Month: December 2016

A 12-ounce serving of Guinness has only 124 calories.

The countries that consume the most Guinness are, in order, the U.K., Ireland, the U.S., Nigeria, and Cameroon.

After separating from the UK in 1922, the Irish Free State had to ask Guinness for permission to use the harp icon on its coat of arms, as Guinness had trademarked the symbol back in 1876.

In 1759, Arthur Guinness signed a 9000-year lease for an abandoned brewery in Dublin’s St. James’s Gate. Guinness is still brewed on the site today.

The plastic ball in your can of Guinness is called a widget. Its purpose? To store nitrogen and release it once the can is opened, creating a draft-like drinking experience.

True crime has been a compelling feature of television for decades (Forensic Files and Dateline, anyone?), and now, it’s hard to remember a time when true crime podcasts weren’t all the rage. The trend can largely be traced back to Serial, which debuted in 2014. The podcast examined the case of Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in 2000, when he was 18; Syed, who is serving life plus 20 years for the crime, never confessed and proclaims his innocence to this day. Serial was a sensation, becoming the fastest podcast ever to reach 5 million downloads, and reaction to the podcast infused new hope into Syed’s defense. (He was recently granted a new trial.)

After Serial‘s incredible success, it wasn’t long before other true crime podcasts were being created and downloaded in droves. These 10 podcasts cover ground both episodic and serial and combine great storytelling with expert theorizing—and they’re all addicting.

1. SWORD AND SCALE

Sword and Scale, hosted by Mike Boudet, has been unraveling stories of lesser-known crimes since January 2014. In each episode, Boudet weaves together fact (expert commentary, witness statements) and drama (sound effects, eerie music) to create an extremely compelling way to deliver information—and you’ll get a lot of information, from detailed timelines to mental health diagnoses. One of the most riveting episodes is actually the very first: It follows the case of Bruce Blackman, a young schizophrenic man who murdered his family in Canada.

2. CRIMINAL

Created in 2013, Criminal stands out from a sea of true crime podcasts that seem to focus almost exclusively on murder. Criminal covers every kind of crime imaginable, some sad, some scary, some actually funny. They do so in very digestible doses, too: episodes are about 20 minutes long. The main mission of producers Lauren Spohrer and Eric Mennel and host Phoebe Judge is to find the personal angle in each story. Who did this crime affect; how and why? They’ve interviewed a mother-daughter coroner team and a man who broke up a Venus flytrap crime ring. Every episode is so different from the last, and yet all feel so fully fleshed out with commentary right from the people involved in the crime. For crime with a touch of humor, try their episode on the sought-after bourbon Pappy Van Winkle.

3. SNAPPED

Snapped is nothing new to Oxygen viewers. The TV show is on its 18th season. But just this past August, producers launched a podcast version of the episodes—and it doesn’t feel like anything’s missing not being able to watch the action on TV. Snapped features women who killed or attempted to kill—their life stories, circumstances surrounding their crimes, and the fallout of their actions. What’s unique about Snapped is that it often includes interviews with the women in question. Guided by host Sharon Martin, the suspects or convicted killers, family and friends, witnesses, police officers, and lawyers tell the tale. Start with episode one, in which Carol Kopenkoskey herself remembers the day she shot her husband.

4. ACCUSED

Accused will appeal to those still looking to fill the Serial void, since it is, in fact, a serial. Amber Hunt and Amanda Rossmann are two Cincinnati journalists who spent a year investigating the 1978 murder of Elizabeth Andes in her Oxford, Ohio apartment. Andes’s boyfriend, Bob Young, confessed, then recanted. Two juries—one criminal, one civil—acquitted Young, but police never looked into any other suspects. Hunt spends each episode taking listeners through the facts, Elizabeth and Bob’s relationship, evidence for and against Bob and other suspects, and where Elizabeth’s family stands on the case now. Every episode is brimming with the emotional accounts of Elizabeth’s friends, and Hunt and Rossman’s Serial-like experiment—driving from point A to point B in the police’s proposed timeline for Bob on the night of the murder—will leave you constantly questioning your own conclusions. Of course, you’ll have to start from the beginning with this one.

5. REAL CRIME PROFILE

Real Crime Profile is not only riveting, it’s incredibly satisfying. It features carefully explained theories from two expert hosts: Jim Clemente, former FBI criminal profiler and NYC prosecutor, and Laura Richards, former New Scotland Yard crime analyst. Guided by co-host Lisa Zambetti, Clemente and Richards unpack cases currently under the media spotlight and explain some of the most confusing elements of the crimes and trials. They invite questions from listeners so they can shed light on things like DNA evidence, motives, and prosecution loopholes. Fans of Making a Murderer might be most intrigued by the podcast’s first six episodes, which concentrate on Steven Avery’s arrest, Brendan Dassey’s confession and Jodi Stachowski’s Nancy Grace interview.

6. CASEFILE

“Fact is scarier than fiction.” That’s Casefile’s tagline, and from the ominous sound effects to the anonymous host’s voice, this Australian podcast really lives up to it. Casefile covers crimes from all over the world, and whether it’s a mystery from the 1940s or a string of murders from the 1990s, every subject has the common thread of eeriness. The darkness of the stories is tempered by the redeeming accounts of rescuers, survivors, and witnesses. Casefile doesn’t rely on interviews, but is clearly impeccably researched—carefully told even when the mood does feel like a Halloween-appropriate ghost tale. For one such example of this balance, check out episode 31, about a killer couple that abducted girls from Perth in the 1980s.

7. GENERATION WHY

Generation Why is the podcast for you if you’re fascinated by the circumstances surrounding true crimes but not so into the gory details. Hosts Aaron and Justin don’t dwell on the dark or disturbing elements of murders and abductions, and never go for the scare or gross-out with their stories. While the mood is conversational (they’re real-life friends, after all), Generation Why takes a somewhat intellectual approach. Aaron and Justin spotlight both well-known and relatively unknown cases, and they play down the drama, choosing to concentrate on things like evidence supporting a wrongful conviction or events in a murderer’s life that might have caused him or her to break. Episode 196 features an unsettling case you might not know about: the Baton Rouge serial killer.

8. TRUE CRIME GARAGE

Nic and Captain, hosts of True Crime Garage, discuss cases over brews. (They pair every episode with a craft beer.) Their back-and-forth effortlessly guides what might otherwise be complicated tales of mysteries, trials, and controversies so you get all the facts in a very absorbable way, with a sprinkling to humor (which provides a sometimes necessary mood-lightener). Nic and Captain cover all bases, discussing legendary serial killers, oft-debated missing persons cases, and theories like whether Kurt Cobain’s death was indeed a suicide. Even if you think you know all there is to know about Ed Gein, sit back for the roller coaster that is Nic and Captain’s intricate retelling, episode 49.

9. TRUTH & JUSTICE WITH BOB RUFF

Michigan firefighter Bob Ruff was a Serial fan who started Truth & Justice to dissect theories about Syed’s case. Researching that case led him to the vast number of other either wrongful or in-question convictions there are out there, inspiring him to retire early and commit to looking into these cases. His podcast, therefore, is more than just that—Ruff actively investigates the cases each season concentrates on. His second season focuses on Kenny Snow, serving a 40-year sentence in Tyler, Texas, for an aggravated robbery he may not have committed. Ruff is in constant contact with the sheriff’s department, as well as the town, obtaining and poring over any documents he can get his hands on, and he’s also traveled back and forth to Tyler. His podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at the work he’s doing with hypotheses about Snow’s possible innocence. Start from the beginning of the Snow story with episode 201.

10. THINKING SIDEWAYS

Thinking Sideways occupies a middle ground between true crime and mystery. Hosted by Joe, Steve, and Devin, the podcast takes the familiar but reliably appealing approach of a few friends talking crazy cases—and their light banter is a welcome breather from some of the heaviest moments. Thinking Sideways fixes its attention on the open questions in history and crime. They discuss the “Paul [McCartney] is dead” conspiracy and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart along with the 1907 theft of the Irish crown jewels, Jack the Ripper, the Monster with 21 Faces crime organization, and the Mad Axeman of New Orleans. There’s definitely a history lesson vibe among this eclectic range of episodes, but one that’s always exciting and never dry. For a lesser known case with lots of surprisingly well-known tie-ins, listen to their episode on the Wonderland murders.

If you’ve ever played a session of the classic Nintendo 64 game, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, chances are you probably ended up humming afterwards. Music is a huge aspect of the game’s story, and playing the ocarina unlocks key parts of the journey. So it’s fitting that the music from the game will soon be showcased with a two-record vinyl set.

iam8bit and Materia Collective teamed up to create Hero of Time: an hour-long arrangement based on the video game’s original soundtrack by Koji Kondo.

In January, the 64-part Slovak National Symphony Orchestra will record the music for Hero of Time, which was arranged and composed by Eric Buchholz. Buchholz is no stranger to the music from the Zelda franchise: He’s put on video game concert tours around the world including The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony.

The two 180-gram vinyls’ presentation will also pay homage to the original game, with a color scheme based on green and purple rupees and a navy sleeve designed by Ryan Brinkerhoff, which will feature what iam8bit’s store describes as:

…a die-cut Ocarina window on the jacket’s front, a majestic gatefold featuring both Light or Dark sides, and, of course – the finishing crescendo of a shimmering, gold foil-stamped triforce on the back.

You can pre-order the collector’s item on iam8bit’s online store and get sneak peek of what it will sound like with this synthesized mockup:

This isn’t the first video game soundtrack to get the vinyl treatment. iam8bit has also tackled classic games like Battletoads and Ratchet & Clank, and newer titles like No Man’s Sky, Broken Age, and Monument Valley.

[h/t Engadget]

In every office yankee or white elephant swap, there’s always that one gift everyone’s clamoring to steal away. Maybe it’s too practical or too unique to leave up for grabs. No matter what you have in mind, any item on this list is sure to be a winner at your company’s holiday party.

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. STARLIGHT POCKET VR; $13

Though virtual and augmented reality are slowly becoming more mainstream, the technology is still enough of a novelty to be a smash hit with your coworkers. Anyone with an Android or iPhone between 4 and 6 inches tall can use this. Users simply slip their device in the plastic headset and immerse themselves in one of the many VR and AR apps out there to choose from. Unlike some other low-cost VR goggles this one doesn’t use a strap, so your glasses-wearing office-mate can still get the full experience. Once they’re done it folds up into a compact, pocket-sized package.

Find It: Amazon

2. BEEROPOLY; $32

The best drinking games are the ones that don’t require you to remember any rules. With Beeropoly, the instructions are printed right on the pine wood board. Players take turns rolling the dice and move their bottle cap pieces to the corresponding squares. Each square gives instructions for mini-challenges, like “Never Have I Ever” and a dance competition. The last person standing is responsible for finishing the community cup in the middle of the board.

Find It: Uncommon Goods

3. CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY; $25

Sometimes you can’t beat the classics. This cult game includes 550 cards ranging from awkward to absurd. Each round the funniest card match-up wins. If you bring this to your office swap just be prepared to break it open before the party ends.

Find It: Amazon

4. NICHOLAS VINOAIR WINE AERATOR; $11

Some wine lovers are fine with waiting for their drink to aerate before taking a sip. Others believe the best wine is whatever they can drink as soon as possible—this gift is designed for the latter group. The Nicholas VinOair aerator uses a dual oxygen chamber to pull out air with twice the vacuum power of leading competitors. The spout doubles as a wine pourer and drip stopper, while the rubber ring in the center creates an airtight seal.

Find It: Amazon

5. STAR WARS USB DRIVE; $10

For the office nerd: Here’s an out-this-world tool for storing their next big presentation. This R2D2 USB drive holds up to 4 GB of data. When it’s not plugged in to a computer it stands upright, which means it can be used as a delightfully geeky desk ornament.

Find It: Amazon

6. AMAZONBASICS MINI BLUETOOTH SPEAKER; $25

Is it a good idea to enable your office-mate who loves to blast music without headphones? Probably not, but it’ll be fun to watch the rest of your coworkers struggle to keep this from them. The 3.3-inch-by-2.6-inch device includes a 3-watt speaker and a built-in microphone for making hands-free phone calls. It works wirelessly up to 30 feet from the source and lasts for 10 hours on a single charge.

Find It: Amazon

7. PLANT THEATRE FUNKY VEG KIT; $19

The funky vegetables in this growing kit can brighten up even the dreariest desk lunch. Each box comes with seed packets for five unique crops: purple carrots, red Brussels sprouts, stripy tomatoes, yellow zucchini, and multi-colored Swiss chard. Also included are five pots, peat blocks, and plant markers as well as instructions for “sowing and growing.”

Find It: Amazon

8. L’OCCITANE SHEA BUTTER HOLIDAY ORNAMENT; $14

This festive trinket is four gifts in one. Attached to the ornament are L’Occitane’s luscious shea butter hand cream, shea butter ultra-gentle milk soap, and shea butter ultra-rich body lotion. After ringing in the new year with radiant skin, owners can save the decoration to hang on their tree next year.

Find It: Amazon

9. BARTENDING GLASSES, SET OF FOUR; $20

Pouring perfect cocktails doesn’t require professional bartending experience, or even fancy measuring tools. All it takes is a glass with a handy cheat sheet printed on the side. This set of 8-ounce glasses includes vessels for four cocktails: a mojito, a salty dog, a whisky fix, and a bloody mary. Just add the ingredients according to the instructions printed on the exterior then let the imbibing begin.

Find It: Amazon

10. PENCILS FOR DAYS; $15

Everybody may be working for the weekend, but these playful pencils are a good reminder that there’s something worth celebrating every day of the week. This multi-colored set has all the bases covered, from #sundayfunday to #flashbackfriday. It even includes a bonus #mondaymotivation pencil in addition to the #mancrushmonday one, because at the beginning of the work week we all deserve a little something extra.

Find It: Etsy

11. STACKABLE LUNCH POT; $25

The work-mate who’s been brown-bagging their lunch for years will thank you for this one. This set of plastic pots includes two airtight containers that stack neatly on top of one another. A carrying strap secures the components together, and an attachable spork makes for easy eating whenever hunger strikes.

Find It: Uncommon Goods

In Memoriam: Pictures From John Glenn’s Incredible Life. A true American hero.  
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Real Christmas Trees Or Fake Ones — Which Are Better For The Planet? The answer may surprise you.
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The Year in TV: The 15 Best Performances of 2016. The best actors no longer find television a step down from movies.
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The Marx Brothers’ Early Career. They were refined in the crucible of live vaudeville shows.  
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“BRAAAM!”: The Sound that Invaded the Hollywood Soundtrack. Its story is that of the evolution of the movie score.
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Celebrity Copycats: What It Takes to Be a Star Impersonator. A resemblance won’t be enough to land the job.
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Airplane Etiquette. Just because your seat reclines doesn’t mean that you have the moral right to do it.
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7 Great Places with Horrifying Names. Worth going to, if only for the purpose of telling people where you’re going.