A man from New Zealand memorized every french word in the french scrabble dictionary and won the French Scrabble Championship. He still doesn’t speak any french.
Hitler privately expressed great…
Hitler privately expressed great admiration for Mussolini; however, Mussolini had little regard for Hitler. Mussolini said that the Germans were the descendants of those who were illiterate when Rome had Caesar, Virgil, and Augustus.
Donor Blood Was Found to Contain Xanax, Caffeine, and Cough Medicine
A quick note: receiving any of these things through a blood transfusion wouldn’t be problematic for most people, so it shouldn’t put you off receiving or giving blood.
That said, the results of this Oregon State University study does offer some pretty interesting insights into what’s keeping many people in our country on their feet.
Researchers sifted through 18 batches of scanned human blood and, using a mass spectrometer, learned the samples were laced with all kinds of drugs.
In fact, every single one of the samples contained caffeine.
Many of the others contained Xanax, over-the-counter cough medicine, or a medication for type 2 diabetes – and though the sample size is small, the director of the Oregon State study speculates it could be indicative of a widespread trend.
“We can only speculate on how widespread the problem is. Another thing to consider if that we found drugs that we just happened to be looking for in doing the drug interaction assay validation – how many others are in there too that we weren’t looking for?”
Still, they stress that the contamination wouldn’t be an issue for the majority of people in need of donor blood.
#donateblood #nhsblooddonation #savealife #christmas“From a ‘contamination’ standpoint, caffeine is not a big worry for patients, though it may be a commentary on current society,” explains Luying Chen, a PhD student who was part of the group. “But the other drugs being in there could be an issue for patients, as well as posing a problem for those of us doing this type of research because it’s hard to get clean blood samples.”
So coffee drinkers: you should continue to give blood when and where you can – even if you’ve just chugged a venti coffee on your way there.
It’s a good deed, and no one wants you to fall asleep at the wheel on the way there.
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6 Fast Facts About Actor James Stewart
Even though most people nowadays probably know actor James “Jimmy” Stewart because of his leading role as George Bailey in the much-beloved Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life, the truth is that he was incredibly prolific in his day.
He played cowboys opposite Henry Ford, he was one of Hitchcock’s top choices – starring in movies like Rear Window and The Man Who Knew Too Much – and he even did a comedy or two (one of my all-time favorite movies, The Philadelphia Story, is a must see).
Stewart was also a veteran and someone who eschewed the harsh light of Hollywood whenever possible.
So, let’s take a look at these 6 other tidbits that might be new information for you!
6. He hated the colorization of It’s a Wonderful Life as much as everyone else.
Stewart wrote a letter to Congress in 1987 protesting that colorizing originally black and white films violated the creative vision of directors like Frank Capra, who never would have employed “the kind of obvious visual pun” of dressing Violet Bick in violet costumes.
He described the tinted versions as “a bath of Easter egg dye” and also lobbied against the practice in person.
5. He had a degree in architecture.
Stewart grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania. His father owned a hardware store, and Stewart displayed artistic talent all through school – his interest in music helped him get accepted into Princeton, his father’s alma mater.
Stewart received a degree in architecture in 1932, but with the Great Depression in full swing, Stewart followed his interests into acting, joining a Massachusetts theater group (where he roomed with Henry Fonda).
He did a few short runs on Broadway before landing his first feature film, The Murder Man, which was released in 1935.
4. He published a book of poetry.
He authored Jimmy Stewart and His Poems in 1989, a small volume that contains not only poems, but anecdotes about how each was composed.
3. He was passionate about serving in WWII.
Stewart received a draft notice in 1940, and upon learning that he was five pounds under the minimum weight for enlistment, ate everything in sight until he qualified. He joined the Army Air Corps (later the Air Force), where he was a great asset, as he already had a pilot’s license.
The Air Corps tried to sideline him, keeping him stateside because of his high profile, but Stewart insisted on being sent into the action. In November, 1943, he was sent to England and flew over 20 combat missions over Germany.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Oak Leaf clusters, making him the most decorated actor to participate in the war.
2. There’s a statue of him in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
His hometown unveiled the piece of art in 1983, for Jimmy’s 75th birthday.
1. He wasn’t sure what to do with his Oscar.
He won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in The Philadelphia Story (I told you!) in 1940. Afterwards, his father asked “I hear you won some kind of award. What was it, a plaque or something?” Stewart took his suggestion and displayed it at his father’s hardware store in PA.
It stayed in the same spot for 25 years.
If you have time, working your way through his catalogue is a great way to spend it (don’t miss Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance!).
What’s your favorite Stewart movie? We’d love to share our favs in the comments!
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This Fun Illustrated Periodic Table Shows How We Interact with the Elements
Most of us had to memorize the periodic table in school (or at least I did). But did our ability to recite the elements really help us understand how each functions in our day-to-day lives?
No, not really. I mean, who knows what boron is used for?
Well, now there’s a chart for that.
Photo Credit: Keith Enevoldsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
This very cool and colorful graphic gives you a picture reference for each element that demonstrates how you might see it in your day-to-day surroundings. The atomic numbers of the elements and their material states are also noted.
Boeing software engineer Keith Enevoldsen is the genius behind The Periodic Table of Elements, in Pictures and Words. It’s meant to help students visualize the elements, which can assist with the tedious task of memorizing the chart.
But adults are sure to find this information fascinating too.
Photo Credit: Keith Enevoldsen, CC BY-SA 4.0
So boron is in sports equipment. Who knew?
Imagine being able to tell people at the bar that they’re being exposed to tantalum as they are checking their Snapchats on their cell phones. Most of us know what arsenic is, represented by a jar of poison. But what about finding gallium in LEDs? Or, krypton in flashlights?
Who knows that besides science people?
If you like it, the chart is available to buy as a poster, so you can grab one for yourself. And if you know a student or have an element-loving person in your life, a poster or the corresponding flashcards would make a great gift.
Or, at least a helpful gift.
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7 Funny, Useful Products That Will Make Very Memorable White Elephant Gifts
(Quick note: This is a sponsored post. That means somebody paid us to write it. They didn’t tell us what to write or how to write it, and we’re always dedicated to providing accurate, quality information. Click here to learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners.)
We’ve all been there. You’ve been invited to a White Elephant gift exchange… and you just don’t have any clue what to get. And then 99 times out of 100 you’ll go shopping at the VERY last minute, stress yourself out and, let’s be honest, get something that nobody wants.
Well we’re here to save your lazy ass once again with 7 surefire gifts that will be the stars of any White Elephant gift exchange. Seriously, people will be fighting over these.
Let’s get to it!
#1. Sipski Wine Holder
Kick back and relax at the end of a long day by taking your wine in the tub or the shower with this handy wine glass holder that doesn’t require ANY suction cups, adhesives or wall mounts!
Plus, it won’t leave any residue behind, which is actually a huge nuisance if you’ve ever used other products.
The Sudski features patented silicone technology that grips securely to glossy surfaces like shiny tiles, marble and much more.
Pick one up at DrinkInTheShower.com.
#2. Face Planter
Have you ever looked at a Chia Pet and thought, “I wish I had a plant with a face, but not THAT plant and not THAT face.” Yeah you have!
Introducing Face Plant. It’s a planter… with a face on it! That you can customize!
And it’s a great place to set your glasses or sunglasses.
#3. Sudski Shower Beer Holder
What costs just $15 and can hold you shower beer securely so there’s no spillage?
Oh, you’re gonna thank us for this one!
What you’re looking at is the Sudski Shower Beer Holder, a fun new way to enjoy those delish drinks while you’re scrubbing away that downtown dirt.
Yes, as long as it’s canned, the Sudski can hold them all.
AND… it comes in a variety of colors including Camo and Americana!
#4. Cat Bods
Have a kitty? Know somebody with a naughty pussy in their lives? Then we’ve got the gift for you!
Basically, this interactive cardboard box gives your cat 4 different cuts outs to stick their dumb head through so you can take photos and make fun of them on social media!
So whether you love cats or absolutely hate them, this one is for you!
#5. Prank Packs
Want to make somebody think they’re getting something completely ridiculous, but still give them what they want? Yeah, we’ve got a Prank Pack for that.
Just look at this guy! He thinks he’s getting a fire starting kit.
Nope! Just a pair of (probably) shitty gloves!
OMG, this big dummy just got pranked hard and he LOVES IT!
There are over 40 of these to choose from over on the Prank-O site, so click here to grab one now!
#6. When Nature Calls 2020 Calendar
This one is pretty simple. Beautiful landscapes with a lone dog taking a massive, squishy dump in them.
Absolutely fucking majestic!
Yeah, these are hilarious.
#7. Prank Postcards
The twisted minds that thought up Awkward Family Photos is behind this one and, well, I’ll let the postcards speak for themselves…
Also, Meet Elaine! And get your car serviced.
But not really. Because it’s a JOKE!
They’re sure to confuse your relatives like your judgey AF Aunt Karen here. But everybody else will laugh. Because Karen fucking sucks.
Pick up a pack of 35 prank postcards here.
Alright, are you ready for all those White Elephant parties now? Yeah you are!
Which one of these would you grab? Let us know in the comments!
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Girls Won the Five Top Prizes in National STEM Contest for Middle Schoolers
As people say, “The future is female.” And that trend was certainly on display recently at the 2019 Broadcom MASTERS competition. The competition, “Math, Applied Science, Technology, and Engineering for Rising Stars,” highlights very bright middle-schoolers and is run by the Society for Science & the Public.
This year, girls won all of the top five prizes awarded at the competition in Washington, D.C. What makes it even more extraordinary is that the five winners were out of a total pool of 2,348 applicants from 47 states. A total of 18 boys and 12 girls were then brought to D.C. to take part in the competition.
Girls sweep all five top awards at national STEM contest for middle schoolers. https://t.co/CKq0fWktnI
— ABC News (@ABC) November 12, 2019
While in D.C., the middle-schoolers were given STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) projects to work on in teams. The youngsters were judged on leadership, teamwork, problem solving, and communication. The last 20% of their score was based on the science projects that the kids had applied to the competition with. The panel of judges included engineers, scientists, and educators.
Guess what?! For the first time ever, every single winner at #BroadcomMASTERSCompetition was a girl!#GirlPower
Check out the award-winning science projects
: https://t.co/RixRxQGZTK
— XQ (@XQAmerica) December 2, 2019
The five winners were:
The Samueli Foundation Prize: $25,000
Alaina Gassler, Improving Automobile Safety by Removing Blindspots
Lemelson Award for Invention: $10,000
Rachel Bergey, Spotted Lanternflies: Stick’em or Trick’em
Marconi/Samueli Award for Innovation: $10,000
Sidor Clare, Bound and Bricked
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Advancement: $10,000
Alexis MacAvoy, Designing Efficient, Low-Cost, Eco-Friendly Activated Carbon for Removal of Heavy Metals from Water
STEM Talent Award, sponsored by DoD STEM: $10,000
Lauren Ejiaga, Ozone Depletion: How it Affects Us
Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public, said,”We are just so thrilled that the top five winners were girls this year. This is the first time in our history that it was a sweep for girls. It’s also the first time in our history that we had more girl finalists than boy finalists.”
Way to go ladies! Keep your eye on these kids, because they’re going places.
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This Is Why Your Dog Randomly Puts Their Paw on You
It’s cute when dogs randomly put their paws on you — and apparently, it’s not as random as it might seem.
Dog behaviorist Rebecca Forrest wrote about the topic at The Dog Clinic. She says that dogs are actually trying to communicate with you when they lay their paws on you. They can’t speak, so a little paw language will have to do!
The message could be one of several things. First, it could be a simple request for attention.
Photo Credit: iStock
Putting a paw on you is a relatively polite, subtle way to say: “Hi, remember me? I’m here.” It’s way less annoying than barking or whining, that’s for sure! Dogs were bred to interact with humans, so they inherently love human attention.
They may just paw at you because they know it’ll get them some pets and affection back. Or, they might put their paw on you to reciprocate the love once you’re already petting them.
Similarly, your dog might be trying to signal to you that he’s feeling stressed and needs some reassurance. If there are other signs of stress, such as yawning or flat ears, this may be the case. Rather than comfort your dog, try distracting him instead.
Photo Credit: iStock
There could also be a more specific need, such as food. Is it your dog’s regular meal time when he paws you? If so, he may be giving you a little reminder.
Either way, the pawing is definitely not intended to dominate, provoke, or irritate — so go easy on your dog if he paws at you a little too often! If it gets to be too much, the best tactic is to ignore him.
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This Is Why Most Product Prices End in .99
You may notice that the price of nearly every product ends in a familiar number. Strangely, no matter if you’re looking at an expensive flat-screen TV or a can of tuna, the price tag almost always ends in .99.
If you are OCD like me, it can be incredibly irksome. After all, wouldn’t an even number like $5 be a lot more satisfying than $4.99?
Well, the secret behind this pricing strategy is actually pretty simple. It all comes down to one basic concept: psychology.
According to Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with DealNews.com, since we read from left to right, we pay less attention to the end of a number than we do the beginning. And let’s face it, if you’re quickly scanning a shelf for a bag of chips, the $4.99 bag does have more appeal than the $5 one, despite the minuscule difference.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Psychological pricing can have a major effect on purchasing decisions, especially when shoppers are faced with multiple choices in the same category.
“Consumers don’t want to transcend a certain category, so even a penny less may make a huge psychological difference,” explained Subimal Chatterjee, Distinguished Teaching Professor of Marketing at Binghamton University School of Management.
From a business perspective, retailers can capitalize on the psychological pricing concept when it comes down to a change in the number of digits. For example, a product listed for $99.99 technically falls under the three-digit range even though it is essentially $100. Instead of losing a customer because of the three-digit price, a retailer can maximize profit by pricing a product at the top end of the lower range.
Prices often end in .99 ($4.99! $19.99!) & this paper shows why. When a price ends in .99 it seems 17 cents cheaper than it actually costs. Retailers lose 2% of profits by not using this trick more, because they think people are less gullible as they are! https://t.co/Gi3GT7ttuQ pic.twitter.com/THHIJyZr1q
— Ethan Mollick (@emollick) December 17, 2018
Author Mary Potter Kenyon explained, “We see $9.99 and think of it as priced for nine dollars and some cents, instead of rounding it up to ten dollars. We look at a price tag of $10 and we see it as ten dollars, rather than one penny more than the $9.99 price tag!”
For bargain shoppers, even-numbered prices are often available at places like thrift stores, mom-and-pop shops and farmers markets, but this has more to do with the nature of their inventory and the lack of pre-determined prices. No matter where you shop, make sure to consider the full price tag – don’t make the middle-school mistake of rounding to the first digit.
Your wallet will thank you later.
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A Woman Was Stung by a Scorpion on a United Airlines Flight
Oh great, can’t wait to fly during the holidays!
A woman was stung “multiple times” by a scorpion while on a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Atlanta. The passenger felt a stinging sensation on her leg during the flight, and when she went to the toilet, a frickin’ scorpion fell out of her pants and crawled away.
Horrifying, we know.
The woman spoke to TMZ about her experience, and even shared a photo of the creature. Her name has not been released.
Woman stung "multiple times" by a scorpion on a United Airlines flight https://t.co/80GTJGIl1a
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 8, 2019
United Airlines said in a statement to USA Today that the plane crew “responded immediately” to the incident.
“After learning that one of our customers on flight 1554 from San Francisco to Atlanta was stung during flight, our crew responded immediately and consulted with a MedLink physician on the ground who provided medical guidance,” the airline said.
“The customer was transported to a local hospital. We have been in contact with our customer to ensure her well-being.”
While it’s great that the passenger is okay, the airline didn’t explain how the hell a scorpion got onto the flight in the first place.
Photo Credit: iStock
Even more horrifyingly, this isn’t the first time that this has happened on a United Airlines flight. A scorpion also stung a man on yet another flight with the same airline in 2017 (was someone on both of those flights? Is there a person bringing scorpions with them when they fly and just letting them go???)
A second airline, EasyJet, had to delay a flight after a scorpion was found onboard in 2017.
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