25 Things Turning 25 in 2017

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If you were born in 1992, you’re in good company! Here’s our annual list celebrating 25 things (people, companies, movies, books, etc.) turning 25 this year.

1. WAYNE’S WORLD

On February 14, Wayne’s World graduated from Saturday Night Live sketch to feature film. No way?! Way!! Featuring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey and directed by Penelope Spheeris, it was a landmark comedy that both reflected and affected ’90s pop culture. It single-handedly revived Queen’s song “Bohemian Rhapsody,” introduced the world to the intellectualism of Alice Cooper, and convinced teens that public-access TV was worthwhile after all. As a pair of wise men once said: “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!”

2. THE FIRST TEXT MESSAGE

On December 3, 1992, 22-year-old engineer Neil Papworth sent the first text message over a cellular network. He used a computer connected to the Vodafone GSM network to send the message to Vodafone director Richard Jarvis’s Orbitel 901 mobile phone (which was gigantic, but technically “mobile” by 1992 standards). The message read: “Merry Christmas.” Why the early Christmas greeting? Jarvis was at a Christmas party at the time.

3. BARNEY & FRIENDS

To the immense frustration of adults and delight of toddlers, the purple dinosaur Barney appeared on PBS on April 6. Barney & Friends was initially envisioned four years earlier as a direct-to-video series called Barney & The Backyard Gang created by Sheryl Leach, a Dallas elementary school teacher who wanted to create toddler-appropriate programming for her kids. (She noted that most programming for kids assumed too long an attention span, which led to the simplistic bits featured on Barney.)

If you missed this moment in television history, let’s catch you up. Barney is a giant purple Tyrannosaurus rex made of cloth, who likes to sing and dance. He is utterly non-threatening, essentially a scaled-up version of a plush dinosaur toy. When a People Magazine article called the lyrics to Barney’s songs “stupid,” an era of Barney-bashing began. Toddlers didn’t care one bit, and clamored for Barney merchandise, as an actor in a six-foot tall Barney costume embarked on a mall tour in December.

4. MALL OF AMERICA

On August 11, the Mall of America—the largest mall in the United States—opened in Bloomington, Minnesota. This was just one of many projects enacted by Minnesota Governor Rudy Perpich, who created a World Trade Center in St. Paul, received a visit from Mikhail Gorbachev, and brought the Super Bowl to the Twin Cities in 1992.

The Mall of America was indeed the largest in the U.S., covering approximately 2.7 million square feet, though it was actually smaller than the Edmonton Mall in Canada. U.S. visitors didn’t mind, as Minnesota’s Mall contained, as the Los Angeles Times reported:

… the nation’s largest indoor amusement park, the world’s largest parking ramp, the world’s largest indoor planting of live shrubs, the world’s largest indoor miniature golf course, and arguably the world’s largest concentration of Tivoli lights.

Asked about the Mall, humorist Garrison Keillor joked:

“Minnesota is where the shopping mall was invented, so it’s natural that the biggest one should be there … but some people disappear in them and never come out, thousands in Minnesota alone, and the Mall of America is going to triple the toll.

… Fifteen thousand shoppers will vanish in the next year, never to bring their purchases home, and the terrible tragedy is that they will not be particularly missed. Their families will simply order duplicate credit cards and go on without them.”

The Mall eventually included 400 stores, 14 movie theaters, seven restaurants, five nightclubs, and 31,000 live trees and shrubs.

5. CARTOON NETWORK

On October 1, the first 24-hour channel devoted to cartoons debuted, courtesy of the Turner Broadcasting System. The channel was based in part on TBS’s purchase of Hanna-Barbera and its back catalog, which contained roughly 1500 hours of animated content spread across 350 TV series and movies.

Jeffry Scott of the Cox News Service reported:

In a private ceremony Thursday, [Ted] Turner himself will launch the channel with a push of an Acme dynamite plunger on the front lawn of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s facility on Techwood Drive [in Atlanta].

The plunger will spark a fuse, which will explode a barrel of colored chicken feathers and confetti. Then, on a huge TV screen will pop the picture: a cartoon character named Droopy Dog introducing the world to Turner’s new “cartoon universe.”

6. WOLFENSTEIN 3D

On May 5, the landmark game Wolfenstein 3D brought stunning first-person shooter graphics to DOS PCs. Developed by id Software, the game had a WWII theme, and you played as Allied spy B.J. Blazkowicz on a series of anti-Nazi missions. It was violent, it was technologically advanced, and it was a massive hit.

Considered the “grandfather of 3D shooters,” Wolfenstein 3D was followed up quickly by Doom, which led to an explosion of first-person shooter games. Wolfenstein 3D was also hugely influential in proving the viability of shareware publishing, as the best-selling shareware of 1992.

You can play Wolfenstein 3D online for free using most modern desktop browsers.

7. THE DREAM TEAM

From July 25 to August 9, the 1992 Summer Olympic Games were held in Barcelona. They’re best known—to American audiences, anyway—for the performance of the U.S. men’s basketball team, which was the first to include current NBA players. We called it the “Dream Team.”

The Dream Team featured an all-star lineup of 11 NBA players: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Clyde Drexler, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin. There was also a twelfth member, college player Christian Laettner (who would go on to the NBA). Their goal was to bring home a Gold Medal, and they crushed it.

They won all eight of their Barcelona games, with an average lead of 44 points. Interestingly, although the Dream Team did a great job, the 1956 U.S. team exceeded their performance, with an average of +56 points per game. Still, the Dream Team is often considered the best team ever assembled in any sport.

8. DR. DRE’S THE CHRONIC

Dr. Dre released his first solo album on December 15. It was a masterpiece of hip-hop production, and it was Dre’s first appearance outside of N.W.A. The Chronic included tons of appearances by Snoop Dogg, kickstarting his career.

1992 was a huge year for ex-N.W.A. members releasing solo albums. In that same year, Ice Cube released The Predator, Eazy-E released 5150: Home 4 tha Sick, and MC Ren released Kizz My Black Azz. (D.O.C. was also involved with The Chronic.)

9. THE USDA FOOD PYRAMID

The USDA released its first Food Guide Pyramid in 1992. This guide was just the latest in a long series of food guidance offered by the USDA [PDF], but it was the first to take a pyramid shape. (The USDA based its design initially on Sweden’s food pyramid, though the contents differed.)

Based on a broad platform of “Bread, Cereal, Rice & Pasta,” the guide’s visual design was informed by consumer research [PDF], which compared (among other things) a “bowl” shape divided into segments versus the pyramid design. The research read, in part:

… the differences between the pyramid and the bowl in communicating the proportionality and moderation concepts were large and highly significant (p<.001). Higher scores for the pyramid were consistent across all the subpopulations examined, including those for whom concern was greatest—children and individuals on food assistance programs.

In 2005, the USDA switched to what it called “MyPyramid,” and in 2011 ditched the whole pyramid thing in favor of “MyPlate.” The Food Pyramid’s guidance remains controversial.

10. EURO DISNEY

On April 12, Euro Disney opened in Paris. French citizens weren’t too enthused, seeing it as an invasion of American commercialism. (Disney CEO Michael Eisner was hit with eggs and presented with “Mickey, Go Home!” protest signs when he appeared at the Paris stock exchange.) Americans weren’t particularly keen either, already having world-class Disney parks at home. Visitors couldn’t even drink wine in the park when it first opened. French commentators called it a “cultural Chernobyl.”

The park was eventually renamed Disneyland Paris, and became the most-visited tourist attraction in Europe. In 2015 it attracted more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower combined. Unfortunately, this visitor traffic has not led to profit, and the park has faced financial troubles over the decades.

11. SUPER MARIO KART

Super Mario Kart started the Mario Kart racing game franchise on August 27, when it debuted in Japan. (It was released on September 1 in the U.S.) It boasted a multiplayer split-screen mode as well as excellent graphics (at least for a Super Nintendo game). Super Mario Kart went on to sell more than eight million cartridges and spawned many sequels.

12. IBM THINKPAD

IBM debuted its first ThinkPad laptop on October 5, 1992. Its name was inspired by an old line of IBM paper notepads that bore the slogan “Think.” Although IBM introduced three sleek black ThinkPad models, the ThinkPad 700c was the star. It featured a 10.4-inch color screen, integrated TrackPoint pointing device (that little red nubbin in the middle of the keyboard), and a beefy 486 CPU. It was truly a powerful computer for its era, and at just 7.6 pounds, it was considered very portable. Of course, its $4350 price tag was a problem, but there were cheaper options (with monochrome displays) in the lineup.

Today the ThinkPad is manufactured by Lenovo, but its design and build quality are still reminiscent of that original 700C—minus most of the weight.

13. THE JPEG FILE FORMAT

In 1982, researchers began working on a computer file format that would store photographic data. The goal was to compress images so that photographs would be small, making them easy to download over low-bandwidth connections, and easy to store on small storage devices. The Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) formed in 1986 to develop the compression standard.

On September 18, the first JPEG standard was published, and the rest is computer history. The JPEG’s ability to handle photographs (and other kinds of detailed imagery) while tossing out extraneous data makes it similar to the MP3 format for sound. Throughout the 1990s, JPEG joined file formats like GIF as the basis for web pages, and you’re still looking at JPEGs on this website today!

14. THE NICOTINE PATCH

In 1992, the first prescription nicotine patch reached the market—four years later, it became available over-the-counter. The patch was developed by Dr. Murray E. Jarvik, a UCLA pharmacologist (and nonsmoker) who figured that delivering nicotine to smokers via a skin patch could curb their cravings, helping them to quit smoking.

Jarvik had a long history working with nicotine; in the 1960s he taught monkeys to smoke cigarettes and established that nicotine was the addictive ingredient. That discovery led to nicotine gum and eventually the transdermal patch.

15. THE ELVIS STAMP VOTE

Starting on April 13, pre-addressed ballots appeared at post offices around the U.S. They allowed the public to vote on two proposed designs for a stamp bearing the image of Elvis Presley. The key question: Should we show young Elvis or old Elvis? (Ahem, “mature” Elvis, with sequined white jumpsuit.) People Magazine ran a full-page ad asking the public to “Decide which Elvis is King.” The vote ended on April 24, so there was a frenzy to acquire these ballots and make votes in the minimal time they were available.

The vote was a matter of public debate, with designs created by artists Mark Stutzman and John Berkey. (These were the finalists after eight artists submitted 60 sketches to the U.S. Postal Service.) More than 1.2 million ballots were cast, with roughly 75 percent of them selecting Stutzman’s “young Elvis” painting.

The Elvis stamp itself was released on January 8, 1993—on what would have been Elvis’s 58th birthday.

16. THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

The Muppet Christmas Carol sleighed into theaters on December 11, 1992. An adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic, the film starred Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, along with the classic Muppet characters. (Kermit played Bob Cratchit and Gonzo played Charles Dickens himself, as the narrator.) It was the first Muppet movie made without Jim Henson.

The film was directed by Brian Henson, Jim’s son. Jim had died on May 16, 1990, so Kermit was played by Steve Whitmire. Longtime Muppet puppeteer Richard Hunt died on January 7, 1992 before production began, and his characters (including Statler, Beaker, and Janice) were handled by other performers. The film was dedicated to the memory of the two men.

17. THE FREDDIE MERCURY TRIBUTE CONCERT FOR AIDS AWARENESS

Freddie Mercury died on November 24, 1991, aged 45. He was the first rock star to die from AIDS complications, and the remaining members of the band Queen organized a concert to promote AIDS awareness.

The tribute concert was held at London’s Wembley Stadium on April 20, 1992. It featured a star-studded lineup including David Bowie, George Michael, Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, Elton John, Metallica, Annie Lennox, Guns N’ Roses, Seal, and U2. It was broadcast live to an international TV audience.

If you haven’t seen the concert, head over to YouTube. It’s fantastic. (The entire three-hour concert is also available for rent on various online services.)

18. GUNS N’ ROSES’S EPIC “NOVEMBER RAIN” MUSIC VIDEO

November Rain” is one of Guns N’ Roses’s longest songs, clocking in just shy of nine minutes. A lot of that is extended guitar solos and orchestral segments. To go with the song, the band put together an epic music video which, somehow, has more than 700 million views on YouTube.

Directed by Andy Morahan (who also directed such masterpieces as George Michael’s “Faith”), the video featured model Stephanie Seymour—then Axl Rose’s girlfriend—as his wife. The video cost more than $1.5 million to make (at the time, the highest-budget music video ever). A big chunk of that budget was devoted to building a chapel in the desert so Slash could wail in front of it while a helicopter zoomed by.

The video is famously complex, so much so that in 2014 Slash admitted that he had “no idea” what it meant. He commented, in part, “I knew there was a wedding in there somewhere and I was not into the concept of the wedding.”

19. THE BODYGUARD AND ITS RECORD-BREAKING SOUNDTRACK

On November 25, The Bodyguard—starring Kevin Costner as the titular bodyguard and Whitney Houston as the pop star he’s protecting—graced theaters. It was Houston’s first film role, and it was a massive box office hit.

But more important than the movie was its soundtrack: Houston’s iconic cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” was the standout hit, and the soundtrack was a blockbuster, currently ranked the 16th bestselling record of all time, and it is the number one bestselling soundtrack.

At one point in 1993, the soundtrack held five simultaneous number one positions on the Billboard charts. Now that’s a hit record.

20. JAY LENO’S HOSTING GIG ON THE TONIGHT SHOW

On May 22, 1992, Johnny Carson finished his run as host of The Tonight Show on NBC. On May 25, Jay Leno became the new host, and Billy Crystal was his first guest. Branford Marsalis led The Tonight Show band, and Ed Hall was the new announcer. After Billy Crystal on that first episode, the guests were performer Shanice Wilson and Robert Krulwich (later co-host of Radiolab).

Leno was the fourth host of the show. Steve Allen was first, followed by Jack Paar, then Johnny Carson’s incredible three-decade run. Leno hosted from 1992-2014 (with a brief interruption where Conan O’Brien had the gig from 2009-2010). After Leno’s retirement in 2014, Jimmy Fallon took the hosting job and remains there today.

21. JOHN BOYEGA, DAISY RIDLEY, MILEY CYRUS, NICK JONAS …

In a surprising turn, Star Wars: The Force Awakens costars John Boyega and Daisy Ridley were both born in 1992. The Force is strong with this year. Here’s a rundown of some famous birth dates:

Taylor Lautner – February 11

John Boyega – March 17

Daisy Ridley – April 10

Kate Upton – June 10

Selena Gomez – July 22

Demi Lovato – August 20

Nick Jonas – September 16

Miley Cyrus – November 23

22. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT

In 1992, lawyers Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck founded The Innocence Project. The organization’s mission is to exonerate wrongfully convicted (innocent) people and reform the criminal justice system that convicted them in the first place. One of their key tools is DNA analysis, which sometimes was not available at the time of conviction.

To date, The Innocence Project has been involved with hundreds of exonerations, including cases in which they have helped find the actual perpetrator.

23. WEEZER, WU-TANG CLAN, BLINK-182…

1992 was an incredible year for alternative and hip-hop bands. Here’s a partial list of bands formed that year:

Blink-182 (initially as “Blink”)

Built to Spill

Bush

Collective Soul

Digable Planets

Elastica

Tha Dogg Pound

Hanson (initially as “The Hanson Brothers”)

Harvey Danger

Jamiroquai

Less Than Jake

Nada Surf

Porno for Pyros

Seven Mary Three

Silverchair

Soul Coughing

Sunny Day Real Estate

Weezer

Wu-Tang Clan

24. DUTCH BROS. COFFEE

In 1992, brothers Dane and Travis Boersma opened the first Dutch Bros. Coffee location in Grants Pass, Oregon. The brothers were of Dutch descent, hence the company’s name. They were former dairy farmers, trying their hand at a new business. They proceeded immediately on their mission of “Roastin’ and Rockin’,” then proceeded to spread across the country to more than 260 locations that continue “spreading the Dutch Luv” [sic].

25. JOINT DECLARATION ENDING COLD WAR

On February 1, U.S. President George H.W. Bush met with Russian President Boris Yeltsin at Camp David. The two issued a join declaration formally ending the Cold War, and declaring a new era of “friendship and partnership” between the two nations.

At the announcement, Yeltsin said, in part:

“Today one might say that there has been written and drawn a new line, and crossed out all of the things that have been associated with the Cold War.

From now on we do not consider ourselves to be potential enemies, as it had been previously in our military doctrine. This is the historic value of this meeting. And another very important factor in our relationship, right away today, it’s already been pointed out that in the future there’ll be full frankness, full openness, full honesty in our relationship.”

The Joint Declaration promised all sorts of great stuff, including reducing strategic arsenals, promoting free trade, and promoting “respect for human rights.” You can read the whole declaration for a taste of what the future looked like in 1992.


January 3, 2017 – 8:00am

Still Celebrating 20″17″

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Monday, January 2, 2017 – 08:54

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Grave Sightings: William Randolph Hearst

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Stacy Conradt

When Charles Foster Kane died in Orson Welles’s 1941 film Citizen Kane, complete with a snow globe tumbling out of his hand and shattering on the floor, he uttered what is arguably the most famous line in the history of cinema: “Rosebud.”

Kane, of course, was infamously based on newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst—though Welles denied the connection, saying, “It is not based upon the life of Mr. Hearst or anyone else. On the other hand, had Mr. Hearst and similar financial barons not lived during the period we discuss, Citizen Kane could not have been made.”

Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Nice lip service—but Hearst didn’t buy it for a second, and Welles didn’t do much to dispel the rumor when he came face-to-face with Hearst himself. On Citizen Kane’s opening night, Welles was in an elevator in San Francisco when, by incredible happenstance, William Randolph Hearst walked in. Welles invited him to the premiere, but Hearst refused to acknowledge the invitation. When Hearst exited the elevator, Welles said, “Charles Foster Kane would have accepted.”

He may not have felt particularly chatty that day, but Hearst certainly let his feelings be known. He had his journalists, his critics, his gossip columnists, and probably even his typesetters spread vitriol about Welles’s character and personal life, calling him out for communism and questioning his patriotism. Hearst managed to get the movie blocked from most theaters by getting bigger studios to book them. And, of course, none of Hearst’s vast media holdings would advertise or even mention the movie. When it was unavoidable, they referred to it only as a “new screen attraction.”

Stacy Conradt

But now, 75 years after the release of the movie, it seems Orson Welles has had the last laugh. Though it may have bombed at the box office, today, Citizen Kane is widely regarded as the best movie of all time. However, Hearst’s reputation hasn’t aged so well—fair or not, he’s mostly known today as “the mythical bogeyman of American journalism.”

After being in poor health for a few years, Hearst died of a heart attack on August 14, 1951, and was buried in the Hearst family mausoleum at Cypress Lawn in Colma, California. Were his last words as famous as Charles Foster Kane’s utterance of “Rosebud”? It doesn’t seem so—there’s no record of them.

Peruse all the entries in our Grave Sightings series here.


January 3, 2017 – 6:30am

Morning Cup of Links: The Chinese Star-Crossed Lovers

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Tsukioka Yoshitoshi via Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

The Tragic Romance of China’s Romeo and Juliet. The heartbreakingly romantic story The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd still inspires lovers.
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Cold War Secret: Project Horizon. The 1959 proposal to put a nuclear military base on the moon.
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An Alternate History of DNA. If any one scientist hadn’t make a breakthrough, everything after would have been different.
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Finland just launched an experiment giving 2,000 people free money until 2019. The basic income program will show how $590 a month can help the unemployed get back to work.
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Watch South Korea’s giant Titanfall robot come to life. It’s Optimus Prime with a man in his chest.
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The History of Islam’s Golden Age, part one, part two, and part three. For a time, they were the leaders in science, technology, and medicine.
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The pirated Chinese translation of Revenge of the Sith now has spoken dialogue to match the English subtitles. Enjoy the video version of classic Backstroke of the West. Contains NSFW language.   
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How 12 Famous Rappers Picked Their Names. One came from an internet name generator!


January 3, 2017 – 5:00am

NASA Dropped a Mixtape to Recap 2016’s Biggest Space Achievements

filed under: NASA, science, space
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To catch you up on the biggest space discoveries, observations, and milestones from 2016, NASA has compiled a “Best Of” mixtape of all the biggest achievements from the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

This mixtape looks at some of the year’s most notable stories, both here on Earth and out in space, such as the OSIRIS-REx launch and the discovery that the observable universe contains 10 times more galaxies than we had initially thought. If you crave even more knowledge than NASA’s mixtape offers, the agency also has an expansive look back at 2016 on its website, going much more in-depth on subjects like possible water plumes on Europa and the dramatic shifts in Earth’s weather.

With all of the articles, videos, and eye-popping images to check out, NASA’s year in review should be more than enough to catch you up on 2016. It also sets the groundwork for more discoveries to come in 2017.

[h/t: Gizmodo]


January 3, 2017 – 3:00am

Facebook Censors Image of Nude Neptune Statue

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No one is immune to Facebook’s strict censorship guidelines—not even a god. Writer Elisa Barbari found that out recently when the social media giant took down an image she posted of a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, according to The Telegraph.

The statue, which has been in place since the 1560s, stands high above the Fountain of Neptune (or Fontana di Nettuno), located in the Piazza del Nettuno in Bologna, Italy. Barbari posted an image of the statue on her Facebook page, which is dedicated to “Stories, curiosities and views of Bologna.” Apparently, though, the nude god crosses the boundaries of good taste for the social media site, so they removed the image, explaining to Barbari:

“The use of the image was not approved because it violates Facebook’s guidelines on advertising.

It presents an image with content that is explicitly sexual and which shows to an excessive degree the body, concentrating unnecessarily on body parts.

The use of images or video of nude bodies or plunging necklines is not allowed, even if the use is for artistic or educational reasons.”

Barbari has now turned her Facebook page into a protest of sorts, with more modest images of Neptune reading “Si Nettuno, no censura” or “Yes to Neptune, no to censorship.” In a comment on that same image, Barbari finished her plea by saying, “How can a work of art, our Neptune, be the subject of censorship?”

This is far from the first time Facebook has censored a seemingly innocuous piece of art. Just a year ago, the site removed a post by a Danish politician because the image featured a nude statue of the Little Mermaid, an iconic part of the Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen.

[h/t: The Telegraph]


January 3, 2017 – 1:00am

11 Easy Hacks to Make Your Living Space Smarter

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Your home should be a place of comfort and ease. Yet between space constraints and the absurd pace of modern life, our living spaces can get a little chaotic. Here are 11 ways to make the most of what you’ve got.

1. GO DARK.

Studies have shown that both natural and artificial light can interfere with our ability to fall and stay asleep. Most curtains filter the glare but don’t prevent it. Invest in a set of light-blocking curtains and get ready for some seriously satisfying snoozing.

2. STOP VACUUMING.

You have better things to do than pushing around a noisy, heavy beast. Today’s robotic vacuums are easy to program, fun to watch, and are serious time-savers.

3. GET VERTICAL.

You’ve got so much more room than you realize; all you have to do is change your orientation. Clear space on your kitchen counter by installing magnetic strips on the wall for your knives. And hanging organizers, the kind you generally store in your closet, can sort more than just shoes—think dry goods, kids’ toys, or tools.

4. MAXIMIZE YOUR WI-FI.

The placement of your router has a huge effect on the strength and success of your wireless internet. Routers are sensitive to all kinds of surfaces, including glass and brick, so the best spot is often in an open area at the center of the house, as high off the ground as possible.

5. MIRRORS, MIRRORS.

Not only will mirrors create the illusion of a larger space, but they also scatter light, instantly (and cheaply) ramping up the brightness in a room.

6. THINK BOTANICAL.

Houseplants make incredible roommates. They clean and oxygenate the air, act as humidifiers, decrease stress levels, require little attention, and make fantastic accent pieces. Not sure where to start? Try an easy-care variety like a spider plant.

7. STOP LOSING YOUR KEYS.

You know that three-minute period before you leave the house, when you walk around muttering, “where did I put my keys”? Nip that in the bud by designating a hook, bowl, or basket for keys, headphones, transit passes, and other last-minute, out-the-door grabs. You could also attach a smart tag to your keys, which will allow you to hunt them down using your smartphone—provided you haven’t lost that as well.

8. MOOCH OFF THE SUN.

Sunlight is powerful energy and it doesn’t cost you a thing. Find the sunniest spot in your house and set up a few solar USB chargers, then feel smug as you power up all your devices for free.

9. EXPECT MORE FROM YOUR FURNITURE.

Double-duty pieces are where it’s at, especially in cramped conditions. Look for expandable tables, ottomans that moonlight as storage bins, and armchairs that fold out for overnight guests.

10. GET SMART (BULBS).

Smart lighting setups save both energy and hassle. You can program your lights to work on timers, change color temperature to soothe yourself to sleep, or even shut off the bathroom light once you’ve gotten into bed. And who doesn’t want that?

11. TREAT YOURSELF TO A WARM WELCOME.

Sometimes all it takes is a little homey touch to soothe the stress away. What’s the first thing you see when you walk in the door? If it’s a wall, try hanging your favorite poster or work of art. A hallway? Add a comfy rug, a strand of soft lights, or a brightly colored garland. Make your house someplace you want to come home to.

Smart spaces are all about efficiency. Maximize your time with a robotic vacuum from Neato Robotics. Neato’s family of Wi-Fi enabled, smartphone-connected robot vacuums let you clean your home—even when you’re busy doing something else. Visit Neato Robotics to learn more.


January 3, 2017 – 12:00am

Get Weird With These 13 Unusual Liquors

Image credit: 
iStock / Firebox, Anty Gin, Alaska Distillery

Looking for a change of pace when knocking back drinks? Here are some interesting options to mix up your liquor cabinet.

1. PHOENIX TEARS SPICED RUM

Like a noble phoenix rises from the ashes to live again, you too can rise from a hangover and imbibe. This 80-proof rum from Firebox is the perfect addition to any fiery cocktail. This Caribbean rum has a sweet and spicy flavor with a shimmery appearance. Unfortunately, just like Hogwarts, only citizens of the UK can partake.

2. UNICORN TEARS GIN LIQUEUR

This 80-proof gin liqueur claims to be made with real unicorn tears that were harvested right from the animals’ eyes (but not really; sorry fairytale villains). Each bottle is almost 17 ounces and contains a shimmery concoction that tastes like oranges, juniper berries, coriander, and liquorice. Sadly, if you want to taste unicorn tears, you’ll have to take a trip to the UK.

3. COOKIES AND CREAM WHISKEY

You can get whiskey that tastes like honey or cinnamon, but did you know you can get even wackier flavors? Booze lovers who also have a sweet tooth will be pleased to discover they can get their hands on some cookies and cream-flavored whiskey. Ole Smoky mixed 35-proof whiskey with cookies and cream liqueur to create a concoction that’s delicious whether you’re drinking it on the rocks or enjoying it on top of ice cream.

4. SESAME AND POPCORN DAIQUIRI

Popcorn-flavored jelly beans are a source of contention for a lot of people, so this sesame and popcorn daiquiri—which you can pour directly into your glass, no mixing needed—is sure to be a controversial cocktail at any party. The nearly 17-ounce bottle is sealed with blue wax that smells like the salty booze inside. As long as you live in the UK, you can pick up a bottle to start arguments at your next shindig.

5. CINNAMON CHURRO VODKA

Enjoy this street cart dessert in liquid form with the help of Smirnoff. The triple-distilled vodka has 30 percent ABV and works well in creamy, sweet cocktails.

6. PURE MILK VODKA

Yes, you’re reading that right: pure milk vodka. Black Cow, a company in West Dorset, England, takes milk from grass-fed cows and turns it into booze. The company ferments the whey created by making cheese into a milk beer, which is then distilled, blended, and filtered. The resulting vodka—which is only available to UK residents—is sweet with hints of vanilla and cinnamon.

7. QUINOA VODKA

This booze is the first and only vodka made with quinoa, according to FAIR, the company that makes it. It’s the result of a partnership between French distillers and Andean farmers; the quinoa is grown in volcanic soils on the Altiplano plateau in the Andean mountains. The Beverage Tasting Institute rated the vodka superlative, saying it has “Very neutral aromas and flavors [that] suggest cream, cake, and minerals with a very soft, dryish light-to-medium body and a exquisitely smooth custard, dried fruit, and limestone accented finish. A superbly silky, elegant, and delicious vodka that is fantastic on its own and will be perfect in cocktails.” As an added bonus, the booze is fair trade certified.

8. ELECTRICITY VODKA

Oddka is a vodka brand dedicated to weird flavors like fresh cut grass and apple pie—and they’ve also created “Electricity Vodka,” an attempt to capture what a lightning bolt tastes like. The site promises a “shockingly good tongue-tickling shot”; one reviewer at Influenster described the booze as “a little sweet, a little fizzy,” while a writer at Gizmodo UK said it tasted “like licking steel wool.”

9. SMOKED SALMON VODKA

Is there anything more Alaskan than salmon-flavored vodka? This booze is made with actual smoked salmon and distilled with glacier water. It can be enjoyed on the rocks or mixed into a Bloody Mary.

10. SRIRACHA VODKA

Resist the urge to pour hot sauce right into your glass and buy this spicy vodka from UV. The hot, 60-proof alcohol is inspired by the cult favorite condiment Sriracha and even has a similar bottle design. Like the salmon vodka, this liquor is meant to go in a Bloody Mary; it can also be mixed with raspberry schnapps and cranberry juice.

11. PICKLE VODKA

Chilled Dills pickle-flavored vodka is very high tech: The vodka is distilled six times before flavor infusion even begins—and the infusion process incorporates ultrasonic waves that, according to the website, “create chemical compounds that we can then filter out. The result is a cleaner, more pure spirit than can be created with traditional distilling practices.” The booze is great for Bloody Marys, mojitos, and other brunchy cocktails.

12. BREAKFAST CORDIAL

This sweet collection is composed of three cordials: blueberry pancake, maple bacon, and glazed donut. The maple bacon flavor apparently matches the taste of the meat pretty well, but the blueberry pancake (imitation) liqueur is, according to Serious Eats, “sweet to the point where I’m pretty sure I felt my pancreas shutting down.”

13. ANTY GIN

Red wood ants produce a compound called formic acid, a reactive compound in alcohol. By making gin with these ants (each bottle contains the essence of around 62 ants), the Nordic Food Lab and the Cambridge Distillery were able to make a booze that has a distinct lemon lime flavor with a hint of lemongrass. Other notes include wood avens, nettles, alexander seeds, and juniper. The current batch is sold out, but keep your eye on their website to snag a bottle next time.


January 2, 2017 – 6:00pm

How Many Electoral Votes Did George Washington Have?

Image credit: 

By Gilbert Stuartlink, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

How many electoral votes did President George Washington have?

William Murphy:

Washington won 69 out of 69 available electoral votes in 1788, and 132 out of 132 in 1792. These are the only unanimous electoral college wins in history.

A few things to be aware of:

1. In the 1788 election (which actually extended into 1789) there were two states (North Carolina and Rhode Island) which had not yet ratified the Constitution and therefore were ineligible to cast any votes at all.

2. There was virtually no popular vote at all. The Constitution left it up to the states to determine how to select their electors. Most states at this stage did so by allowing the state legislatures to directly appoint the electors, who then were free to vote however they wanted. In 1788, the New York state legislature deadlocked in the choice of electors, and therefore did not cast an electoral vote in the election. Some states did allow a popular vote to choose a few of the individual electors in the state, with the rest chosen by the legislature. Overall about 1.8 percent of the population voted in the election; about 43,000 votes in total (out of a population of around 3 million). This was partly because many states did not use a popular vote at all, and partly because in those that did, only white males over 21 who owned substantial property were allowed to vote.

3. In those days, the vice president was the candidate who received the second-most electoral votes (this would change as a result of the 12th Amendment in 1803). To ensure that someone was likely to receive a majority of the vote, the electors each cast two votes, but both were votes for President. The idea was that the second-place finisher in the presidential vote would become vice president. This would be true in the elections of 1788, 1792, 1796 and 1800. The 12th Amendment would change the system so that electors cast separate ballots for president and vice president. Washington was elected unanimously because all 69 electors who voted in 1788 voted for him on their first ballot. They divided their votes on the second ballot among 11 different candidates. John Adams received 34 votes, the second most after Washington, and became the first vice president. So Washington was elected unanimously, but his vice president was not.

At this stage, we were still very much figuring this whole thing out, and procedures would change a lot after the deadlocked election of 1800 had to be decided by the House of Representatives (leading to, among other things, the 12th Amendment). Most states would continue to appoint some or all of their electors via the legislature until the 1820s, with one or two (notably, South Carolina) holding out until the 1850s before adopting a popular vote.

This post originally appeared on Quora. Click here to view.


January 2, 2017 – 3:00pm

8 Awesome Facts About the Catskills

Image credit: 

Oliver Rich via Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

The concrete jungle may be sprinkled with man-made parks and tree-lined streets, but the great outdoors? Not so much. Enter the Catskills, a mountainous region two hours north of Manhattan that boasts more than 6000 square miles of pristine, untouched nature. It’s the backdrop to Dirty Dancing, the nap site for Rip Van Winkle, and where more than 35 peaks rise above 3500 feet. As ski season kicks into high gear, we’ve compiled eight things you need to know about New York’s natural gem.

1. THERE ARE A LOT OF ANIMALS.

The Catskills are home to black bears, cougars, bobcats, coyotes, porcupines and (shudder) a variety of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. Black bears can be found on nearly every mountain in the Catskills region, which has the highest black bear population in New York State. Cougars and bobcats have been spotted much less frequently.

And the snakes? Well, they’re just about everywhere. The majority of poisonous snakes are found in Ulster County, and there’s a particularly large population at the summit of Overlook Mountain.

2. IT HAS NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST ZIP LINE …

Located at Hunter Mountain, New York Zipline has the largest zip line canopy tour in North America. Their zip lines reach up to 650 feet long and 60 feet above the forest floor, and visitors can even enjoy a night zipping under the stars with their moonlight tours.

3. … AND THE WORLD’S LARGEST KALEIDOSCOPE.

The brainchild of ’60s psychedelic artist Isaac Abrams and his son Raphael, a digital artist, the 60-foot-tall Kaatskill Kaleidoscope is the world’s largest, walk-through kaleidoscope. More than 20 people can fit inside the kaleidoscope—a former grain silo—for an energetic show of colors, music, and trippy images. As it goes with roadside stops, there are plenty of mini kaleidoscope souvenirs on your way out.

4. RIP VAN WINKLE SLEPT IT OFF HERE.

Washington Irving’s iconic story of Rip Van Winkle took place in the Catskills region. In the story, Van Winkle lived in the village of Catskill, which is where he took his notoriously long nap. Today, the legend of Rip Van Winkle continues to live on in the Catskills, with the Rip Van Winkle Wine and Cheese Festival in May, the Rip Van Winkle Golf Trail, and a statue of the beloved sleeper himself atop Hunter Mountain.

5. THE CATSKILL 3500 CLUB REQUIRES HIGH-PEAK CREDENTIALS.

The Catskills region has the perfect challenge for outdoor adventurers: the Catskill 3500 Club. Membership comes at a strenuous price—you have to climb all 35 of the Catskills’ peaks above 3500 feet—but the soreness and struggle come with some pretty immaculate views (and bragging rights).

6. MOUNTAIN STONE WAS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BIG APPLE ICONS.

While the Catskills are 100-some miles from New York City, they’re a foundational part of some of the Big Apple’s most iconic landmarks. Bluestone, an extremely hard, durable, fine-grained sandstone, is found throughout the region and was used in the construction of the Empire State Building and the base of the Statue of Liberty.

7. NOBODY PUT BABY IN A CORNER IN THE CATSKILLS. (THINK FURTHER SOUTH.)

When it comes to stellar entertainment, the Catskills—a.k.a. the Borscht Belt—had a storied history for many decades before Dirty Dancing, released in 1987 and set in 1963, revived its reputation. But it turns out that infamous summer at Kellerman’s didn’t happen in the Catskills at all. The actual movie shoot took place more than 500 miles south, in Pembroke, Virginia. Nonetheless, the movie helped elevate the profile of this beautiful region once again.

8. IT’S HOME TO A VARIETY OF BREWERIES, WINERIES, AND DISTILLERIES.

It’s easy to imbibe in the Catskills with breweries like the Catskill Brewery, wineries like Windham Vineyards, and spirits crafters Catskill Distilling Company, which is located right across from the farm where the infamous 1969 Woodstock music festival was held (in Bethel, not Woodstock, despite the name). The Catskills get extra hoppy in April when the annual TAP NY beer fest—the largest craft beer festival in New York—takes place at Hunter Mountain.


January 2, 2017 – 2:00pm