recommended for kids 3 years old and up, or those are who are still young at heart.

[h/t Gizmodo]

Travel is all about taking in new experiences as you explore an unknown destination, whether it’s the streets of New York or the steps of Machu Picchu. But it’s kind of hard to feel unburdened and free when you’re bogged down by heavy luggage. If you tend to over-pack when you travel, start with these simple rules for packing light—with the proper planning, we guarantee you can fit everything you need into a single bag.

1. PACK TWO BOTTOMS FOR EVERY FIVE DAYS

Jeans can take up a fair amount of real estate in your carry-on, and chances are, you don’t need a fresh pair for every day of the week. Writer Tarryn Williford suggests over at Apartment Therapy that you pack two bottoms for every five days of your trip. “[This] gives you the flexibility to have a short option and a long option,” she writes. “As long as they’re versatile—and don’t stand out too much—I promise your perfect pair will last the whole trip.”

So if you do the math, you only need four bottoms (a mix of jeans, skirts, and shorts, depending on the climate of your destination) for a 10-day trip. You might even reduce that number if you have access to a washing machine.

2. THE 80-20 RULE FOR TRAVELING

The Pareto principle tells us that 80 percent of effects come from 20 percent of causes. In business, for example, 80 percent of your success comes from 20 percent of your efforts; or 80 percent of your profits come from 20 percent of your clients. The goal of knowing this is to be able to focus on that 20 percent to maximize efficiency.

It might seem silly, but you can translate the Pareto principle to packing, too. The Carry On Guy posits that 20 percent of the stuff you bring can accommodate 80 percent of your needs. Think about it: How often are you going to use that backup battery charger you’re bringing? And do you really need a separate pair of dress shoes for that one nice dinner you have planned?

3. THE 5-4-3-2-1 RULE

If you’re finding it impossible to cut down your packing list, start with this easy guideline that’s made the rounds online in recent years. According to the 5-4-3-2-1 rule, all you need for any trip is:

– 5 tops
– 4 bottoms
– 3 accessories
– 2 shoes (a practical pair and a nice pair)
– 1 swimsuit

You can be a bit flexible with this rule depending on your destination. If you’re going to Ireland in December, for instance, you might want to swap that one swimsuit for a windbreaker. Heading to Aruba? Make one of your accessories your beach cover-up.

4. GO NEUTRAL

Versatility is key when packing light, and if you want to make sure you can mix and match all of your tops, bottoms, and outerwear, you’ll want to pick a neutral color palette.

Travel site Smart Women on the Go recommends choosing medium to dark solid colors (like black and charcoal gray) for your main clothing items because “they coordinate easily and don’t scream, ‘I’m a tourist!'” But for a warmer climate, you might want to lean more heavily on lighter neutrals like cream or blue (which look great together).

You don’t have to give up color completely, of course. Just add it in with accessories like scarves, jewelry, or hats.

5. NEVER PACK FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS

Even if you’re going to be away for a month, as a general rule, you only ever need two week’s worth of stuff. As travel site Fox Nomad explains, you’re not packing for the rest of your life. “What you pack before you leave on a trip isn’t absolute—it’s not like you’ve only got one chance to get it right or face catastrophe,” they say.

Unless you’re heading to a campsite in the middle of nowhere, you can scout out the nearest drug store to restock your supply of toothpaste, purchase a pair of sunglasses to replace the ones you forgot, or simply wash your clothes so you can rewear them. (And if you’re camping, it’s likely no one will notice or care if your clothes get a little grimy.)

After it was found filled up with dirt, a centuries-old well that was once believed to hold sacred healing powers has been excavated.

St. Anne’s Well, named after the mother of the Virgin Mary, was discovered on a private farm near Liverpool in the UK. St. Anne inspired a cult following in the medieval era. According to Live Science, the well would have been a popular pilgrimage site for the devotees of the holy figure. The 4-foot pit features three stepping stones leading down into the 6.5-foot-by-6.5-foot sandstone pool. Once inside, bathers would have submerged themselves in the water to reap the full benefits of its alleged abilities to cleanse sins and heal skin and eye diseases.

The origins of the cult of St. Anne date back as far as 550 CE, but the group didn’t spread to England until the late 14th century. That means the well is likely no more than 600 years old, even though St. Anne herself was supposed to have taken a dip in it, according to local lore.

In addition to its holy reputation, the well is also associated with a gruesome curse. Legend has it that the well was the cause of a property dispute between a local monastery and a neighboring estate in the 16th century. Hugh Darcy, the estate’s landowner, had the monastery and well seized by the king’s commissioners after clashing with the prior of the monastery. In retaliation, the prior placed a curse on Darcy—and dropped dead himself soon after.

In the months that followed, Darcy would suffer financial troubles and the loss of his son to a mysterious illness. He used drinking as a coping mechanism, and after disappearing from a tavern one night, he was found dead in St. Anne’s Well with a crushed skull.

That folk-tale didn’t stop pilgrims from bathing in the well until the 1800s, and it didn’t stop modern-day archaeologists from excavating it. After years of ploughing, the only evidence of the historic site had been a few stones above ground (see first image below). Historic England Heritage was responsible for cleaning it out and replacing the stones that had fallen into the pit. They also added a new wooden buffer around the perimeter, which will hopefully keep the site clear of dirt and weeds in the future.

 
[h/t Live Science]

On October 6, 1991, the Chicago Cubs played the last game of a routinely underwhelming regular season. They went 77-83, placed fourth in their division, and missed out on the playoffs. For Cubs fans, it was just a drop in the bucket, another sun-drenched summer of baseball cut short before the postseason.

After the game, beloved Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray didn’t hang his head in disappointment. The eternal optimist, Caray stayed on the air to give fans a pep talk. “Too bad we couldn’t have had a victory that meant a pennant,” he said, “But that will come; sure as God made green apples. Some day the Chicago Cubs are going to be in the World Series.”

Sure enough, just as God made green apples, the Cubs did one better and actually won the World Series last night, ending 108 years of “waiting ’til next year.”

This was the scene this morning at Harry Caray’s grave at All Saints Catholic Cemetery in the Chicago suburb of Des Plaines, Illinois. As sure as God made green apples, Cubs fans made sure to leave behind the most appropriate tribute possible:

Holy Cow pic.twitter.com/DmwTPJbMkD

— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) November 3, 2016

Congrats, Harry. You were right.

War doesn’t just destroy cities, homes, and lives—it also destroys culture. As The Guardian reports, the Louvre Museum in Paris has offered to protect art treasures rescued from conflict-ridden countries in a new conservation and storage facility in northern France.

French President François Hollande announced the proposal earlier this week while unveiling a plaque for the Louvre’s new building in Liévin, France, scheduled to open in 2019. “The principle role of the Liévin site will be to house the Louvre Museum’s stored collection,” The Guardian quoted Hollande as saying, “… but it could have another role, sadly linked to the events, dramas, tragedies that we see in the world.” The president was referencing the recent destruction of cultural and UNESCO-World Heritage sites in Syria and Iraq by terrorist groups like The Islamic State (ISIS).

Hollande intentionally chose to reveal the plaque while visiting the Louvre-Lens, a regional branch of the Louvre in Pas-de-Calais. He was there to open a new exhibition, “History Begins in Mesopotamia,” which runs through January 2017. “This show has not come about by chance,” Holland said (as quoted in The Art Newspaper). “We wanted it at the moment when heritage was under threat in Iraq and Syria.”

Hollande plans to officially extend The Louvre’s offer of protection at a French-led international conference on the effects of terrorism on culture, held in December at the new Louvre Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. There, representatives from about 40 countries will discuss ways to combat antiquities trafficking, memorialize destroyed sites, and rescue and restore endangered cultural artifacts from other countries. 

[h/t The Guardian]

Sandwiches have come a long way since the Earl of Sandwich allegedly asked his cook to make him a meal he could hold in one hand. These days, building a sandwich is more of an art form than a convenience—so don’t miss these 15 masterpieces.

1. CHEESESTEAK // PAT’S KING OF STEAKS

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

No sandwich is as synonymous with a city as the cheesesteak is with Philadelphia. There’s certainly no shortage of cheesesteak joints in town, but the two main competitors, Pat’s and Geno’s, are located directly across from one another; people declare their loyalty as ardently as they back a baseball team. But Pat’s came first, the result of an experiment by hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri back in 1930, so it’s worth your time. (Then go across the way and try Geno’s, too.)

2. BEEF ON WECK // SCHWABL’S

Location: West Seneca, New York

If you don’t frequent western New York much, you may be unfamiliar with beef on weck—roast beef on a kummelweck roll. The origins of the highly regional sandwich aren’t entirely clear, though one story claims that a local pub owner created it hoping the salty roll would inspire his patrons to order more drinks. Schwabl’s hand-carved roast beef is some of the best—just be sure to save room for an extra beer to wash it down.

3. HOT BROWN // BROWN HOTEL

Location: Louisville, Kentucky

During the 1920s, the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, held a nightly dinner dance. Rather than serve hungry guests the typical ham and eggs breakfast after they had jitterbugged well into the morning, Chef Fred Schmidt decided to concoct something new. His creation was an open-faced sandwich, topped with turkey, bacon, and Mornay sauce. The revelers devoured it, and the Hot Brown quickly became a regional specialty. Though there are plenty of places that make this messily delicious sandwich, especially in Kentucky, there’s nothing like the original.

4. BROCCOLI CLASSIC // NO. 7 SUB

Location: New York, New York

Not a fan of broccoli, you say? You will be after you try the broccoli sub at No. 7, which is made with seasoned steamed broccoli, fried shallots, ricotta salata, and served on toasted bread with mayo and pickled lychees.

5. CLASSIC OLD TIMER // KREMA NUT COMPANY

Location: Columbus, Ohio

You can get a classic peanut butter and jelly at Krema Nut Company, of course, and even a peanut butter and banana. But it’s the Classic Old Timer, a thick sandwich layered with housemade crunchy peanut butter, strawberry preserves, and slices of strawberries that will make your taste buds sing. Hurry though: they partially close down during the busy season between November 23 and December 28 each year, when they stop serving sandwiches and shakes (but nuts, chocolate, and gifts remain available).

6. LOBSTER ROLL // NEPTUNE OYSTER

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

The Lobster Roll at Neptune Oyster has Serious Eats rethinking ordering the New England staple sandwich from anywhere else. Their Maine Lobster Roll comes hot with butter, or cold with mayo; both come on a delectable brioche bun.

7. PORCHETTA // SALUMI ARTISAN CURED MEATS

Location: Seattle, Washington

Dining on the Porchetta sandwich at Salumi is, according to some who have tasted it, the closest you’ll get to having an out-of-body experience. Armandino and Marilyn Batali (yes, the parents to famous Chef Mario) opened the salumeria and restaurant in 1999, a retirement dream for the two that has been listed amongst other notable must-try restaurants for Seattle. “I’m never ordering a Porchetta sandwich elsewhere. One bite and I was in heaven,” declared one Trip Advisor convert.

8. THE YARDBIRD // SLOWS BAR BQ

Location: Detroit, Michigan

This chicken sandwich topped with mustard sauce, mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon has got a lot of people clucking—even Adam Richman, host of Best Sandwich in America, whose rave reviews landed the Slows sandwich a spot in the final round of the show.

9. MONTE CRISTO // BLUE BAYOU

Location: Anaheim, California

You’ll need Disneyland park admission to sample this French toast-inspired sandwich, but there are plenty of connoisseurs that will tell you it’s a small price to pay for the tasty combination of ham, turkey, and Swiss on egg bread. After the sandwich is assembled, it’s dunked in egg, fried until golden brown, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with blackberry or raspberry preserves. Disneyland gets the credit for popularizing this sweet-and-savory sandwich back in the 1960s—guests asked for the recipe so often that the restaurant printed cards to hand out to requesters.

10. CANTEEN // CANTEEN LUNCH IN THE ALLEY

Location: Ottumwa, Iowa

Fans of Roseanne no doubt remember when the title character decided to open her own business, a lunch counter called “The Lanford Lunch Box.” The hole-in-the-wall eatery was inspired by Canteen Lunch in the Alley, a Depression Era joint famous for its “loose meat” sandwiches, called “Canteens.” There are only 16 stools available, so it’s often standing room only.

11. GRILLED CHEESE // BOUCHON BAKERY

Location: New York, New York

This isn’t your mother’s grilled cheese-and-Campbell’s (though that’s a hard one to beat). The gooey combo of gruyere and fontina cheeses on crisp, buttery pain au lait bread (with tomato soup) at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery has enchanted many New Yorkers in need of comfort food.

12. BREADED PORK TENDERLOIN // NICK’S KITCHEN

Location: Huntington, Indiana

If you love a good breaded pork tenderloin that’s comically larger than the tiny bun it’s wedged between, you have Nick’s Kitchen to thank. Though you can get a good tenderloin any number of places in the Midwest, Nick’s Kitchen still uses their original recipe, the same one founder Nick Freienstein used when he opened his restaurant in 1908.

13. ALMOST FAMOUS // PRIMANTI BROTHERS

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This hearty sandwich—a stack of grilled meat (there’s a variety available) accompanied by coleslaw, French fries, ripe tomato, and a fried egg nestled in soft Italian bread—is a Pittsburgh classic. Primanti Brothers and their Almost Famous have been featured on a number of TV shows, including Best Sandwich in America, among others, so maybe it’s time to change the name. (For the record, a lot of people just call the sandwiches “Primantis.”)

14. DEEP FRIED FLUFFERNUTTER // BLACK MARKET LIQUOR BAR

Location: Studio City, California

This one is technically on the dessert menu at Black Market Liquor Bar, but hey, a sandwich is a sandwich. It takes your classic childhood fluffernutter—peanut butter and marshmallow creme—and dunks it in a deep fat fryer. For a grown-up twist, Black Market Liquor adds bananas to theirs and puts it on brioche rather than white bread.

15. THE PILGRIM // MIKE’S CITY DINER

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

The Pilgrim at Mike’s City Diner is everything you love about Thanksgiving on a sandwich: roasted turkey, cranberries, and stuffing, on a sesame seed bun, served with or without gravy. All of the deliciousness; none of the family drama. What’s not to like?