December 2016 – Page 66

December 5, 2016

Newsletter Item for (89470): Ants Communicate by Swapping Spit

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Ants Communicate by Swapping Spit

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Scientists say the mouth-to-mouth exchanges transmit hormones and other important chemical information.

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Animals

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Ants Communicate by Swapping Spit

December 5, 2016

Newsletter Item for (89161): A.C. Gilbert, the Toymaker Who (Actually) Saved Christmas

Headline:

A.C. Gilbert, the Toymaker Who (Actually) Saved Christmas

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In 1918, the U.S. government threatened to close down toy factories and discourage gift-giving to shift focus toward the war. A.C. Gilbert wasn't having it.

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History

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A.C. Gilbert, the Toymaker Who (Actually) Saved Christmas

December 5, 2016

17 Devilishly Awesome Vintage Krampus Cards

Caitlin Schneider

filed under: holidays, myths

Image credit:

walt74 via Flickr // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

We know you’ve all been nice this year, but just in case, we wanted to remind you that December 5 is Krampus Night (or Krampusnacht): the night when that half-goat, half-demon spirit of Christmas chaos appears to basically be the antithesis of Saint Nicholas. He thieves, he gives out coal, and as these vintage cards indicate, generally torments all the naughty boys and girls (and men and women!) who aren’t in Santa’s good graces. Get familiar with the hairy, horned, serpentine-tongued beast—that way you’ll be able to see him coming.

1. “GRUSS VOM KRAMPUS!”

Wikimedia Commons

“Greetings from Krampus!”

2. KRAMPUS ON HIS BROOMSTICK

Wikimedia Commons

This terrifying composition is both ridiculous—and a little too realistic for our liking.

3. KRAMPUS ON A ROCKING HORSE

Wikimedia Commons

No toy is safe.

4. FOLLOW THE LEADER

The Public Domain Review via Flickr

This town seems to have a lot of naughty kids.

5. KRAMPUS AND SAINT NICHOLAS

Wikimedia Commons

Even an evil demon beast cowers when in the presence of Old St. Nick.

6. KRAMPUS AND SAINT NICHOLAS, VOLUME 2.0

riptheskull via Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0

It might seem weird for these two to look so chummy, but they’ve actually been palling around since the 17th century. Or maybe the patron saint of sailors, voyagers, merchants, repentant thieves, children, brewers, judges, perfumers, pawnbrokers, students and more, is just cheesing before ditching the Christmas devil.

7. ROMANTIC KRAMPUS?

riptheskull via Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0

Not all paramours are what they seem.

8. GIANT STUFFED TOY KRAMPUS

riptheskull via Flickr// CC BY-ND 2.0

That’s one way to manage your fears.

9. “GABEN DEN GUTEN! DEN SCHLIMMEN DIE RUTEN!”

riptheskull via Flickr //CC BY-ND 2.0

The good kids get gifts from Santa and the bad ones get the Krampus’s rod, but both Christmas figures offer greetings, so there’s that!

10. HAGGARD KRAMPUS

riptheskull via Flickr // CC BY-ND 2.0

Poor Krampus is looking worse for wear in this holiday card. Perhaps he’s had a long night of seasonal menace-making.

11. LADY KRAMPUS

riptheskull via Flickr //CC BY-ND 2.0

In this cheery depiction, a female Krampus “beckons with eternal chains,” and looks pretty while doing it.

12. CRAZY-EYED KRAMPUS

walt74 via Flickr // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

That basket ride would be pretty fun were it not for the mythical and punishing Christmas demon.

13. AIRBORNE KRAMPUS

walt74 via Flickr // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Even we can admit: this looks pretty cool.

14. INTO THE FIERY DEPTHS

walt74 via Flickr //CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Always put your best hoof forward when descending to hell with a crew of dubious, cherub-cheeked children.

15. CREEPY KRAMPUS FIGURINE, TAKE TWO

walt74 via Flickr // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

There’s been an uptick in the production of Krampus figurines in recent years, so it might be high time for you to get your own. We just hope it doesn’t become part of a toy attack like in Krampus (2015).

16. COY KRAMPUS

walt74 via Flickr // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Is he hiding behind the fan? Is she using the fan to push him away? Either way, it might be a good idea to arm yourself with the fashionable ventilator this holiday season.

17. KRAMPUS HITS THE BOOKS

walt74 via Flickr // CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

It’s unclear exactly what’s happening here, but Krampus has his spectacles on, so you know it’s serious.

December 5, 2016 – 12:00pm

December 5, 2016

Upgrade Your Cookware With This Amazon All-Clad Bargain

Smart Shopping Team

filed under: shopping

Image credit:

amazon / istock

Looking for an easy upgrade to your culinary arsenal? Amazon has a great one today. The 12-inch All-Clad 41126 Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Fry Pan is marked down to just $89.99. All-Clad’s tri-ply construction utilizes an aluminum core that heats quickly sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel that evenly distribute the heat. The result is pretty much everything you could ask for in a frying pan: It gets hot quickly, it can withstand the high temperatures you need for frying, and the shape of its sides make for easy turning. It can even go in the dishwasher! At $89.99 today, it’s a real bargain given that the pan usually lists for $199.99, and the sale price on other retailers’ sites are $119.99 without the benefit of Prime shipping. If you or someone on your holiday shopping list loves to cook, this All-Clad frying pan will offer years of steadfast and delicious kitchen service.

Buy at Amazon: All-Clad 41126 Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Bonded Dishwasher Safe Fry Pan with Lid, 12-Inch, Silver for $89.99 (list price $199.99)

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!

December 5, 2016 – 11:00am

December 5, 2016

Reworded Christmas Carols

December 5, 2016 – 11:11am

December 5, 2016

Moschino Designer Jeremy Scott Creates Most Expensive Barbie Set Ever

Michele Debczak

filed under: design, fashion, fun, toys

Image credit:

The Barbie Collection

Barbie has sported some stunning looks since she debuted in 1959; over the years, she has worn outfits designed by such fashion heavyweights as Giorgio Armani, Vera Wang, and Oscar de la Renta. Now, Forbes reports, a new look designed by Moschino creative director Jeremy Scott has become Barbie’s most expensive set yet.

For $200, collectors can take home the Barbie-Ken package celebrating the Italian luxury label. The stylish duds are inspired by Scott’s own wardrobe at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. He arrived to the event wearing a television-inspired, Technicolor-striped suit, with black velvet clad Victoria’s Secret model Stella Maxwell as his date. When Scott was asked to design a pair of Moschino dolls for Barbie, he knew that those real-life ensembles would be a perfect fit.

Larry Busacca/Getty

As far as toys go, Barbie is a titan in the fashion industry. She has rocked a long list of high-fashion labels, and Barbie-inspired styles have even appeared on the runway during New York Fashion Week. Despite the doll line’s connection to the fashion world, this latest set marks a major first for Ken: The Moschino Ken is the first to wear an outfit tailored for him by a big-name designer. The historic dolls are now available for purchase through the Barbie Collection store.

The Barbie Collection

[h/t Forbes]

December 5, 2016 – 11:30am

December 5, 2016

Young Toddlers Know When You’re Lying, Say Scientists

Kate Horowitz

filed under: kids, psychology, science

Image credit:

iStock

We have not been giving our little ones enough credit. Psychologists working with young toddlers say the kids are capable of recognizing when someone else is pretending, cheating, or straight-up lying. The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Psychologists use a test called the false-belief task to gauge whether a person knows that other people’s thoughts are different from their own. The classic test involves a story in which a protagonist with incomplete or inaccurate information must make a choice between two items. Before the protagonist acts, psychologists ask the person taking the test which item they think the protagonist will select. If the test-taker realizes that their ideas differ from the protagonist’s—that the protagonist has a false belief—they can guess that the protagonist will make the wrong choice.

Kids under the age of 4 generally fail this test, and psychologists generally take this as an indication that younger children don’t understand other people’s thoughts or beliefs. But in doing so they’ve overlooked one major element: their test depends on the test-taker’s ability to understand the questions and articulate a response. Like many tests of cognitive ability, the bias is built right in.

One team of researchers recognized this issue and decided to design a better test. They created a simplified version with pictures and more basic questions, then brought in 144 kids aged 2 and a half. The simplified test made both the testing procedure and the questions themselves easier for the children to understand. They could guess that the protagonist was about to make a mistake. They knew her thoughts were not the same as their own.

Renee Baillargeon of the University of Illinois was a co-author on the study. “Our study shows that when the task is made simpler, even 2-and-a-half year olds succeed,” she said in a statement. “So the ability to answer questions about persons with false beliefs is present very early in development, contrary to what was traditionally thought.”

Co-author Peipei Setoh of Nanyang Technological University noted that this false belief—that little kids weren’t clever enough to figure it out—could be negatively affecting the way we raise them.

“If parents believe that children do not understand complicated matters, they may tell simpler versions of the truth and ‘dumb down’ what they view as complicated content for kids. Parents of young children and early childhood educators should be aware that children’s early cognitive abilities may be more advanced than previously thought.”

December 5, 2016 – 10:30am

December 5, 2016

Amazon’s 12 Days of Deals Heat Up with Today’s Sales

Smart Shopping Team

Image credit:

amazon / istock

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 5.

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!

December 5, 2016 – 1:13pm

Amazon Product Id:

B01FVV7R2G

December 5, 2016

10 Classic Movies You Can See in Theaters This Month

Jennifer M Wood

filed under: christmas-movies, Lists, Movies, Pop Culture

Image credit:

YouTube

December is a very good month for movie lovers—and this year is no exception. In addition to being the studios’ favorite month for releasing potential Oscar contenders (see: La La Land), a bevy of beloved standards are making their way back to the big screen over the next several weeks, many of them with a holiday slant. If you weren’t quick enough to get your hands on a pair of tickets for Rogue One, here are 10 equally tempting alternatives.

1. HOME ALONE (1990)

By now, you’ve probably seen the Wet Bandits take on 8-year-old Kevin McCallister a couple of dozen times. But when was the last time you saw Home Alone in a theater? Chris Columbus’s delightfully sadistic holiday classic is popping back up at theaters big and small across the country, including several Regal and Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas.

2. SPIRITED AWAY (2001)

In mid-November, Oscar-winning moviemaker Hayao Miyazaki announced that he is coming out of retirement (again) to make one final film, Boro the Caterpillar (look for it in theaters in 2019). Just a few days later, Miyazaki fans got another treat when Fathom Events confirmed that Spirited Away would be making its way back into theaters across the country in honor of the film’s 15th anniversary. Though screenings were originally scheduled for December 4 and 5 only, a third event—on December 8—has been added.

3. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)

Beginning with his debut feature, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton has proven himself to be a master of creating lovable outcasts. Nowhere is this more evident than with Edward Scissorhands, in which Johnny Depp manages to find acceptance—well, some acceptance—despite wielding lethal weapons for fingers. The film is coming back to select Landmark Theatres, including locations in Detroit, Philadelphia, and San Diego.

4. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

As It’s a Wonderful Life prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary later this month, several theaters around the country are paying tribute to Frank Capra’s Christmas classic, which just might be the definitive holiday movie. It will be playing at select Regal theaters on Christmas Eve, and will make its annual return to New York City’s IFC Center from December 9 to December 27, with Donna Reed’s daughter, Mary Owen, in attendance and offering commentary at several screenings throughout the month.

5. GREMLINS (1984)

Six years before he directed Home Alone, Chris Columbus’s semi-dark holiday sensibilities were on full display in Gremlins, which he penned for director Joe Dante and executive producer Steven Spielberg. If you need a refresher on the rules of what not to do with a Mogwai, several Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas will be showing the movie, including locations in Brooklyn, San Francisco, and Austin.

6. THE ROOM (2003)

In 2003, aspiring superstar Tommy Wiseau wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the awesomely terrible indie The Room. It’s so inexplicably bad that it’s good, and we’re not only still talking about it, but still regularly screening it in theaters nationwide. In December, that includes Landmark Theatres in Denver and Minneapolis.

7. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)

As part of Turner Classic Movies’s commitment to, well, classic movies, they regularly bring classic films back to theaters for special showings. On December 11 and December 14, Fred Zinnemann’s From Here to Eternity, which follows the lives of three Army soldiers stationed in Hawaii in the months leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, will be back on the big screen. Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, and Frank Sinatra star in the wartime drama, which won a whopping eight Oscars.

8. THE SHINING (1980)

In addition to being one of the world’s most celebrated filmmakers, Quentin Tarantino is a bona fide movie geek—and a movie theater owner. At his New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles, the lineup is always full of classic films and overlooked gems. And while December’s schedule has plenty of holiday fare to offer—including screenings of Elf, A Christmas Story, Scrooged, Santa Claus: The Movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians—there’s also a very non-yuletide theme: Stanley Kubrick. Throughout the month, the theater will highlight the acclaimed director’s most impressive pictures, including several showings of The Shining toward the end of the month, from December 28 to December 31.

9. ELF (2003)

Grab your maple syrup—Buddy the Elf is headed back into theaters. The beloved Will Ferrell comedy Elf will see some one-off screenings across the country, including at several Alamo Drafthouse outposts (including Yonkers, San Francisco, Brooklyn, and Austin).

10. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the world’s most famous midnight movie. More than 40 years after the film’s original release, it’s still a regular late-night fixture at theaters across the country, including Landmark Theatres in Los Angeles, Houston, and Milwaukee. Let’s do the time warp again.

December 5, 2016 – 10:00am

December 5, 2016

Kings Cross Celebrates the Holidays With a Tree Trapped in ‘Ice’

Michele Debczak

filed under: christmas, christmas-decorations, holidays

December is here, and public spaces around the world are celebrating the season with festive trees of various styles and sizes. The tree currently on display outside Central Saint Martins’ Granary Square campus in Kings Cross, London may take the prize for most unique—not for its stature, but for its unusual presentation. As Dezeen reports, the tree appears to be frozen in a 23-foot-tall block of ice.

The installation is the work of Alex Chinneck, a British artist known for mixing optical illusions and architecture. His latest work is meant to be a holiday-themed version of a fly-in-an-ice-cube. The piece’s cheery nature is most apparent at night when the tree’s 1200 lights are illuminated from within its 2.2-ton package.

The exhibit will remain up until January 6, and there’s no chance of it melting between now and then. That’s because the block isn’t actually ice, but a massive chunk of resin. Even the “puddle” pooled around the bottom is made from 550 pounds of clear wax. But if Chinneck did decide to go the literal route it wouldn’t be the first time an artist left a giant ice block in a public space and called it art.

[h/t Dezeen]

Banner image: iStock

December 5, 2016 – 9:00am

1. “GRUSS VOM KRAMPUS!”

2. KRAMPUS ON HIS BROOMSTICK

3. KRAMPUS ON A ROCKING HORSE

4. FOLLOW THE LEADER

5. KRAMPUS AND SAINT NICHOLAS

6. KRAMPUS AND SAINT NICHOLAS, VOLUME 2.0

7. ROMANTIC KRAMPUS?

8. GIANT STUFFED TOY KRAMPUS

9. “GABEN DEN GUTEN! DEN SCHLIMMEN DIE RUTEN!”

10. HAGGARD KRAMPUS

11. LADY KRAMPUS

12. CRAZY-EYED KRAMPUS

13. AIRBORNE KRAMPUS

14. INTO THE FIERY DEPTHS

15. CREEPY KRAMPUS FIGURINE, TAKE TWO

16. COY KRAMPUS

17. KRAMPUS HITS THE BOOKS

GADGETS, TOYS, AND MEDIA

KITCHEN

HOME

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

OFFICE, SCHOOL, AND CRAFTS

OUTDOORS, GARDEN, AND SPORTS

ELECTRONICS

TOOLS

1. HOME ALONE (1990)

2. SPIRITED AWAY (2001)

3. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS (1990)

4. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

5. GREMLINS (1984)

6. THE ROOM (2003)

7. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)

8. THE SHINING (1980)

9. ELF (2003)

10. THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975)