Month: December 2016

Here are some things Russians think other Russians who are preparing to visit the U.S. should know.

1. Don’t Worry About Bringing Gifts to Americans …

Gift giving isn’t a big deal to Americans. In fact, according to the site Деловой этикет по-американски, “Americans do not expect them. On the contrary, an unexpected gift while conducting business can put an American in an awkward position. Such things for Americans suggest reciprocity.” But not all gifts will make Americans feel awful. They love gifts that are “purely Russian,” with some caveats:

If you do gift, it is desirable to bring something purely Russian when you visit the United States. But make it ‘purely Russian’ for modern America—not nesting dolls and samovar. Instead bring a good book about Moscow or Russian history, art and culture. Americans appreciate a good education and have great respect for cognitive literature.

2. … And definitely don’t bring business gifts.

“Business gifts in the U.S. are not acceptable,” the site Национальные особенности этикета в США cautions. “[T]hey often cause suspicion. Americans fear that they could be construed as a bribe, and in the United States that is strictly punishable by law.”

3. If you’re a man, be careful when dealing with American ladies.

According to the Russian site Этикет США, “U.S. etiquette prohibits flirting with a woman who is not your girlfriend or wife. If you are not acquainted with a woman, whether she be in a restaurant, on the street, or on the subway, do not look at her legs, etc. Americans could easily call the police on you, even for just ogling her.”

When it comes to introducing yourself to a woman, the site Национальные особенности этикета в США advises caution. You shouldn’t kiss her, not even her hand:

Welcome and introductions: men and women tend to shake hands. Mutual kissing and kissing ladies’ hands is not accepted. Also, women play a greater role in business. Often they insist to be treated exactly as an equal and not as a lady. In this regard, it is not acceptable to be excessively gallant, and you should avoid personal questions (do not find out whether she is married).

See Also: 10 Japanese Travel Tips for Visiting America

4. They’d prefer it if you got to the point …

“Americans generally do not like long intros and prefer to go directly to the subject matter, especially if it’s a phone conversation,” says the site Американский речевой этикет. “In Russia we talk about general topics before moving on to the reason for the call.”

That said, once you’re having a phone conversation, Americans won’t be thrilled if you just hang up on them. “Americans are often surprised by the Russian habit of quickly breaking off a conversation and hanging up,” the site notes. “Phone etiquette in America usually involves the gradual end of the conversation, confirmation agreements and standard closing remarks. By the way, ‘see you later’ should not be taken literally. That is a courtesy, and no more.”

5. … But would like you to avoid pointed statements.

According to Американский речевой этикет, “Russian conversational patterns often sound harsh to Americans. Statements such as, ‘You’re wrong,’ can be offensive. This can be interpreted as ‘You are telling lies!'” Instead, soften it up: “[I]t is better to say, ‘I do not think I can agree with this.'”

6. You Can Only Talk About Health in Certain Situations.

And that situation is when your friend is in the hospital. Otherwise, according to the site Американский речевой этикет, “What seems caring can be regarded as an invasion of privacy, lack of tact. You have to have some justification to show interest in their health.” Finally, the site notes, “Do not ask the effect of a magnetic storm (not many Americans know what that is) on their well-being.”

7. When your American friend invites you to a picnic, bring something sporty (and maybe a flask).

The site Деловой этикет по-американски discusses a hypothetical situation in which a Russian visitor to the United States is invited on the most American of outings: The Picnic. (This will only happen “if you’ve known each other for several years and are social outside the office,” though, so probably won’t be an option for the novice traveler.) According to the site, “As a rule, the invitation will be only on a weekend, and you don’t have to prepare for something extravagant. Everything is the same as ours, only with far less booze. Bring something sporty—ball, badminton, Americans are certainly fervent fans of these things.” Our tip: Russians concerned about the dearth of booze should bring their own in a flask.

8. Don’t be weirded out if Americans put their feet up on stuff.

“When Americans are talking, they might put their foot on a nearby chair, or even a table,” says the site Национальные особенности этикета в США. “They might cross their legs so that one foot rests on the opposite knee. In American culture, it is considered an acceptable norm, but often causes irritation in other countries.”

See Also: 11 French Travel Tips for Visiting America

9. Americans are very optimistic …

“Americans and Russians say different things when faced with the same situation,” notes the site Американский речевой этикет. “Seeing the man who had fallen in the street, an American asks, ‘Are you all right?’ Russians will inquire: ‘Are you ill?’ We see a victim of the incident; they see survivors. Survivors are perceived as heroes. Where we ‘aren’t sick,’ they ‘stay well.’ We discuss the problem. They discuss issues and items on the agenda.”

10. … And you should keep it positive, too. The Americans demand it.

It all starts with a smile. “U.S. etiquette requires that you smile in each and every situation,” says the site Этикет США. “If you want to travel to America, be prepared to give a smile not only to friends and acquaintances, but also to all passers-by, in shops, to the staff at the hotel, police on the streets, etc.” Don’t whine about your problems or the troubles in your life, either: “Sharing in this country can only be positive emotions—sorrows and frustrations are impermissible. In the U.S. you only complain to acquaintances in the most extreme cases. Serious problems are for close friends and relatives only.”

This cheerfulness isn’t a put-on, the site notes. “Americans: they are a nation that truly feels happy. These people get used to smiling from the cradle onwards, so they do not pretend to be cheerful. The desire for a successful happy life is inculcated from childhood.”

11. Americans are very competitive …

According to an academic essay about the ethics of American etiquette at Bibliofond, “Americans love competition. They appreciate achievement records, and are constantly competing with each other. Although this behavior is natural for them, to us it may seem overbearing and intrusive. They are autonomous and independent. From early childhood, the Americans are accustomed to ‘stand on their own feet’ that is, rely only on themselves.”

A writer on the commercial export site Экспортеры России agrees: “A resident of this country will never complain and talk about their failures. Regardless of the situation, the American will always look confident, healthy, radiating success.”

12. … And are taught from a young age that they’re awesome.

If you’re a Russian visiting the U.S. and notice that Americans seem to have an overwhelming sense of superiority, know that that’s been ingrained in them since they were little, according to Экспортеры России: “The Americans have a strong sense of independence, self-reliance; they are able to compete and win anywhere, anytime. This is due to perceptions of citizens about the dominant position of the U.S. in the world, which is laid at an early age and is at the heart of the education system.”

13. Formality isn’t necessary.

Formality and overt classicism of any kind makes Americans uncomfortable. According to Экспортеры России, “The Americans, having a friendly nature, always seek to establish an informal atmosphere. So they prefer to communicate with people by first name, regardless of their age and position.”

Adds Bibliofond, “The Americans are straight people who appreciate honesty and candor, quickly move to the point of conversation and do not spend time on formalities. Americans do not like stiffness, and prefer comfortable, casual clothes. They refer to each other simply, informally, even if between the interlocutors there is a big difference in age and social position.”

14. Be very careful not to sound snooty.

Экспортеры России advises Russians visiting the U.S. to “Insert jokes into the conversations, it is considered a sign of good taste. And remember they speak American English. They consider London pronunciation an arrogant version of their language.”

15. Follow the Rules.

The travel site tonkosti knows that to many a Russian tourist, an American’s dedication to following rules will appear almost childish:

There is too much law-abiding in Americans. It makes them seem naïve to Russians. But it is due to the fact that almost everywhere is installed hidden cameras; in the shops, on the streets, in restaurants, hotels and so on. Hence, any offense cannot go unnoticed. It is better to stick to the letter of U.S. law than to escape from its clutches and reduce to zero the probability of re-visiting the American continent.

Walking against the light? Littering? Taking up two parking spaces? All against the rules. And you better make sure you recycle, too:

Modern cowboys do not smoke in public, i.e. restaurants, bars and other places where a zone is not provided for smokers. For smoking in the wrong place you could be fined, as well as for incorrect disposal of waste: for each type of waste (glass, plastic, paper) in the United States, there are separate boxes.

16. Don’t joke about being a terrorist. Americans will not laugh.

Tonkosti prepares would-be travelers for the ordeal of arriving at an American airport, which will likely involve a search of the traveler and his belongings and questions about terrorism:

You will be asked about the purpose of your visit to the United States (business travel, tourism, etc.), and—do not be surprised—airport employees may ask whether you have any relation to terrorist groups. In no case do you joke on the topic of terrorism—for the Americans it is a serious issue. If the person asking you questions on your arrival does not like your responses, you will be invited to the office of the security services at the airport. This is serious: you could be sent home, and never set foot on American soil.

17. Don’t call people ugly.

This should probably be filed under “commonsense things to avoid,” but Bibliofond warns travelers anyway:

At the table is better to avoid talking about politics and religion, as the United States is a country of Puritan values. In the straight-line American culture there is a taboo forbidding calling out the physical defects of another person. This is probably due to the constant desire of Americans to always be in great shape and look young.

Yeah. That’s probably the reason.

A version of this post appeared in 2014.

It’s a simple story: boy is rude to girl, girl dislikes boy. Boy proposes to girl and she refuses him. Later, she discovers that he’s stinking rich. Hijinks ensue. In the end, they are married in an ideal 19^th-century wedding of both love and money. Today, over 200 years later, Pride and Prejudice remains Jane Austen’s most beloved novel.

1. Like her characters, Austen was rejected for not being rich enough.

Pride and Prejudice is about young women of gentile poverty trying to find good marriage matches. This issue must have been fresh on the young author’s mind when she wrote the book. At age 20, she had a flirtation with a young man named Tom Lefroy. Like a scene out of one of her novels, she flirted scandalously with him at a ball. “Imagine to yourself everything most profligate and shocking in the way of dancing and sitting down together,” she wrote to her sister Cassandra. “He is a very gentlemanlike, good-looking, pleasant young man, I assure you.” But Austen’s social status wasn’t high enough and Lefroy’s family separated the two lovebirds. Lefroy was soon engaged to a woman with a large fortune. Austen wrote her sister: “At length the day is come on which I am to flirt my last with Tom Lefroy … My tears flow as I write this, at this melancholy idea.” 

2. Mr. Darcy is extremely rich.

The characters in Pride and Prejudice constantly exclaim over Mr. Darcy’s $10,000 pounds a year, but how rich is that exactly? In 2013, The Telegraph calculated that adjusting for financial changes, a decent estimate might be 12 million pounds, or $18.7 million U.S. dollars a year. And that’s just interest on top of a much larger fortune. It’s no wonder Mrs. Bennet gushed about Elizabeth’s engagement—”How rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have!” Marrying Darcy would be like marrying a Rockefeller or a Vanderbilt. 

3. Lydia elopes to the Las Vegas of her day.

In the book, the Bennet family is almost ruined when Lydia elopes with the nefarious soldier George Wickham to Scotland. “I am going to Gretna Green,” Lydia writes her sister, “and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton.” Unlike England, Scotland allowed people under 21 to get married without parental consent, and without the same legal and religious bureaucracy. Gretna Green was the first town over the Scottish border. There, a young couple could be joined with “marriage by declaration,” which often occurred in a blacksmith shop.

4. Like Elizabeth and Jane, Austen was close to her sister.

In Pride and Prejudice, the relationship between the two sisters is central to the novel. In real life, Jane was very close to her sister Cassandra. They wrote each other almost every day when they were apart and would voluntarily share a bedroom, even when they could sleep separately. When Jane died, Cassandra wrote her niece: “She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow.” It’s no wonder that close sisters appear in so many of Austen’s novels. 

5. A publisher rejected the novel without even reading it.

Austen finished the book, then titled First Impressions, when she was 21 years old. In 1797, her father sent it to the publisher Thomas Cadell, writing that he had “a Manuscript Novel comprised in three Vols., about the length of Miss [Fanny] Burney’s Evelina.” He asked how much it would cost him to publish the book and what Cadell would pay for copyright. In response, Cadell scrawled “Declined by Return of Post” on the letter and sent it back with insulting speed. The novel languished for 14 years until, flush with the success of Sense and Sensibility, Austen revised the manuscript. It was published in 1813 when she was 37 years old. 

6. The title came from a Fanny Burney novel.

Austen probably got the title Pride and Prejudice from Cecilia by Fanny Burney, where the phrase is repeated several times—and in block capitals, no less. “The whole of this unfortunate business,” said Dr. Lyster, “has been the result of PRIDE and PREJUDICE. … If to PRIDE and PREJUDICE you owe your miseries, so wonderfully is good and evil balanced, that to PRIDE and PREJUDICE you will also owe their termination.” 

7. Pride and Prejudice was published anonymously.

Austen didn’t put her name on her novels, and would only say they were “By a Lady.” The title page of Pride and Prejudice said, “by the author of Sense and Sensibility.” It wasn’t until after her death that her brother revealed her name to the public. 

8. Austen worried the novel was too frivolous.

Because Pride and Prejudice humorously deals with women getting married, it’s often described as “chick lit,” a label some fans find reductionist. But Austen herself worried the book wasn’t serious enough. “The work is rather too light, and bright, and sparkling,” she wrote. “It wants shade; it wants to be stretched out here and there with a long chapter of sense, if it could be had.” Overall, though, Austen was “well satisfied enough” with the novel, especially with the character of Elizabeth. In another letter, she said, “I must confess that I think her as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least I do not know.”  

9. She sold her copyright for 110 pounds—but wanted 150.

Austen sold the copyright for Pride and Prejudice to her publishers for 110 pounds, even though she said in a letter that she wanted 150 pounds. She chose this one-time payment, forfeiting any risk or reward connected to the future of the book. It was a bad gamble. The book was a best seller, and was on its third printing by 1817. It has been in print ever since. 

10. Pride and Prejudice has been adapted hundreds of times.

The adaptations of Pride and Prejudice seem endless (and sometimes bizarre). There have been at least 11 film and TV versions of the book, including the 1995 TV movie starring Colin Firth as a memorable Darcy. Other adaptations include Bridget Jones Diaries, the Bollywood movie Bride and Prejudice, the mystery novel Death Comes to Pemberley, and the web series “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.” And Austen fever never stops—the movie version of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is set to come out in February. 

The chemistry set is an icon in the toy world. It’s ignited entire generations of aspiring scientists, and more than a few experiments gone awry, but it wasn’t an instant classic. In its 100 years on the scene, the toy chemistry set has seen its share of ups and downs on the long journey into the hearts and gift boxes of consumers.

The toy actually has purely practical roots. In the 1800s, portable kits containing chemicals, glassware, and various tools were sold for use in the academic world. Stores steadily cranked out the kits for students and professors until the distribution was largely halted by the outbreak of World War I (the kits were mostly assembled in England with chemicals supplied by Germany).

Meanwhile, two American brothers found inspiration in the chemistry kits and the rising popularity of a brand new toy, the Erector Set, which made its debut in 1913. John J. and Harold Mitchell Porter, owners of The Porter Chemical Company in Maryland, took a cue from the DIY spirit of the Erector Set and began manufacturing Chemcraft sets, similar to the English chemistry kits (they contained chemicals, a gas lamp, labware, and instructions), but marketed as a toy. Soon after the Porter Chemcraft set hit store shelves, the company found its first competitor. Alfred Carlton Gilbert, inventor of the Erector Set, caught wind of the brothers’ idea and, in 1920, decided to debut a chemistry set of his own.

By the ’30s, chemistry sets were being sold at major retailers like Woolworths, with advertisements emblazoned with “How to be a Boy Chemist!” and “Master the Mysteries of Modern Chemistry!” encouraging kids—mostly  boys—to explore the exciting world of science. Parents were on board, too. These chemistry sets were one of the first widely distributed toys whose advertisements appealed to fresh-from-the-Depression parents, playing on the belief that a chemistry set was not merely a toy, but a valuable first step toward a career in science.

Rosie Cook of the Chemical Heritage Foundation told Smithsonian magazine: “Coming out of the Depression, that was a message that would resonate with a lot of parents who wanted their children to not only have a job that would make them money but to have a career that was stable. And if they could make the world a better place along the way, then even better.”

Chemistry sets remained popular throughout the following decades, as new editions were released often to adapt to the changing attitudes toward different scientific disciplines. With the dawn of television came an entertainment-focused set that included a guide to putting on a magic show with chemistry. After World War II and the Manhattan Project, many new chemistry sets had a nuclear tilt. With the Space Race and moon landing around the corner, scientists were becoming a kind of superstar. The field of science was experiencing an unprecedented bump in coolness, and chemistry sets—finally giving kids access to science, actual science—became all the rage.

But the sets weren’t necessarily aimed at making science accessible for everyone—they were largely marketed toward white males. From advertisements to their packaging, the target market was clear.

Kristin Frederick-Frost, curator and collections manager at the Chemical Heritage Museum told WIRED, “The typical historical narrative goes that after the war and after Sputnik there’s this huge push to get more scientists in the field. If it was purely about mobilizing as many scientists as possible, the sets would have been made to be attractive to far more flavors of people than just white boys.”

It wasn’t just a narrow focus when it came to the intended user, the intended field was also zeroed in on defense and industrial use. Still, the kits did influence the lives of many. Robert F. Curl, Jr., recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, wrote in his Nobel autobiography: “When I was 9 years old, my parents gave me a chemistry set. Within a week, I had decided to become a chemist and never wavered from that choice.”

That golden era gave way to the ’70s and ’80s, when the public developed a growing mistrust of chemistry and its industries. In the years of Agent Orange, Three Mile Island, and Silent Spring, the American public’s shiny, futuristic perception of science was replaced with suspicion and a fear that chemistry could not only win wars for America, but wage war on its own citizens. Science was no longer exciting and cool, but scary, and chemistry sets declined in popularity. Chemistry sets now came with an emphasis on safety and many changes were inarguably for the better, as the kits of old were fraught with potential dangers. For example, glassblowing kits supplied children with a blowtorch, and some nuclear-focused kits of the ’50s contained radioactive uranium ore. A string of consumer protection laws in the 1970s did away with acid in chemistry sets, among several other limitations in the sets’ contents. Chemistry sets never quite reclaimed their mojo—for the most part, today’s sets are tamer, containing smaller amounts of chemicals, and, in some cases, none at all.

Some people are still championing the chemistry set’s cause, however. A recent Kickstarter campaign aimed at assembling and distributing old-school chemistry sets racked up more than 500 backers and nearly $150,000. The set is designed to match the one sold by the A.C. Gilbert company from the ’20s through the ’40s, chemicals and all. Taking a more futuristic approach, the Chemical Heritage Foundation released a free app called ChemCrafter, which enables iPad users to “create surprising color changes, encounter fire and smoke, release various gases, and shatter equipment,” all from the safety of the screen. It might not compare to the real thing, but these efforts might just be priming the old-school chemistry set for a comeback. 

You may think of your body as home to only one organism: you. But you actually host trillions of microbes, mainly bacteria, fungi and viruses, comprising their own individual microbiomes—ecosystems—too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Before you rush off to take a shower, consider that these living colonies in your body work in synergy with you to keep you healthy. Studying them can reveal imbalances in health, and offer avenues of treatment for a wide range of physical and mental health problems. Your microbiome is so unique to you, it could one day replace the fingerprint ID. And when artists interpret this amazing world, the results can be simply beautiful. Here are 10 mysteries revealed about the human microbiome.

1. YOU ARE MORE BACTERIA THAN HUMAN. 

Bacterial cells are so prolific in our bodies, that they outnumber our human cells 10 to 1. It’s only because they’re so microscopically tiny that we don’t notice their presence.

2. YOUR THROAT MICROBIOME MIGHT REVEAL IF YOU ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP SCHIZOPHRENIA.

A recent study done at George Washington University found a notable difference in the throat microbiomes of schizophrenics as compared to healthy controls. In particular, they found high levels of lactic-acid bacteria and “an increased number of metabolic pathways related to metabolite transport systems including glutamate, and vitamin B12.” While there is much more research to be done, this information has potential applications for biomarkers that could detect and diagnose schizophrenia with a simple swab test, possibly before symptoms occur.

3. YOUR GUT MICROBIOME AFFECTS YOUR MOOD. 

Several studies have tested the effects of bacteria lactobacillus and bifidobacterium on mice and humans. In one study, mice fed these bacteria showed less anxiety or despair (measured by how willing mice are to rescue themselves when dropped into jars of water), which they compared to how mice behaved when given the anti-depressant drug Prozac. In another study, mice treated with the probiotics performed better on cognitive tests, including navigating mazes, and object recognition tests. And in the biggest known human study, a group of 25 healthy women ate yogurt with live bacteria every day for four weeks. Compared to the control group, the yogurt eaters had “calmer” reactions to images of facial expressions. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint how these good bacteria improve the mood; theories include activating compounds like serotonin, stimulating the vagus nerve, which releases the natural calming agent acetylcholine, and simply sending calming signals to the immune and nervous systems. Researchers hope that one day common psychiatric disorders could be treated with probiotics as well as drugs.

4. THE MICROBIOTA OF YOUR SKIN HELP PROTECT AGAINST INVADERS. 

The exterior surface of human skin is home to as many as 300 strains of bacteria. These microbes are intricately linked to your immune system, helping you defend against invading pathogens. While their intentions aren’t selfless—they are, after all, protecting their home—you receive multiple benefits: helping you heal wounds, control skin inflammation, and modulate T cells and interleukin-1, key compounds that fight infection, according to the National Human Genome Institute.

5. GREATER BACTERIAL BIODIVERSITY IS LINKED TO LOWER ALLERGIES.

If you’re looking for another reason to clean your house less often, more research points to allowing for more bacterial diversity in your home, and connects a reduction in bacterial biodiversity to an increase in allergies. Chemicals that clean floors and toilets also kill good bacteria—better to use “natural” agents like baking soda and vinegar, or to stress less over a slightly dirty floor, the dog sleeping on your bed, or using hand sanitizer for dirty hands. Other research suggests that reduced interaction with the natural world is also responsible for a rise in allergies. So go for a hike, and get dirty.

6. YOU HAVE BACTERIA DNA IN YOUR GENES. 

According to a study done by the University of Cambridge, as many as 145 of the genes in your human genome are bacteria genes that have used a process known as horizontal gene transfer to “jump” into human DNA over the course of our evolution.

7. YOUR DOMINANT HAND HOSTS DIFFERENT BACTERIA THAN YOUR NON-DOMINANT HAND.

Though you have approximately the same number of bacteria on each of your hands, research done at George Washington University has found that the colonies are different from hand to hand, suggesting that your dominant hand, with which you are likely to do more things, comes in contact with a different set of bacteria than the other hand.

8. BACTERIA HAVE GENDER PREFERENCES.

Men always take heat for being dirtier than women, but it might be true, in a way. At the very least, the bacteria Corynebacterium—usually found in the armpit and responsible for the pungent odor—prefers male chemistry. It’s 80 percent more abundant on male skin than on female skin, according to a study published in the journal PNAS.  But Enterobacteriales is 400 percent more abundant on women, and Lactobacillaceae (primarily found in the mouth and the vagina) is 340 percent more abundant. In general, the palms of women were found to have greater bacterial diversity than the palms of men. Some explanations for this diversity may have to do with the slightly different Ph balance between male and female skin, differences in sweat and sebum (oil) production, and the frequency of moisturizer or cosmetics use.

9. YOUR BELLY BUTTON HAS ITS OWN MICROBIOME.

There are more than 1400 strains of bacteria that call your “inny” home, with as many as 662 of those not previously identified by science until the Belly Button Biodiversity Project analyzed them. And in case you were wondering, “outies” are the same.

10. YOUR FIRST MICROBIOME CONTACT WAS IN UTERO. 

For years, science considered the uterus of a pregnant woman a sterile environment, but new research published in Science Translational Medicine revealed that placentas have a unique microbiome that is different from any other part of the body (though most similar to the microbiome of the mouth). Contact with their mothers’ placentas, and the umbilical cord that attaches them, offers babies their first exposure to the bacteria that will soon colonize and support their own small bodies. Understanding this particular microbiome may also help researchers learn more to treat in utero infections and preterm births.

With the cold weather, you’re probably going to be drinking a lot of hot cocoa. Get your drink on in style with these mugs that change when filled with hot liquids.

1. CONNECT THE STARS

What seems like a normal night sky is actually filled with constellations. Some hot water will reveal them to you—since constellations never look like anything without the drawn lines.

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2. MASS EXTINCTION

Some hot coffee turns these dinosaurs into fossils, just like that comet did.

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3. WAKE UP

This cup will mirror your own face as you drink your morning coffee.

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4. WE’RE ALL MAD HERE (ABOUT THIS MUG)

Pour in your drink, and the feline from Alice in Wonderland disappears to just a grin, in typical Cheshire Cat fashion. 

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5. RECHARGE YOUR MUG

This mug tells you when you need to recharge (reheat) your drink.

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6. FULL HEALTH

Video game lovers will be soothed by the appearance of a full red heart. Just don’t get injured sipping on that hot cocoa.

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7. PAC-MAN

Filling up this mug is a lot like putting a quarter in the classic arcade game.

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8. TETRIS

Perfect for video game lovers who have a hard time looking away from their console. 

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9. TRAVEL THE GALAXY

The TARDIS never stays in one place for long—as you’ll soon discover with this mug. Add hot liquid and your time machine will transport it from an English street to deep space.

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10. PICK A BEAR

Empty, this sleepy bear is all black. Full, it becomes an alert panda.

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11. SWITCH TO PROTESTANTISM

Once you fill this cup, Henry VIII’s wives fade away, leaving only their cause of death.

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12. WINTER IS COMING

The Starks know cold, but they also know how to keep warm. Cuddle up with your mug and the Stark’s house words of warning.

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13. CAPED MUG CRUSADER

What seems like an unassuming black mug is actually a super cool Batman mug in disguise.

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14. SAVE CHRISTMAS

Santa can’t navigate his sleigh until you’ve had your morning coffee.

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15. THE NORTHERN LIGHTS 

The aurora borealis can be elusive in real life, but it just takes some hot coffee to make the lights appear on your mug. 

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The concept of a book town first came into being in the 1960s, when the fortunes of Hay-on-Wye, a small market town on the Welsh/English border, were transformed by the power of books. The opportunity to regenerate struggling villages and towns by opening up secondhand bookstores and welcoming literary events has since been embraced by many other locations around the world, creating a network of fascinating places to visit, all with books at their heart.

1. HAY-ON-WYE, WALES

In 1961 entrepreneur Richard Booth opened a secondhand bookshop in the small market town of Hay-on-Wye (population: c. 1600). The shop proved very popular and before long had grown to become one of Europe’s largest. Soon many more specialist and secondhand bookshops popped up in the town, transforming the local economy and raising its bibliophile credentials. To crown Hay’s status as the world’s first book town, a literary festival was set up in 1987 and is now the foremost literary event in the UK, tempting in 250,000 book-loving visitors each year.

2. BREDEVOORT, NETHERLANDS

Bredevoort (population: c.1525), a small medieval town in the Netherlands, was designated a book town in 1993 because of its more than 20 secondhand and antiquarian bookshops. Every third Saturday of the month, the town square hosts a book market, attracting book dealers from all over the country to sell English, German, and Dutch books. Bredevoort is one of the founding members of the International Organisation of Book Towns, and hosts many literary events to support the local book economy.

3. REDU, BELGIUM

In 1979, villager Noel Anselot returned from a trip to Hay-on-Wye inspired and decided to regenerate his own tiny village (pop: c. 500) in the beautiful Ardennes region of Belgium by attracting booksellers. He wrote to many bookdealers across the region, inviting them to set up shop in some of the original village buildings (such as barns, houses, and sheds) to keep the look of the village intact. The project was a success, and now 17 bookshops specializing in secondhand books and comics are based in the village. Redu holds a number of book-related exhibitions and events every year, including a book night when the bookshops stay open all night long. The town was officially declared a book town in 1984 after holding its first book festival. To cement Redu’s reputation as the first book town in continental Europe, it is twinned with Hay-on-Wye.

4. HOBART, NEW YORK

In 1999 this lovely Catskills town (current population: c. 440) was, for all intents and purposes, a ghost town. The only business was a rundown diner. Local resident Don Dales saw an opportunity and began buying up empty stores. After noticing the success of one antiquarian bookshop, Dale himself opened up two more bookstores in 2004. Today there are six bookshops, teeming with books on every subject from cookbooks to rare children’s books, as well as an annual Festival of Women Writers. It’s quickly become a tempting weekend destination for book-loving New Yorkers.

5. FJAERLAND, NORWAY

Fjaerland (population: c. 300) is located amidst the stunning fjords of Norway, making it one of the most remote book towns in the world—prior to 1994 when a road was built, Fjaerland could only be reached by boat. The tiny village hosts its bookshops among abandoned village buildings, including a former stable, grocery store, post office, and ferry waiting room. Because of its isolated location and the vagaries of the Norwegian weather, the book town is only open to visitors from May to September.

6. WIGTOWN, SCOTLAND

Wigtown (population: c. 1000) has been Scotland’s designated national book town since 1998. After the town’s main employers, the creamery and whiskey distillery, closed, this remote Scottish town was in danger of becoming derelict. Fortunately, its regeneration was secured when Wigtown won a national search (beating off stiff competition from five other towns) to create Scotland’s only book town. Booksellers quickly moved in, setting up over twenty bookshops and a very successful literary festival.

Somebody has to terrify America’s children. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that person was Walter McDougall. As part of a series of stories for children, McDougall filled American newspapers with clever but alarming visions of child-eating monsters. 

McDougall began his newspaper career in the 1870s, working as a political cartoonist at the New York Graphic. From there he began selling cartoons to Harper’s Weekly and Puck magazine. His career really took off on May 21, 1893, when one of his drawings became the first color cartoon printed in an American newspaper. One year later, his cheerful story “The Unfortunate Fate of a Well-Intended Dog” became the country’s first color comic strip. His illustrations for a weekly American Press Association editorial column also made him the nation’s first syndicated newspaper artist.

As his career progressed, his fame grew. In his heyday, McDougall was producing dozens of cartoons every week for regional and national newspapers and magazines.

McDougall’s monsters found a regular home in the humbly named cartoon series “McDougall’s Good Stories for Children.” His stories married obscure vocabulary, bizarre creatures, and child endangerment. Needless to say, they were a big success. 

By 1904, word of his weird drawings had reached L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Baum was about to release a second book and wanted to promote it with a weekly comic strip. The two put their rather strange heads together and came up with “Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz,” which ran from 1904 to 1905.

McDougall worked into his sixties, amassing a portfolio of hundreds and hundreds of comics. There would be no happy ending for his story, however; after retirement, he withdrew into seclusion for years, then committed suicide at the age of 80. You can remember him by seeing more of his monster images on the Monster Brains blog, or viewing his political cartoons at the Ohio State University Libraries.

All images are courtesy of the Library of Congress.

If you’ve watched a movie trailer in the last decade or so, you’ve heard what Mike Rugnetta calls The Braaam™. It’s sometimes referred to as “The Inception Sound,” though variants of this percussive, interrupting, and menacing noise have crept into all sorts of movie trailers.

In this brilliant episode of his podcast Reasonably Sound, Rugnetta discusses the sound itself, as well as its historical origin. I promise, you’ll be surprised at how deep this goes. Tune in for a half-hour audio essay that will change how you listen to movie trailers forever:

If you want a taste of what The Braaam™ is, watch this two-minute supercut of them in recent movie trailers, compiled by Stephen Bruckert:

As a recurring feature, our team combs the Web and shares some amazing Amazon deals we’ve turned up. Here’s what caught our eye today, December 17.

Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers, including Amazon, 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. Good luck deal hunting!

GADGETS, TOYS, AND MEDIA

Firegram Mini Wireless Bluetooth Headset in-Ear Earbud for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Sony, HTC, LG and More (One Earbud) for $16.99 (list price $25.99)

Turbot VR Virtual Reality Headsets 3D Glasses with Adjustable Head Straps For 3D Movies and Games for $13.99 (list price $27.99)

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – Standard Edition – Xbox One for $34.99 (list price $59.99)

Zendure A3 Portable Charger 10000mAh  – Ultra-durable 10000mAh External Battery Power Bank for Phone, iPad, Android and More, PC Advisor Winner 2014-2017 – Silver for $37.89 (list price $52.95)

AUKEY Lightning Cable, 3.95ft Nylon Braided [Apple MFi Certified] for iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 6, 6S, 6 Plus, iPad Pro and More for $9.99 (list price $13.99)

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera (White) for $54.99 

Anker PowerLine 1ft Apple MFi Certified Short Lightning to USB Cable Sturdy Charging Cord for iPhone 5/5s/5c 6/6s Plus/7, iPad mini/Air/Pro iPod touch(Black) for $8.99 (list price $29.99)

Ipevo PadPillow Stand for iPad Air & iPad 4/3/2/1Nexus/Galaxy – Charcoal Gray (MEPX-07IP) for $23.95 (list price $34.00)

iXCC 10ft Extra Long Apple MFi Certified Lightning 8pin to USB Charge and Sync Cable for iPhone SE/5/5s/6/6s/7/Plus/iPad Mini/Air/Pro – Black for $11.99 (list price $19.99)

CTA Digital Wall/Under-Cabinet & Desk Mount with 2 Mounting Bases for 7-12″ Tablets PAD-WDM for $19.30 (list price $24.99)

Lexar JumpDrive TwistTurn 32GB USB Flash Drive LJDTT32GABNL (Black/Gray) for $7.99 (list price $9.67)

Sony MDRXB650BT/L Extra Bass Bluetooth Headphones, Blue for $78.00 (list price $129.99)

Waterproof Case, 2 Pack Ace Teah Clear Universal Waterproof Case, Dry Bag, Pouch, Transparent Snowproof Dirtproof for iPhone 6 6S Plus SE 5S 5C, Samsung Galaxy S6 edge, – Blue, Green for $10.99 (list price $21.99)

PNY Attache USB 2.0 Flash Drive, 64GB/ BLACK (P-FD64GATT03-GE) for $11.99 (list price $14.99)

Emtec Peanuts 2.0 USB Flash Drive (ECMMD8GPN103) for $5.99 (list price $9.99)

Jackery Pop Slim 5000mAh External Battery Charger – Portable Charger and Power Bank with Aluminum Shell Casing Designed for iPhone 7 6plus 6s 5s SE, Samsung Galaxy, Smart Phones Galaxy, Smart Phones for $16.99 (list price $33.99)

SanDisk Ultra 128GB Dual USB Drive 3.0 (SDDD2-128G-G46) for $27.49 (list price $39.99)

Fritesla 10000mAh Power Bank for Smartphones – Silver for $18.99 (list price $29.99)

Anker Fast Wireless Charger PowerPort Qi 10 Wireless Charging Pad for Galaxy S7 / S6 / Edge / Plus, Note 5 / 4, LG, Nexus, HTC and More for $20.39 (list price $69.99)

Photive BTH3 Over-The-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Built-in Mic and 12 Hour Battery. Includes Hard Travel Case. for $49.95 (list price $99.95)

Exploding Kittens: NSFW Edition (Explicit Content) for $19.99 (list price $24.99)

Imploding Kittens: This is the First Expansion of Exploding Kittens for $12.99 (list price $15.99)

Fisher-Price Little People Farm Animal Friends for $15.99 (list price $19.99)

LEGO Ideas Yellow Submarine 21306 Building Kit for $49.99 (list price $59.99)

LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Batcave Break-in 70909 Building Kit (1045 Piece) for $88.00 (list price $99.99)

LEGO Superheroes Iron Man vs. Ultron for $11.39 (list price $12.99)

LEGO Star Wars Battle on Takodana 75139 for $39.73 (list price $59.99)

LEGO City Town 60134 Fun in the park – City People Pack Building Kit (157 Piece) for $30.99 (list price $39.99)

LEGO Super Heroes Clash of the Heroes 76044 for $8.99 (list price $12.99)

iClever BoostCube Universal 40W 4 Port USB Wall Charger with SmartID Tech and Foldable Plug, Black for $12.99 (list price $19.99)

Intcrown Selfie Stick Extendable Self-portrait Monopod (Black) for $12.99 (list price $29.99)

Jackery Pop 5200mAh Portable Charger External Battery Pack – Dual USB Portable Battery & Battery Charger for Apple iPhone SE, Apple iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, 6 Plus, 5S, 5C, iPad Air, Samsung, and Android Smart Devices for $13.59 (list price $19.99)

Invicta Men’s 6981 Pro Diver Analog Swiss Chronograph Black Polyurethane Watch for $87.20 (list price $119.99)

Casio Unisex MRW200H-2BV Neo-Display Black Watch with Resin Band for $13.57 (list price $24.95)

Invicta Men’s 9211 Speedway Collection Stainless Steel Chronograph Watch with Link Bracelet for $51.98 (list price $75.98)

Invicta Men’s 0070 Pro Diver Collection Analog Chinese Quartz Chronograph Silver Stainless Steel Watch for $72.64 (list price $99.22)

Bewell ZS – W086B Wood Men Watch Analog Quartz Movement Date Display(ebony wood ) for $29.99 (list price $119.99)

KITCHEN

4 Pack Premium Gummy Bear Mold & Hearts, Stars & Shells Silicone Molds + Dropper and gummy Recipe included ✮ Make Gummy, Chocolate, Flavored Ice and everything you want! The best quality silicone for $16.99 (list price $25.99)

Anova Culinary PCB-120US-K1 Bluetooth Precision Cooker, 800 Watts, Black for $149.00 

BEST Coffee Grinder Brush and Scoop by Coffee Gator. Premium Quality for $13.97 (list price $25.97)

Blue Crepe Pan with Non Stick Cookware by Upstreet – designed flat pan for crepes, tortillas, and pancakes for $18.99 (list price $24.99)

Bamboo Expandable Utility-Drawer Utensil Organizer – 8 Compartments (2 with Adjustable Dimensions) by Utopia Kitchen for $14.99 (list price $29.99)

VonShef Professional 5 Piece Mixing Bowl Set – Stainless Steel with Lids, Non-Slip Surface and 3 Grater Attachments for $39.99 (list price $79.99)

Tovolo Collapsible Microwave Cover for $7.99 (list price $9.99)

Royal 4-Piece Stemless Wine Glass Set, Elongated and Shatter-Resistant Glass, 15oz for $11.95 (list price $29.99)

Modern Innovations 16 Inch Stainless Steel Magnetic Knife Bar with Multi-Purpose Functionality as a Knife Holder, Knife Strip, Magnetic Tool Organizer, Art Supply Organizer & Home Organizer for $17.85 (list price $29.99)

Euro Cuisine YM80 Yogurt Maker for $15.29 (list price $39.99)

Keurig K15 Single Serve Coffee Maker Holiday Bundle with 36 K-Cup Pods, 12 Oz. Travel Mug and 35 Count K-Cup Pod Storage Drawer, Black for $97.71 (list price $119.99)

Hamilton Beach 33473 Programmable Slow Cooker, 7-Quart, Silver for $29.96 (list price $70.19)

Teapot Kettle with Warmer – Tea Pot and Tea Strainer Set – Tea Infuser Holds 3-4 Cups for $23.99 (list price $69.99)

Vintorio Wine Aerator Pourer – Premium Aerating Pourer and Decanter Spout (Black) for $15.95 (list price $40.95)

The Original SNAP’N STRAIN by Kitchen Gizmo, No-hands No-Fuss Clip-On Strainer. Fits all Pot Sizes. for $12.99 (list price $19.99)

Rubbermaid FreshWorks Produce Saver Food Storage Container 2-piece Set, Small / Large, Green for $13.99 (list price $19.99)

Hamilton Beach 35021 Electric Deep Fryer, 8-Cup Oil Capacity for $34.25 (list price $49.99)

Corningware French White III Round Casserole with Glass Cover, 1.5-Quart for $14.92 (list price $23.84)

Sunsella Vegetable Steamer – 5.3″ to 9.3″ – 100% Stainless Steel for $13.99 (list price $18.00)

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Food Storage Container, 42-piece Set, Red (1880801) for $19.99

All-Clad BD55500 D5 Brushed 18/10 Stainless Steel 5-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Dutch Oven with Domed Lid Cookware, 5.5-Quart, Silver for $287.96 (list price $360.00)

Brita Replacement Water Filter for Pitchers, 3 Count for $14.88 (list price $15.53)

Hamilton Beach 24810 4-Slice Long Slot Keep Warm Toaster for $32.80 (list price $49.99)

PreciSharp 3-Stage Knife Sharpener for $25.99 (list price $49.99)

Onion Goggles Tear Free Anti-fog bbq barbecue Goggles Professional Grade (Purple) for $10.95 (list price $11.95)

SterlingPro Classic European Stlye Doublewall Stainless Steel Mirror Finish French Coffee Press, 35-ounce for $25.98 (list price $59.98)

Primula Flavor-It Beverage System – Includes Large Capacity Fruit Infuser Core, Tea Infuser Core, and Chill Core – Dishwasher Safe – 2.9 Qt. – Black for $20.60 (list price $34.99)

Silicone Bread and Loaf Pan Set of 2 Red, Nonstick, Commercial Grade Plus Bread Recipe Ebook for $17.48 (list price $29.95)

Oster 2-Pound Expressbake Bread Machine with 13-Hour Delay Timer, CKSTBRTW20 for $44.09 (list price $59.99)

Top Rated Bellemain Burr Coffee Grinder with 17 Settings for Drip, Percolator, Steam or Pump Espresso, French Press and Turkish Coffee Makers for $39.95 (list price $99.95)

SterlingPro French Coffee Press 8 Cup (1 liter, 34 oz), Chrome for $29.85 (list price $68.00)

Shun VB0718 Sora Hollow Ground Santoku Knife, 7-Inch for $59.95 (list price $100.00)

Utopia Kitchen Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Dual Handle and Cover Casserole Dish, 5 Quart for $29.99 (list price $79.99)

Etekcity 11lb 5kg Digital Multifunction Food Kitchen Scale with Removable Bowl 2.15L Liquid Volume Room Temperature and Timer, Backlight LCD Display for $15.59 (list price $39.99)

Contigo AUTOSEAL West Loop Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mug with Easy-Clean Lid, 16oz, Greyed Jade for $15.00 (list price $20.99)

Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds – Set of 2 for $10.99 

HOME

Sunbeam Microplush Heated Blanket, Full, Mushroom, BSM9BFS-R772-16A00 for $54.58 (list price $76.50)

Black+Decker BDH2000PL MAX Lithium Pivot Vacuum, 20-volt for $53.49 (list price $79.99)

Strongest Mildew Resistant Shower Curtain Liner on the Market-100% Anti-Bacterial 10 Gauge Heavy Duty Liner-Waterproof-72×72 Inches-Clear for $13.95 (list price $18.95)

DampRid FG91 Easy-Fill System Any Room Moisture Absorber for $6.16 (list price $10.99)

Munchkin Secure Grip Bath Caddy for $19.79 (list price $21.99)

Rubbermaid Roughneck Clear Storage Container, 50 qt., Clear Base (1192), Pack of 5 for $52.97 (list price $61.99)

Gourmet Basics by Mikasa 3-Tier Metal Market Basket, Antique Black for $39.55 (list price $63.00)

Household Essentials Seagrass Stair Basket with Handle for $25.49 (list price $29.99)

12 Pack Ipow Towel Clips Plastic-Jumbo Size,4 Fun bright colors – for Beach Chairs or Pool Lounges,Heavy Duty Clips to KeepYour Towels,Clothes,Quilt,Blanket from Blowing Away or Sliding Down from Rail for $9.99 (list price $16.99)

Dyson V6 Animal Cord-free Vacuum for $339.29 (list price $499.99)

Shari Toilet Bowl Brush Stainless Steel Ball Holder – Swan(Silver) for $24.71 (list price $39.97)

Aptoyu Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser, 120 ml for $19.99 (list price $39.99)

Lasko 5307 Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater, 16-Inch for $30.97 (list price $45.49)

Bamboo Pillow | Queen | USA Designed and Filled | Best Premium Down Alternative Fiber Pillow | Stay Cool Hypoallergenic Cover | Best Pillow for Stomach, Back, and Side Sleepers By Relax Home Life (1) for $19.99 (list price $79.99)

Swiffer WetJet Floor Spray Mop Starter Kit for $21.88 (list price $51.98)

Olee Sleep 9 Inch I-gel Multi Layered Memory Foam Matress 09FM01Q for $152.54 (list price $199.00)

Pointehaven Heavy Weight Printed Flannel Sheet Set, Queen, Paisley for $31.99 (list price $36.98)

Roommates Rmk1586Scs Star Wars Classic Peel And Stick Wall Decals for $8.42 (list price $13.99)

Sunbeam Steam Master Iron with Anti-Drip Non-Stick Stainless Steel Soleplate and 8′ Retractable Cord, 1400 Watt for $24.99 (list price $29.99)

Pure Enrichment PureSteam Fabric Steamer – White for $29.99 (list price $34.99)

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Value Pack, Fresh Scent and Citrus Blend, 225 Count for $8.99 (list price $11.97)

RotoScrub Bathroom Cleaning Drill Accessory Kit for $14.95 

Rowenta ZD100 Non-Toxic Stainless Steel Soleplate Cleaner Kit for Steam Irons for $7.62 (list price $7.99)

O-Cedar Dual-Action Microfiber Dust Mop for $17.99 (list price $19.99)

Honeywell HCM350W Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier, White for $54.99 (list price $69.99)

GermGuardian GG1000 Pluggable UV-C Air Sanitizer and Odor Reducer for $37.13 

STERILITE 3 Drawer Mini Unit 20738006, Clear for $8.79 (list price $18.71)

InterDesign Raphael Bathroom Shower Caddy for Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap – Satin for $15.70 (list price $19.99)

World’s Best Air Soft Microbeads Tube Pillow, Charcoal for $9.99 (list price $12.99)

Hollywood Nutcrackers Kurt Adler Hollywood King Nutcracker, 18-Inch, Gold for $35.50 (list price $88.50)

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Panasonic ER430K Ear & Nose Trimmer with Vacuum Cleaning System, Men’s, Wet/Dry, Battery-Operated for $17.61 (list price $17.61)

Pure Body Naturals Beauty Dead Sea Mud Mask for Facial Treatment, 250g / 8.8 fl.oz for $22.99 (list price $29.95)

Cliganic Blackhead Remover Kit – Comedone Extractor Tool – Whitehead & Blemish Removal Set | Professional Dermatologist Safe Best for Facial Acne & Pimples. Easily Clean Pores. Instructions Included! for $9.94 (list price $19.99)

Remington PG6025 All-in-1 Lithium Powered Grooming Kit, Trimmer (8 Pieces) for $15.97 (list price $19.99)

Gillette Sensor Cartridges 10 Count for $8.22 after on-screen coupon (list price $22.99)

Braun Clean and Renew 4 Pack, Cartridge, Refill, Replacement Cleaner, Cleaning Solution for $16.99 (list price $20.14)

Colgate Wisp Portable Mini-Brush Max Fresh, Peppermint, 24 Count for $4.01 (list price $7.99)

Weixinbuy 1PC Secret Jelly Lipstick Color Changing Long Lasting Lip Gloss Random Color for $2.99

Art Naturals Argan Oil Daily Hair Conditioner 16 Oz – Sulfate Free – Best Treatment for Damaged & Dry Hair – Made with Organic Ingredients & Keratin – For All Hair Types – Safe for Color Treated Hair for $14.95 (list price $24.95)

Fairy Tales Repel Conditioning Spray, Rosemary, 8 Fluid Ounce for $9.73 (list price $12.95)

OGX Conditioner, Hydrating TeaTree Mint, 13oz for $3.89 (list price $7.99)

It’s a 10 Miracle Volumizing Leave-in Lite Conditioner, 10 Ounce for $20.79 (list price $39.99)

Hair Chalk | Metallic Glitter Temporary Hair Color – Edge Chalkers – Lasts up to 3 Days, No Mess, Built in Sealant, 80 Applications Per Stick, Works on All Hair Colors-6 COUNT. for $12.95 (list price $12.95)

Vitamins Hair Loss Shampoo – 121% Regrowth and 47% Less Thinning – With DHT Blockers and Biotin for Hair Growth – 2 Month Supply for $29.99 (list price $49.97)

Temporary Hair Chalk – Non-Toxic Rainbow Colored Dye Pastel Kit- Color Essentials Set (24 COUNT) – BIG BOUNS (3 Pairs Disposable Gloves & 3 Disposable Shawls) by SySrion (1) for $10.99 

Salon Hair Coloring Dyeing Kit Color Dye Brush Comb Mixing Bowl Tint Tool Bleach by ATB for $5.97 

Just For Men Original Formula Men’s Hair Color, Light Brown (Pack of 3) for $17.27 (list price $24.27)

BESTOPE Hair Straightener Brush Ceramic Heating Hair Straightening Irons brush for Detangling and Silky Hair (450℉ Max, Support Dual Voltage, Anti-Scald) for $25.99 (list price $39.99)

Art Naturals Bath Bombs Holiday Gift Set – 6 X 4.1 Oz Ultra Lush Essential Oil Handmade Spa Bomb Fizzies – Organic & Natural Ingredients & Shea Butter for Moisturizing Dry Skin – Relaxation In a Box for $26.95 (list price $49.95)

Burt’s Bees Tips and Toes Kit for $9.09 (list price $12.99)

Blackhead Remover Cleaner Purifying Deep Cleansing Acne Black Mud Face Mask Peel-off (Style 1) for $11.99 (list price $29.99)

Aria Starr Beauty Dead Sea Mud Mask For Face, Acne, Oily Skin & Blackheads – Best Facial Pore Minimizer, Reducer & Pores Cleanser Treatment – 100% Natural For Younger Looking Skin 8.8oz for $58.95 (list price $58.95)

Burt’s Bees Mani Pedi Holiday Gift Set, 4 Products in Gift Box for $11.24 (list price $14.99)

Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment Skin Protectant 14 Ounce Jar for $11.79 (list price $16.89)

[TONYMOLY] I’m Real Mask Sheet Pack of 11 for $9.90

e.l.f. Makeup Mist and Set, Clear, 2.02 Ounce for $2.10 (list price $6.00)

Gillette Venus Embrace Women’s Razor Blade Refills 4 Count for $13.87 (list price $20.49)

Baebody Eye Cream for Dark Circles, Puffiness, Wrinkles and Bags – The Most Effective Anti Aging Eye Gel for Under and Around Eyes – 1.7 fl oz for $19.95 (list price $55.00)

OFFICE, SCHOOL, AND CRAFTS

Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens, Medium Point, Limited Edition Tropical & Assorted Colors, 24 Pack for $17.29 (list price $20.02)

Colore Colored Pencils – 48 Premium Pre-Sharpened Color Pencil Set For Drawing Coloring Pages – Great Art School Supplies For Kids & Adults Coloring Books – 48 Colors for $16.99 (list price $59.99)

Perler Fun Fusion Fuse Bead Bucket, Glow in The Dark for $11.74 (list price $19.59)

Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils, 150-Count for $95.98 (list price $312.79)

Colore Colored Pencils Dictionary Edition – 60 Premium Pre-Sharpened Color Pencil Set For Drawing Coloring Pages – Great Art School Supplies For Kids & Adults Coloring Books – 60 Vibrant Colors for $24.99 (list price $59.99)

Post-it Cat Figure Pop-up Note Dispenser, 3 inch x 3 inch, (CAT-330) for $5.00 (list price $7.65)

SETTE COLOR Gel Pens 48 Colors Set Glitter, Pastel, Metallic and Neon for $14.99 (list price $29.99)

LIQUID CHALK MARKERS, 10 Pack w/ 5 Free Extra Tips, CHILD SAFE, Non-Toxic, Neon Chalkboard Markers for Non-Porous Surfaces w/ Reversible Bullet-Chisel Fine Tip for $16.99 (list price $35.99)

Pro Art 18-Piece Sketch/Draw Pencil Set for $7.49 (list price $9.95)

Brother CS6000i Feature-Rich Sewing Machine With 60 Built-In Stitches, 7 styles of 1-Step Auto-Size Buttonholes, Quilting Table, and Hard Cover for $162.19 

Staedtler Calligraphy Pen Set, 33 Pieces for $21.29 (list price $25.97)

Eparon 40-piece Gel Pen Set with 40 Unique Colors for $9.99 (list price $14.99)

Bondic,Repair Anything! Better Than Glue! Waterproof, Heat Resistant, Made In USA! Up To 100 Fixes! The 1st Liquid Plastic Welder! Bond, Build, Fix & Fill Anything In Seconds! (Bondic Starter Kit) for $19.99

Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Tube 48-Piece Set for $37.99 (list price $70.99)

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils, Soft Core, 72-Count for $37.99 (list price $40.50)

Monthly Magnetic Refrigerator Calendar from Smarty Jay | Offers Dry Erase Board | Monthly Calendar Planner for Kitchen Fridge | With Free Magnetic Dry Erase Markers Included | Organize your Life Now! for $12.99 (list price $23.99)

Chalkboard Labels Complete Bundle: 73 Premium Stickers for Jars + Erasable White Chalk Marker. The BEST Large and Reusable Chalkboard Labels + Liquid Chalk Pen to Decorate Your Pantry Storage & Office for $14.84 (list price $39.99)

Colore Colored Pencils – 72 Premium Pre-Sharpened Color Pencil Set For Drawing Coloring Books – Great Art School Supplies For Kids & Adults Coloring Pages – 72 Vibrant Colors for $19.99 (list price $59.99)

Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Bright, 10-Pack for $14.37 (list price $26.99)

Scotch TL901C-T Thermal Laminator, 2 Roller System, Fast Warm-up, Quick Laminating Speed (White) for $16.99 (list price $29.99)

e-Joy Mobile & Compact Computer Cart / Computer Desk PC Laptop Table Workstation, Black for $119.99 (list price $158.99)

Magnetic Key Holder for Light Switch by MAGKEY Company – Smart Design for Keychain Ring Fob and Modern Car Keys – No More Shelf or Wall Mounts with Easy Screw in Design – 2 Pack for $7.99 (list price $11.99)

Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips, Pack of 3 (FRHBFMBP3) for $10.15 

OUTDOORS, GARDEN, AND SPORTS

Money Belt – Hidden Travel Pouch with 100% RFID Blocking Hidden Waist Stash Security Money Belt with Special Gifts: 1xPassport & 1xCredit Card RFID Sleeves & Money Clip – Enhance Your Security Now! for $9.77 (list price $39.95)

ONSON Running Belt,Outdoor Sweatproof Reflective Waist Pack Belt,Fitness Workout Belt for Trail Running or Hiking,Expandable Pocket for iPhone 7/7 Plus,6S/6S Plus,5/5S/SE for $11.99 (list price $19.99)

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for $16.99 (list price $19.93)

T-TOPER Ultra Loud 4 Modes Skull Electric Bike Horns with 2 Warning Light for $13.99 (list price $16.99)

DESAY Smart Fitness Tracker,Wireless Sleep Heart Rate Monitor Activity Tracker Wristband Sport Bracelet Watch for Iphone Android(Black) for $39.99 (list price $59.99)

Razor A Kick Scooter for $28.30 (list price $44.99)

T-TOPER 6.6-Feetx 1/2 Inch Self Coiling Resettable 5-digit Combination Bike Cable Locks with Complimentary Mounting Bracket for $14.99 (list price $18.99)

T-TOPER Outdoor Sports Aluminum Flat Military Canteen Oval Kettle Water Bottle,0.5L for $10.99 (list price $16.99)

Archer Lightweight Self Inflating Sleeping Pad for $37.99 (list price $75.99)

AYL TC80 4-In-1 LED Flashlight CREE – Tactical Emergency Nightlight – Telescoping Aluminum Body, Magnetized Base – Water Resistant Handheld Spotlight For Work, Auto, Camping, Garage – Battery Powered for $14.99 (list price $39.99)

Buena Marca – Microfiber Travel Towel – Easy to Wash & Fast Drying – Super Absorbent Sport Towel – Ultra Compact – Ideal for Bath, Gym, Pool, Beach, Camping – 100% Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee for $11.90 (list price $19.90)

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What do you get when you mix one part action movie with one part holiday flick and add in a dash of sweaty tank top? Die Hard, John McTiernan’s genre-bending Christmas action masterpiece for the ages, which sees a badass NYPD cop take on a skyscraper full of bad guys in the midst of an office holiday party. Here are 30 things you might not know about the movie.

1. IT’S GOT A LITERARY BACKGROUND.

Think some action-loving Hollywood scribe came up with the concept for Die Hard? Think again. The movie is based on Roderick Thorp’s 1979 crime novel Nothing Lasts Forever, which is a sequel to his 1966 novel, The Detective. In 2013, Thorp’s long out-of-print book was resurrected to coincide with the film’s 25^th anniversary.

2. IT WAS INSPIRED BY THE TOWERING INFERNO.

The idea for Nothing Lasts Forever was inspired John Guillermin’s 1974 disaster flick, The Towering Inferno. After seeing the film, Thorp had a dream about a man being chased through a skyscraper by a group of men with guns. He eventually turned that snippet of an idea into a sequel to The Detective.

3. FRANK SINATRA GOT FIRST DIBS ON PLAYING THE ROLE OF JOHN MCCLANE.

Because he had starred in the big-screen adaptation of The Detective, Frank Sinatra had to be offered the role in its sequel. At the age of 73, he smartly turned it down.

4. BRUCE WILLIS’ BIG-SCREEN DEBUT WAS WITH FRANK SINATRA.

In 1980, Willis made his film debut (albeit uncredited) in the crime thriller The First Deadly Sin. He has no name and if you blink you’ll miss him, but the role simply required that Willis entered a diner as Sinatra’s character left it. Maybe it was kismet?

5. CLINT EASTWOOD PLANNED TO TAKE A STAB AT THE PART.

Originally, it was Clint Eastwood who owned the movie rights to Nothing Lasts Forever, which he had planned to star in in the early 1980s. That obviously never happened.

6. IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE A SEQUEL TO COMMANDO.

This is one of the most popular internet stories about Die Hard. But according to Stephen de Souza, the screenwriter of both Die Hard and Commando, while there was a sequel to Commando planned, the only similarity with Die Hard is that they both took place in buildings. According to de Souza, Escape Plan is the closest to his original Commando 2 idea and Die Hard was never supposed to be anything but Die Hard.

7. BRUCE WILLIS WASN’T EVEN THE STUDIO’S THIRD CHOICE FOR THE ROLE.

If Die Hard was to be a success, the studio knew they needed a bona fide action star in the part, so they set about offering it to a seemingly never-ending list of A-listers of the time. Rumor has it that Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Charles Bronson, Nick Nolte, Mel Gibson, Richard Gere, Don Johnson, Burt Reynolds, and Richard Dean Anderson (yes, MacGyver!) were all considered for the role of John McClane. And all declined it.

8. BRUCE WILLIS WAS CONSIDERED A COMEDIC ACTOR AT THE TIME.

Die Hard’s producers had nothing against Bruce Willis, of course. But he wasn’t an immediate choice for the role—up until that point, he was known solely as a comedic actor, not an action star. How times have changed! Following the success of the film, the action genre really became Willis’ bread and butter, and although he has two Emmys for his comedy work, it has remained as such to this day.

9. BRUCE WILLIS WAS BARELY EVEN SEEN ON THE MOVIE’S POSTERS.

Because the studio’s marketing gurus were unconvinced that audiences would pay to see an action movie starring the funny guy from Moonlighting, the original batch of posters for the film centered on Nakatomi Plaza instead of Willis’ mug. As the film gained steam, the marketing materials were altered, and Willis was more prominent in the promos.

10. WILLIS WAS PAID $5 MILLION TO MAKE THE MOVIE.

Even with all the uncertainly surrounding whether he could pull the film off, Willis was paid $5 million to make Die Hard, which was considered a rather hefty sum at the time—a figure reserved for only the top tier of Hollywood talents.

11. WILLIS SUGGESTED THAT BONNIE BEDELIA PLAY HIS WIFE.

Though we suspect that she wasn’t paid $5 million for the gig.

12.  BRUCE WILLIS WAS ABLE TO SAY YES THANKS TO A WELL-TIMED PREGNANCY.

The first few times Bruce Willis was asked to star in the movie, he had to say no because of his commitments to Moonlighting. Then costar Cybill Shepard got pregnant. Because her pregnancy wouldn’t work within the show, producer Glenn Caron gave everyone 11 weeks off, allowing Willis to say yes.

13. SAM NEILL WAS ORIGINALLY APPROACHED FOR THE PART OF HANS GRUBER.

But Neill ended up turning the film down. Then, in the spring of 1987, the casting director saw Alan Rickman playing the dastardly Valmont in a stage production of Dangerous Liaisons and knew they had found their Hans.

14. DIE HARD WAS ALAN RICKMAN’S FEATURE FILM DEBUT.

Though Rickman may have played the part of Hans as cool as the other side of the pillow, it was actually his first role in a feature film.

15. JOHN MCTIERNAN TURNED THE MOVIE DOWN, TOO.

And not just once, but on a few different occasions. His reason was that the material just seemed too dark and cynical for him. “The original screenplay was a grim terrorist movie,” McTiernan recalled to Empire magazine earlier this year. “On my second week working on it, I said, ‘Guys, there’s no part of terrorism that’s fun. Robbers are fun bad guys. Let’s make this a date movie.’ And they had the courage to do it.”

16. MCTIERNAN SEES IT AS A SHAKESPEAREAN TALE.

In the original script, the action in Die Hard takes place over a three-day span, but McTiernan—inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream—insisted that it be condensed into a single evening.

17. NAKATOMI PLAZA IS ACTUALLY FOX PLAZA.

Yes, the corporate headquarters of 20^th Century Fox—the very studio making the movie—proved to be the perfect location for the movie’s much-needed Nakatomi Plaza. And as it was still under construction, there wasn’t a whole lot they needed to do to the space to make it movie-ready. The studio charged itself rent to use its own space.

18. THE ROOM WHERE THE HOSTAGES ARE BEING HELD IS LITERALLY SUPPOSED TO BE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S FALLING WATER.

“In this period, Japanese corporations were buying America,” production designer Jackson De Govia said in the Die Hard DVD audio commentary. “We posited that … Nakatami Corporation bought Falling Water, disassembled it, and reassembled it in the atrium, like a trophy.”

19. THAT PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE CITY BELOW? IT’S NOT REAL.

A 380-foot-long background painting provided the illusion of a breathtaking city view in the movie. And it was a state-of-the-art one, too, with animated lights, moving traffic, and the ability to change from night to day. The painting is still the property of the studio and has been used in other productions since.

20. THE FILM’S SUCCESS SPAWNED A BONA FIDE FRANCHISE.

In addition to its four sequels, Die Hard has spawned video games and comic books, too.

21. JOHN MCCLANE’S TUMBLE DOWN A VENTILATION SHAFT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

Or maybe “error” would be a better word. But in the scene in which McClane jumps into an elevator shaft, his stunt man was supposed to grab onto the first vent. But he missed. By a lot. Which made the footage even more exciting to watch, so editor Frank J. Urioste kept it in the final cut.

22. ALAN RICKMAN’S DEATH SCENE WAS ALSO PRETTY SCARY.

At least it was for Rickman. In order to make it look as if he was falling off a building, Rickman was supposed to drop 20 feet onto an air bag while holding onto a stunt man. But in order to get a genuinely terrified reaction out of him, they dropped him on the count of two—not three, as was planned.

23. BRUCE WILLIS SUFFERED PERMANENT HEARING LOSS.

In order to get the hyper-realism that director John McTiernan was looking for, the blanks used in the guns in the movie were modified to be extra loud. In one scene, Willis shoots a terrorist through a table, which put the action star in extremely close proximity to the gun—and caused permanent hearing loss. He referenced the injury in a 2007 interview with The Guardian. When they asked Willis his most unappealing habit, he replied that, “Due to an accident on the first Die Hard, I suffer two-thirds partial hearing loss in my left ear and have a tendency to say, ‘Whaaa?’”

24. ALAN RICKMAN WASN’T FOND OF THE NOISE EITHER.

Whenever he had to shoot a gun in the film, Rickman couldn’t help but flinch. Which forced McTiernan to have to cut away from him so that his reactions were not caught on film.

25. GRUBER’S AMERICAN ACCENT POSED NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.

The scene in which Rickman, as Gruber, slips into an American accent and pretends to be yet another hostage who got away was insisted on by screenwriter Steven de Souza, who wanted them in a room together to duke it out. But McTiernan was never happy with Rickman’s American accent, saying, “I still hear Alan Rickman’s English accent. I was never quite happy with the way he opened his mouth [in that scene] . . . I shot it three times trying to get him to sound more stridently American … it’s odd for someone who has such enormous verbal skills; he just had terrible trouble getting an American accent.”

26. HANS GRUBER’S GERMAN IS MOSTLY GIBBERISH.

And the bulk of his German cohorts were not German either. Bruce Willis, on the other hand, was actually born in West Germany to an American father and a German mother.

27. BRUCE WILLIS HAS FOUR FEET.

As Willis spends much of the movie in his bare feet running through broken glass, he was given a pair of rubber feet to wear as a safety precaution. Which is great and all, but if you look closely in certain scenes, you can actually see the fake appendages.

28. YOU CAN SEE—BUT NOT TOUCH—JOHN MCCLANE’S SWEATY TANK TOP.

In 2007, Bruce Willis donated the blood-soaked tank top he wore in Die Hard to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian.

29. “YIPPEE-KI-YAY” STOLE THE MOVIE.

It was a simple line: “Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*cker!” But it became the film’s defining moment, and the unofficial catchphrase that has been used in all four Die Hard sequels as well.

30. CREDIT FOR THE LINE IS OWED TO WILLIS.

In a 2013 interview with Ryan Seacrest, Bruce Willis admitted that “Yippee-ki-yay, motherf*cker!” was really just a joke. “It was a throwaway,” said Willis. “I was just trying to crack up the crew and I never thought it was going to be allowed to stay in the film.”

If you’re in New York, our friends at Den of Geek are hosting a screening of Die Hard on Friday, December 12th. Join them for some wholesome holiday cheer!