Month: December 2016

Bowling may seem like a wholesome pastime today, but the game once had an unsavory reputation, prompting laws that not only regulated bets on the game but who could play and when. During one especially dark period for the game’s fans, the only day common people could legally go bowling was Christmas.

The origins of bowling go way back: Artifacts found in an ancient Egyptian tomb suggest the game, or something like it, may have been played as early as 3200 B.C.E. However, the first laws apparently known to have regulated bowling were passed in 14th century Germany amid concerns over gambling. At the time, peasants were placing such large bets they would go into debt over the game, and so in 1325 the German cities of Berlin and Cologne legislated how much a person could bet on a bowling match—limiting the stakes to the equivalent of about a dollar today.

A few decades later, in 1361, bowling was banned altogether in England—King Edward III considered the game a distraction from archery practice, which male citizens needed to keep their skills sharp for war. Henry VI reversed the ban in 1455, and 15th century London briefly became home to several all-weather bowling alleys, but Henry VIII felt compelled to legislate against the sport again in the 16th century. In 1541, he declared that only the wealthy could bowl—convenient for him, since London’s Whitehall Palace had recently been rebuilt with outdoor bowling lanes.

However, the law did allow workers to play on one day each year. According to the statute, “Artificers, labourers, apprentices, servants and the like” were prohibited “from playing bowls except in their masters’ house and presence at Christmas.” The sport would have been played as part of the 12 Days of Christmas enjoyed during Tudor England, which provided the working class with opportunities for rare pleasures such as visiting the zoo, watching plays, and jousting matches.

Henry VIII’s 1541 law, although rarely enforced, was not officially repealed until 1845. (Unfortunately, in 1555 Queen Mary even outlawed the Christmas games, saying they provided cover for “unlawful assemblies, conventiclers, seditions, and conspiracies.”) But English subjects continued to play, and sometimes did so instead of attending church. In 1618 King James issued the Declaration of Sports, which banned bowling on Sundays but did allow dancing and archery as long as one first attended a church service.

Bowling was subject to less legislation in other countries. Dutch settlers and explorers brought a version of bowling known as ninepins to New Amsterdam, later known as New York City. The early settlers played at a lower Manhattan site now known as Bowling Green. When large numbers of German settlers emigrated to the U.S. in the late 19th century, they also brought their love of bowling, and it soon became a popular sport.

These days, bowling’s not quite as popular as it once was. After reaching a height in the mid-20th century, during which 2.3 million Americans joined bowling leagues and a bowling alley was installed in the White House, participation plummeted—between 1998 and 2012, the number of bowling centers in the U.S. dropped by almost 25 percent. But while there might be fewer enjoying the game today, there is a bright side: It has been a long time since anyone was arrested for bowling.

With the arrival of the popular app Pokémon Go and the debut of the Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, fans of the fighting monsters have been busy this year. The fun doesn’t stop with new video games: Korean beauty company TONYMOLY is capitalizing on the renewed love for the franchise with Pokémon-themed makeup.

The new line debuted in September with plenty of colorful goodies featuring some of the most prominent characters from the series, like Meowth and, of course, Pikachu. The first wave contained foam cleansers, hand lotions, face creams, eye shadow, nail polish, nail stickers, face masks, and more. The face masks unfortunately don’t have Pokémon faces printed on them, but that might be a good thing when you remember how scary Pooh looks. You can store all the new branded loot in a pouch featuring Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Squirtle, or Snorlax (the Pikachu bag comes with a little lightning bolt tail on the zipper).

You can nab most of the items on Amazon and check out the rest on TONYMOLY’s website.

Primary image courtesy of TONYMOLY’s Instagram.

The very first Christmas cards were designed by Englishman John Callcott Horsley in 1843 at the behest of his friend, Sir Henry Cole. The seasonal mailers depicted a family sitting together at a table, with two images of them doing good deeds on either side. Of the 1000 that were printed, only a dozen have survived to this day. We’ve come a long way since then, and while cards with bells, whistles, tinsel, audio, and lights certainly have their place, it’s also nice to look back at what came before.

In that spirit, here are 50 delightfully retro cards from the New York Public Library’s digital archives. Believe it or not, they have many, many more, which you should check out here. We promise it will make your season bright.

1. “WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS”

2. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

3. “A MERRY XMAS, WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS”

4. “JUST A LITTLE OUTWARD SIGN”

5. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS.”

6. “MERRY CHRISTMAS.”

7. “I DON’T FORGET YOUR CHRISTMAS…”

8. “WISHING YOU A MERRY XMAS”

9. “A MERRY XMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR”

10. “A MERRY X’MAS”

11. “TO WISH YOU A RIGHT MERRY CHRISTMAS.”

12. “A HEARTY WISH FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW  YEAR”

13. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW  YEAR”

14. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

15. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS; THINE OWN WISH WISH I THEE”

16. “MAY JOY ABIDE WITH YOU THIS CHRISTMAS TIDE”

17. “MAY CHRISTMAS BE HAPPY”

18. “I AM THINKING OF YOU TODAY BECAUSE IT IS CHRISTMAS.”

19. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

20. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

21. “MAY ALL THE HOURS OF CHRISTMAS, AND OF THE NEW YEAR TOO …”

22. “WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

23. “MAY YOU HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

24. “MERRY CHRISTMAS”

25. “MAY SANTA MAKE YOUR STOCKING HEAVY AND YOUR HEART LIGHT”

26. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

27. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

28. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

29. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

30. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

31. “MERRY CHRISTMAS”

32. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS [TO YOU ALL]”

33. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

34. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

35. “BEST WISHES FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

36. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

37. “MAY YE BE JUST AS HAPPY YOURSEL’ AS YE LIKE TO SEE ANY BODY ELSE”

38. “YOU’LL GET A LOT OF CARDS I KNOW …”

39. “MERRY CHRISTMAS”

40. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

41. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

42. “AT THE CANDLE LIGHT, AS I LIGHT MY PIPE. ALL IS BRIGHT, ON THIS CHRISTMAS NIGHT.”

43. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU”

44. “MERRY CHRISTMAS”

45. “MERRY CHRISTMAS”

46. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

47. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

48. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

49. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

50. “A MERRY CHRISTMAS”

There Are Basically Only Two Types of Bad Bosses, According to Years of Research. Believe me, you’d rather have the incompetent one.
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24 Of The Worst Things Hipsters Did To Food In 2016. I’ll have mine on a plate, please.
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The Best Movie Posters of 2016. Beautiful, intriguing, and possibly better than the film.
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11 Movies & TV Shows That Tried to Be Star Wars. A couple of them were pretty good, but you can’t make lightning strike on command.
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Herding Reindeer Isn’t Just Child’s Play For One Little Girl. It’s a way of life for the nomadic Tsaatan of Mongolia.
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Who Are the Real Caesar, Melba and General Tso? These and other foods were named for real people.
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The dangerous health consequences of pessimism. Grumpy old men, beware.
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Bizarre But Clever Christmas Decorations. Imagination counts more than wattage anytime.

Selecting the perfect present can be tough—so why not leave it to the pros? Each of these 25 subscription boxes—for everyone from the wine lover to the makeup junkie—is curated by a team of experts. So whether your bestie is obsessed with coffee or really into knitting, you can find a gift that will make them sing your praises.

Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Thanks for helping us pay the bills!

1. FOR THE BOOKWORM: BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB; $45 FOR THREE MONTHS

Give the gift of polished prose. Subscribers receive an email on the first of each month detailing five books selected by a panel of judges. They input their choice and the tome arrives at their door a week later. Want to join in the fun? When you purchase a subscription for a pal, you get half-off your own three-month membership.

Find It: Book of the Month Club

2. FOR THE ADVENTURER: ISLE BOX; $45 PER MONTH

Here’s what to get that sporty pal who’s always conquering a new mountain or setting up camp in a remote place you’ve never heard of. Each month—or season—they’ll pocket a crate of outdoorsy loot (think: a backpack or an inflatable hammock) they can put to good use. For newbies, add the $200 starter box filled with essentials such as a headlamp, stove, and medical kit.

Find It: Isle Box

3. FOR THE PAWSOME PUP: BARKBOX; $35 PER MONTH

Don’t leave Spot off your list. Sign your four-legged pal up for this service and they’ll score a monthly gift brimming with up to six healthy treats and toys the company vows are “crazy dog person-designed and dog-approved.”

Find It: BarkBox

4. FOR THE SELF-PROCLAIMED NERD: LOOT CRATE; $14 PER MONTH

Chock full of lust-worthy, pop-culture collectibles, this gift will thrill the proud geek in your life. Monthly deliveries are theme-oriented (August’s anti-hero box contained Kill Bill socks and a Harley Quinn figurine). But if your pal is fixated on a particular franchise, you can opt for a one-off limited edition crate like the ones dedicated to Gears of War 4 or South Park.

Find It: Loot Crate

5. FOR THE HOME BARISTA: MISTO BOX, $20 PER MONTH

Deliver a monthly perk-me-up: A coffee curator will work with your java-loving pal to determine their preferences. Then, every 30 days they’ll open a new 12-ounce bag of whole beans thoughtfully selected from more than 300 fresh-roasted blends.

Find It: Misto Box

6. FOR THE TRENDY GUY: BESPOKE POST; $45 PER MONTH

Dubbed the subscription club for men, Bespoke Post delivers carefully curated themed collections of home goods, accessories, grooming products, food, and alcohol. Your bud gets to preview the selection each month so if Copper (custom hammered mugs, crushed ice and ginger syrup to make a perfect Moscow Mule) or The Barber (a razor and other shaving goodies) isn’t for them, they can opt out.

Find It: Bespoke Post

7. FOR THE ONE WHO ALWAYS PUTS HIS OR HER BEST FOOT FORWARD: SAY IT WITH A SOCK; FROM $12 PER MONTH

This service is perfect for those that put thought into accessorizing from head-to-toe. (Emphasis on the toes.) Once they share if they prefer patterns (i.e. polka dots and stripes), graphic designs (say, pizza slices?), or both, they get a monthly shipment of up to four pairs of snazzy socks.

Find It: Say It With A Sock

8. FOR THE CANDLE-OBSESSED: VELLABOX; FROM $10 PER MONTH

Help your luminary-loving friend burn, baby, burn. You choose the gift—a 4-ounce candle, an 8-ounce, or both—and every 30 days they’ll get a new scent to light up plus a surprise gift!

Find It: VellaBox

9. FOR THE SMART SNACKER: GRAZE; $12 A BOX

Meet the answer to the 4 p.m. cravings. Delivered weekly, bi-weekly, or once a month, the eight-snack pack is filled with perfectly portioned bites that are free of artificial flavors, preservatives, trans fats, and high fructose corn syrup. On their menu of more than 100 good-for-you, 150-calorie-and-under treats: berry compote with shortbread dippers and apple and cinnamon flapjacks.

Find It: Graze

10. FOR THE STYLISH WOMAN: POPSUGAR MUST HAVE BOX; $40 PER MONTH

The editors at celebrity and lifestyle site POPSUGAR—who test-drive countless beauty products, accessories, and foods—curate these monthly arrivals. Expect boxes packed with $100 worth of gluten-free treats, on-trend cosmetics, and fun conversation pieces like emoji cocktail napkins and an inflatable swan drink holder.

Find It: POPSUGAR Must Have

11. FOR CURIOUS KIDS: KIWI CRATE & TINKER CRATE; $25 PER MONTH EACH

Inspire budding innovators. These kits—the Kiwi Crates are for ages 5 to 8; Tinker is age 9 to 16—are designed to get kids engaged in science, technology, engineering, art and math. Each includes a kid-tested, expert-reviewed project, instructions and a magazine to stimulate more ideas.

Find It: Kiwi Crate Inc.

12. FOR YOUR FAVORITE FELINE: KITNIPBOX; $30 PER MONTH

These packages will please even the finickiest of felines. Shipments are stocked with all-natural treats and toys (see: a wool felt bell stuffed with catnip), with a side of largesse. A portion of proceeds go to shelters, rescue groups, and other cat-related causes. Get $15 off your purchase with the code: MENTALPAWS.

Find It: KitNipBox

13. FOR THE WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINC; $50 PER MONTH

For your pal with the discerning palate, opt for this three-bottle-a-month service. Pre-delivery, they’ll be quizzed on their taste preferences so they’re insured vintages they’re eager to uncork.

Find It: Winc

14. FOR THE MUSIC ENTHUSIAST WHO WANTS TO REVISIT THEIR FAVORITES: VINYL ME PLEASE; $100 FOR THREE MONTHS

Skip the iTunes gift card: With this service your old school pal scores a limited edition vinyl LP each month along with a 12-inch-by-12-inch print inspired by the album and a recipe for a cocktail meant to be enjoyed as they listen. They’ll also get a $25 coupon to purchase more albums. Record player not included.

Find It: Vinyl Me Please

15. FOR THE MUSIC ENTHUSIAST WHO WANTS TO FEEL LIKE AN INSIDER: VINYLMNKY; $30 PER MONTH

Thanks to you, your giftee will be able to say they’ve been listening to that hot new artist for years. Vinylmnky keys in on emerging musicians before they become the next big thing and sends their subscribers a vinyl copy of their album, a custom lithograph, and a special add-on like an autographed poster.

Find It: Vinylmnky

16. FOR THE MAKEUP MAVEN WHO WANTS TO DO GOOD: VEGAN CUTS BEAUTY BOX; $23 PER MONTH

Perfect for your BFF who refuses to eat meat and gets teary-eyed at the thought of cosmetic companies testing on adorable bunnies. Each month, they can up their beauty game with between four and seven makeup and skincare products (retail value: roughly $50) that are all cruelty-free.

Find It: Vegan Cuts

17. FOR THE WELL-GROOMED GENT: SPREZZA BOX; $28 PER MONTH

Nudge your boyfriend into a more stylish 2017 or keep your sartorially inclined brother in the loop. A team of in-the-know trendsetters curates this monthly delivery of designer goodies (valued at more than $100), so they can rest assured that their new tie, pocket square, or shiny cufflinks are stylist-approved.

Find It: Sprezza Box

18. FOR THE HOME BARTENDER: SALOONBOX; $38 PER MONTH

Rather than spring for another bottle of whisky, surprise the aspiring mixologist in your life with this DIY cocktail kit. Their monthly arrival includes recipe cards (the fancy mixes are created by top bartenders) and small batches of the necessary liquors, syrups, bitters, and garnishes.

Find It: SaloonBox

19. FOR THE NEWBIE KNITTER: KNITWISE; $29 PER MONTH

Gift this now; reap a handmade scarf next year. Each month, wannabe knitters are sent a project in a box—all of the supplies they need to craft a certain item, plus step-by-step instructions for getting it done. And if they hit an, er, knotty spot, they can head online for video tutorials.

Find It: Knit Wise

20. FOR THE KNITTING QUEEN: YARN CRUSH; $33 PER MONTH

If your pal’s knitting hobby is firmly established, opt for this service that delivers a full-size skein of premium yarn (suited to their color preferences) plus a crochet pattern. (And they’ll usually throw in fun extras like a “My Hobby Takes Balls!” pin.) They also have a Sock Crush option for those dedicated to cozy feet warmers or you can spring for the one-time-only $75 Holiday box with yarn, patterns, books, and handmade trinkets.

Find It: Yarn Crush

21. FOR THE TRENDSETTER: FABFITFUN BOX; $50 PER BOX

Fashionable goodies for all seasons! Every three months, members collect a virtual swag bag of full-size products hand-selected by the FabFitFun tastemakers as well as a compact guide that details each brand and features interviews from pros. In vogue items include adult coloring books, eye shadow palettes, and yoga towels. Get $10 off your first box with the code: MENTALFLOSS.

Find It: FabFitFun

22. FOR THE BAKING FANATIC: WHISK & FLOUR; $28 PER MONTH

You know that friend who always has the most Pinterest-worthy holiday cookies? Treat them to this monthly service. They’ll receive a new dessert recipe each month along with the pre-measured dry ingredients, including hard-to-find artisanal eats like matcha and dulce de leche. You’ll receive a steady infusion of pecan covered cinnamon rolls and poppy seed shortbread. Get 10 percent off your first box through December with the code: LETSBAKE.

Find It: Whisk & Flour

23. FOR THE PARTY PLANNER: MOSTESS; $120 PER BOX

Perfect for the hostess with the, well, you know. Shipped every two months, the curated crate includes up to seven entertaining must-haves such as a decorative wine stopper, a gold cocktail shaker and strainer, and porcelain coasters. Potential buyers are able to check out the contents before they order, guaranteeing they’ll never be stuck with something they don’t want.

Find It: Mostess Box

24. FOR THE PERSON LOOKING FOR A WARDROBE UPGRADE: STITCH FIX; $20, PLUS COST OF CLOTHES

A personal shopper at your fingertips: Users fill out a style profile, detailing their size, price and trend preferences, then receive five clothing items, from designers like Citizens for Humanity or Joie, hand-picked by their personal fashion guru. They can buy the pieces they like—the $20 style fee goes toward the cost—and ship back the rest (for free!).

Find It: Stitch Fix

25. FOR THE CRAFTER: DARBY SMART TO DIY FOR BOX; $19 PER MONTH

Consider this a monthly reminder to unleash their inner Martha Stewart. Kits come stocked with everything they’ll need to completely a cute DIY project such as a personalized planner or metal stamped jewelry. They simply use the included supplies, craft, and then show off their work on Instagram!

Find It: Darby Smart

We may not have robot maids just yet, but you can still outsource a surprising number of household chores to machines. There are specialized robot cleaners that can do just about everything, short of putting your dishes in the dishwasher and making your bed. Here are 10 ways technology can help you keep your house tidy, no elbow grease involved:

1. VACUUMING YOUR HOUSE

Robot vacuums have been on the market for more than a decade, and they’ve gotten pretty savvy. Autonomous vacuums can work on carpet or hard floors and can be set to run on a preset schedule, so by the time you return home, your floors are clean and your vacuum is back at its charging station. Sensors and bumpers help the vacuum map the room, avoid obstacles and figure out the dirtiest spots to focus on. These days, a robot can do most of your maintenance cleaning for you, especially if you’re worried about pet hair.

2. MOPPING YOUR TILE

Your robot vacuum might handle carpets well, but it’s not going to scrub those tomato sauce splashes near your stove. For that, you’ll need a floor scrubber. Robot mops can spray down your floors and scrub away grit. Most come with a dry functionality to vacuum up dust before the mopping session begins in earnest, and can be set to stay within certain invisible boundaries so they don’t go tearing through your house willy-nilly.

3. CLEANING THE GUTTERS

No one wants to climb up on the roof and clear out the leaves and debris stuck in the gutters—so why not let a battery-powered robot do it for you? One submarine-like model can clean a 30-foot-long gutter in five minutes. No need to climb up and down the ladder multiple times—just climb up, set the gutter cleaner on the roof, and it will travel back and forth for you.

4. STERILIZING YOUR TOOTHBRUSH

If you’re particularly worried about germs, you don’t need to break out antibacterial washes (which can breed supergerms). Instead, try a UV wand that sanitizes dirty surfaces with light. The same technology is used to disinfect hospitals to prevent infections, but the domestic versions can sterilize mattresses, toothbrushes and more with just a wave of the wand. Some vacuums also come equipped with the technology, so you can get rid of dust and germs at the same time.

5. CLEANING YOUR WINDOWS

Glass-cleaning robots can get at those high windows and shower doors that you strain to reach. Instead of obsessing about streaky glass, just attach a cleaning pad to the robot, spray some solution on the surface of the glass, and let go. It’ll figure out the best pattern to clean in to reach the whole window, washing with microfiber cleaning pads and squeegeeing the surface clean. These kinds of robot helpers even work on mirrors.

6. CLEANING YOUR GRILL

Scrubbing the gunk off your outdoor grill can be automated, too. Rather than attacking that blackened grime all night with a metal brush, try a robot pod equipped with multiple metal brushes. Put it on your grill and watch it go for 10, 20, or 30 minutes. When it’s done, simply remove the brushes and throw them in the dishwasher.

7. CLEARING UP AROUND YOUR TRASH CAN

A smart programmable trash bin is expected to start shipping in February 2017 that will rid your kitchen of any spilled debris on your floors. Featuring a built-in vacuum function, all you have to do is sweep crumbs and dirt toward the front of the can—the container will do the rest, sucking it up into the trash bag within. As if that wasn’t enough, it also features an air filter to keep things smelling rosy. If you’ve got a forgetful family, an associated app will remind folks when it’s time to take the garbage out.

8. CLEANING OUT THE AQUARIUM

Because the focus should be on your fish, not on whether or not you need to scrub out the aquarium. Once the aquarium-cleaning robot is turned on, it runs every 24 hours to keep the walls of the glass tank super clear. It can even charge itself as needed, and works with both saltwater and freshwater tanks.

9. CLEANING SOLUTION MIXER

There’s not much use in buying harsh chemical cleaning solutions when you can mix your own perfectly good cleaning solutions at home. One little gadget will mix salt, vinegar and water into a powerful cleaning solution that can tackle grease, soap scum, and more, without anything that will irritate sensitive skin or harm pets. The $90 capsule electrolyzes the liquid mixture to form sodium hydroxide and hypochlorous acid, which can then be used to scrub down your counters, bathtubs, windows and more. That means you can throw away the 50 different spray bottles of cleaners and bleach you have stuffed in the closet.

10. FOLDING LAUNDRY

Though there’s not a commercially available laundry-folding robot on the market just yet, there will be soon enough. A few different companies are working on automated laundry helpers that can remove wrinkles and fold your clean clothes better, in less time than it would take you, using artificial intelligence to recognize different types of clothing. At least two automated folding systems are due out in 2017.

You already depend on tech at the office to make your life easier—why not lean on it at home as well? Neato Robotics’s line of Wi-Fi enabled robot vacuums make it possible to clean your floors, wherever you are, without lifting a finger. (Except for the one you use to open the app on your phone, that is.) Visit Neato Robotics to learn more.

In the future, perishable foods may have a biological assist from coatings that improve their shelf life. Apeel, a company based in Santa Barbara, California, is designing invisible, edible coatings that keep out air to prevent fresh produce from rotting. The company just secured $33 million in funding, according to Modern Farmer, meaning that the innovation is closer to making its way to a supermarket near you.

Essentially, Apeel’s coatings are tasteless peels that can give other fruits and vegetables the hearty shelf life enjoyed by fruits like oranges, which have thick peels to better protect them from mold and water loss. Since every fruit is different, Apeel makes different coatings for various types of produce based on how it degrades, all made with agricultural byproducts like grape skins or broccoli stems. It estimates that its Edipeel coatings can extend the shelf life of food by two to five times what’s typical for uncoated products.

Food waste is a major issue worldwide. The United Nations’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that a third of all food goes into landfills due to spoilage or because it gets discarded. (Like if it falls off the truck on the way to the store.)

Edible protective coatings could end up making your fruit taste better, too. Because fruit has to withstand the perils of shipping, it’s often picked when it’s not as ripe as you’d like it to be, which is why grocery store tomatoes are way less delicious than the ones from your garden. Plus, produce doesn’t need as much packaging if it’s already coated.

The company also wants to reduce pesticide use by driving away bugs from plants in the field. “Our Invispeel formula camouflages produce surfaces with an ultrathin layer of chemically-contrasting molecules, rendering crops unrecognizable to pests and thus protecting them from bacteria, fungi, and insects,” according to Apeel, meaning that farmers wouldn’t need to use as many chemical pesticides.

It’s still in the testing phase right now, but select farmers will start using Edipeel in 2017.

[h/t Modern Farmer]

All images courtesy Apeel.

Were you sad to see Mad Men go last year? Perhaps it’ll make you even sadder to learn that the award-winning cable show almost had its own spin-off—twice. Both a Peggy Olson-specific offshoot and a modern-day version were in the cards at one point, but were ultimately axed.

Once every so often, we benefit from a work being left on the cutting room floor. Twin Peaks‘s abandoned spin-off, for example, ended up inspiring the cult classic Mulholland Drive.

Check out the video above from the mental_floss List Show to learn about 27 other spin-offs that almost happened.

Most Americans don’t know much about our 23rd commander-in-chief. Furthermore—adding insult to injury—many of the things for which Benjamin Harrison is remembered have little or nothing to do with his actual achievements. He famously interrupted Grover Cleveland’s non-consecutive terms. His opponents called him “Little Ben” due to his 5’ 6” stature. And his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was also president…albeit one who kicked the bucket after just 31 days in office. Yet Benjamin Harrison broke lots of new ground and, thanks to some holiday décor, helped establish a festive White House tradition.

December 1889 was a tragic month for the first family. After a lengthy struggle in the hospital, Elizabeth Lord, sister of First Lady Caroline Harrison, passed away on the 10th. Three days later, her husband’s 25-year-old nephew, William Sheets Harrison, also met an untimely demise. Needless to say, it was a trying period for the newly-elected president, who found little solace on Pennsylvania Avenue. Harrison glumly bemoaned, “This big house—about which I wander without any sense of its being a home.”

However, “Little Ben” wasn’t about to let heartache spoil the most wonderful time of the year. After all, his grandkids were spending their holiday at the White House and, as he later said, “I am an ardent believer in the duty we owe ourselves at Christmas to make merry for children at Christmas time”. As Harrison readied the seasonal trappings, he installed something the presidential mansion had never seen before: an indoor Christmas tree.

Lovingly placed on the second floor, it was a majestic specimen which one witness described as “the most beautiful and perfect tree that could be found in all the country.”

“From the topmost point to the floor,” reported executive clerk William H. Crook, “it was laden with decorations, with toys innumerable for the children and gifts for the older ones.”

But not every present was reserved for youngsters: on Christmas morning, every single member of Harrison’s domestic staff was summoned to receive some token of appreciation—married men got turkeys and their bachelor co-workers were given choice dining gloves (presumably to be worn while eating out). Harrison also took full advantage of his generous beard by grabbing a red and white costume and prancing about as Kris Kringle himself before an adoring audience.

“If my influence goes for aught in this busy world,” the satisfied president said of their celebration, “let me hope that my example be followed in every family in the land.”