Author: Miss Cellania

The Strange History of the Die Hard Movies. No one knew there would eventually be five films, and each one has a production story.
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A single father sought tips from a cosmetology school on how to style his daughter’s hair. A couple of years later, he is a hair artist, and his daughter has many Christmas styles to show off.
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Dramatizing Transience: How TV Reflects Our Shifting Concept of “Home.” We are no longer tethered to a place, or a time slot, or a network.
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AfterShock: Year One in the Life of a Comic Book Startup. A publishing company founded by writers turns out to be good to writers.
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Spy Satellites Show The Himalayas’ Changing Glaciers. Declassified data gives us forty years to line up and compare.
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What Happened to Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers? There were several pairs made for The Wizard of Oz, and the pair at the Smithsonian are mismatched.
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There’s a huge problem with how we judge rape cases. The concept of “reasonable doubt” leads to acquittals, repeat offenders, and reduced trust in victims.
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Contrary, Lazy, or Subversive (but Funny) Christmas Decorations. When you have some lights, but refuse to be merry.

A gingerbread house can be just a house, or it can be a medium for fantastic creations, from mansions to spaceships. Check out these wildly creative gingerbread sculptures that go beyond just four walls and a roof.

1. FANTASY CASTLE

Christine McConnell constructed this huge gingerbread castle for a Christmas photo spread at Food.com. The entire castle is edible, with the exception of the lights. That means all the structural supports are made of edible materials, and the window glass is just sugar. You can see an album of the castle, its construction, and the intricate details here.

2. HOGWARTS

I made Hogwarts out of Gingerbread!

Redditor louisesiuol and her sister made an amazing gingerbread version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 2013 for a competition, which they obviously won. You can see more pictures of the gingerbread school here.

Also in 2013, Mimicafe Union in New York made a gingerbread version of Hogwarts’s Great Hall for the Bake Christmas Wish Fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. You can check out photographs of that house here.

3. GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT

Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort displays a grand gingerbread house every year, and here’s the 2016 version. Creating the 16-foot-tall house required 800 pounds of flour and over a thousand pounds of honey.

4. FALLINGWATER

This gingerbread replica of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater was an entry in Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay’s Gingerbread House Contest in 2007. Another 2007 version of the same house comes with pictures of the building process, while still another was spotted at a Utah competition in 2010.

5. ST. FRANCIS ENCHANTED CASTLE

The St. Francis Enchanted Castle is one of two castles on display now at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco. The other one is a castle made of sugar—both of which were crafted by Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Francois Houdré and his team.

6. AT-AT

Rachel Klemek at Black Market Bakery is responsible for this awesome gingerbread AT-AT, which is perfectly posed to look like it’s trudging through the snowy planet Hoth from 1980’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The creation was exhibited at the Discovery Science Museum for Christmas 2011.

7. MENGER SPONGE

Here’s a delicious project for a hands-on lesson in geometry! Instructables user fungus amungus built this fractal gingerbread structure in the shape of a Menger sponge. Best of all, the directions are detailed so you can attempt your own version.

8. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

New York pastry chef Mark Tasker built this replica of the Empire State Building with gingerbread for the 2007 Christmas display at the New York Botanical Garden.

9. UP HOUSE

Dave King added Dum-Dums to his gingerbread house to recreate the balloon house from the 2009 Pixar movie Up! He posted pictures at Instructables, but there’s a cautionary tale to learn from King’s piece: Always build your gingerbread house in the location it will be displayed, because moving it can cause a disaster, especially when there are heavy candies attached.

10. ROBOTZILLA GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Instructables member boston09 entered a competition a few years ago with a gingerbread cottage featuring icing icicles and gumdrop shrubbery. One extra detail made this creation stand out: The house is about to be attacked by a giant graham cracker robot!

11. THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE

Pam Sheridan won a gingerbread house contest in 1990 with this replica of the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. As of 2013, the durable confection was still on display.

12. EWOK VILLAGE

Star wars gingerbread preview pic.twitter.com/szcoHdJd

— Darcy Yums (@theinfiniteyums) November 29, 2011

On the forest moon of Endor, under a canopy of trees, lies a village made of chocolate, breakfast cereal, and gingerbread! Darcy Yums constructed an entire Ewok village to display at a Christmas charity fundraiser. You can see pictures of the building process and the finished product at The Infinite Yums.

13. GINGERPRISE II

USS Gingerprise https://t.co/IAN0dkLxl5 #StarTrek pic.twitter.com/xQu6Lw2sS9

— Trek news and Views (@Treknewsviews) December 15, 2016

Redditor ejustice brings us a highly detailed gingerbread USS Enterprise (dubbed the Gingerprise) that is posed to look like it is crashing through the clouds. The ship got a viral boost when DuckPop edited it into a scene from 1994’s Star Trek Generations. Tastiest. Space disaster. Ever.

14. GRAND AMERICA HOTEL

Pastry chef Xavier Baudinet constructed a 2-foot-tall house of gingerbread and Rice Krispies for the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. It contains 500 pounds of sugar, 800 pounds of royal icing, and 600 pounds of chocolate. Oh, and it’s completely decorated inside with furniture made of chocolate! Check out this video report on the house.

15. FLYNN’S ARCADE

Instructables member GeekFilter built a gingerbread version of the arcade from the 1982 movie Tron for their gingerbread contest in 2010. On the submission page, you’ll see more pictures, including how this science-fiction gingerbread building stacks up against the real building used for the film.

16. DINE-IN GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Great Wolf Lodge has a life-size gingerbread house built every year, at all 13 locations! Every inch is edible, and families can make reservations to eat inside. Unfortunately, you have to order off the real menu instead of just munching on the walls. Reservation fees go to charity, and the gingerbread dining rooms will only be up until January 1.

17. THE WHITE HOUSE

Part of the White House’s extravagant Christmas display is the annual gingerbread replica of the executive mansion. This year’s gingerbread White House was constructed by pastry chef Susie Morrison and her team. It contains 150 pounds of gingerbread and 20 pounds of icing. The State Dining Room also has a display of 56 other gingerbread houses, representing each state and U.S. territory.

Portions of this list were originally published in three posts from 2010 and 2012.

People are just now finding out that reindeer are real. Can you blame them, after that revelation about Santa Claus?
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Was the Star of Bethlehem the Planet Jupiter? Considering what the traveling wise men knew about astrology, the theory makes sense.
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An Honest Performance Of “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” The 1944 song doesn’t hold up well in the 21st century.  
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World-Class Walks. The most beautiful places on earth to take a hike.
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The Mystery of Why Chattanooga Raised Its Downtown by a Level. They had plenty of reasons, we just don’t know much about the decision.  
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The Best Historical Films of 2016. You can’t beat history for a great plot line.
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Genghis Khan: The Father of Globalization? The 13th-century conqueror is considered heroic, not barbaric, in his native Mongolia.
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Vintage Christmas Movies. Holiday films from as far back at 1898 are available through YouTube.

There Are Basically Only Two Types of Bad Bosses, According to Years of Research. Believe me, you’d rather have the incompetent one.
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24 Of The Worst Things Hipsters Did To Food In 2016. I’ll have mine on a plate, please.
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The Best Movie Posters of 2016. Beautiful, intriguing, and possibly better than the film.
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11 Movies & TV Shows That Tried to Be Star Wars. A couple of them were pretty good, but you can’t make lightning strike on command.
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Herding Reindeer Isn’t Just Child’s Play For One Little Girl. It’s a way of life for the nomadic Tsaatan of Mongolia.
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Who Are the Real Caesar, Melba and General Tso? These and other foods were named for real people.
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The dangerous health consequences of pessimism. Grumpy old men, beware.
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Bizarre But Clever Christmas Decorations. Imagination counts more than wattage anytime.

1. MAIL CARRIER SAVES CHRISTMAS

When a mail truck in Wake Forest, North Carolina, caught on fire Tuesday morning, the postal carrier leapt into action and started unloading packages from the back as the flames spread from the engine to the rest of the truck. A passerby ran to help get the packages out. The Wake Forest Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire.

“If it wasn’t for her quick thinking to pull right over and remove the parcels, it could’ve been tough. Somebody did save Christmas. You give all the credit to that postal carrier,” said Wake Forest Fire Department Chief Ed Barrett.

Many of the dozens of packages, most of which were from Amazon, were saved.

In a statement, Amazon said, “We appreciate the efforts of all those involved and are grateful that everyone is safe. We will be donating to the local fire department and thank everyone for their quick efforts on this.”

The postal carrier, who was not identified, suffered no injuries.

2. QR CODES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

A new program is rolling out in Iruma, Japan, to help out the city’s many elderly residents. Senior citizens with dementia can get a small sticker with a QR code attached to a fingernail. The waterproof sticker lasts about two weeks. If a person with a sticker becomes lost, police can scan the code and be connected to a registry with information about the person, who will then be taken home. The service, provided free by a tech company, is another of many innovations to aid the elderly in Japan. The country is expecting 40 percent of its population to be senior citizens by 2060.

3. BUTT-DIAL LEADS TO ARREST

Two men in Danville, Kentucky, were arrested Saturday after one of them accidentally dialed 911. The emergency dispatch operator heard Robert Bourne and David Grigsby discussing places they might rob, including the local restaurant Brothers BBQ. Dispatch called Danville police chief Tony Gray, who just happened to be dining at Brothers BBQ at the time. Meanwhile, emergency services determined that the call was coming from the restaurant’s parking lot. Gray found the two men sitting in their vehicle. They were charged with disorderly conduct and having an open container of alcohol in the car.

4. WARNING ISSUED OVER CAR-LICKING MOOSE

Please be advised of a moose warning for the Chester Lake and Burstall Pass Parking Lots and Area. More info @ https://t.co/iQCKu39cMb pic.twitter.com/ew8qLWmE7N

— Alberta Parks (@Albertaparks) December 13, 2016

The government of Alberta has issued a warning to those visiting Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, west of Calgary, about moose that have been coming to parking lots to lick salt off of cars. People are advised to use their car horns to frighten the moose away, not to push the animal away from their vehicle—and they should never get between a moose and her calf.

5. NEW LONGEST NON-STOP FLIGHT

Qantas airlines has announced a new flight beginning in 2018 that will break the record for the longest commercial non-stop flight in the world. Their new non-stop service between Perth and London will take 17.5 hours to complete the trip. That’s a distance of 8989 miles. While that may sound horrific to frequent flyers, it beats taking multiple flights with layovers for those who need to go from England to Australia.

I guess it’s all better than the travel times of the 1930s. Back in 1938 a trip from London to Brisbane, Australia (the longest on offer at the time) took 11 days and had over two dozen scheduled stops.

Tickets will go on sale in April of 2017, but no price has yet been announced.

6. BANK ROBBER LEFT PLENTY OF EVIDENCE

A man who walked into a bank in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and presented a robbery note to the teller left with several thousand dollars, but police were able to catch up with him. The man had taken a cab to and from the robbery—and he left a bag with his name on it, containing $2700, in the car. He also left behind the sweatshirt he had been wearing, as identified by the teller; his wallet, which contained his ID; and discharge papers from a rehab center, a piece of which had been torn off to write the note he gave to the teller. Police arrested 25-year-old Jamal Goodwin of Philadelphia, who was found with heroin, cocaine, and about $1000 on him.

What do you give a person who has everything? Something good to eat, of course! A homemade treat is always appreciated by friends and family—and chances are you’ll have a good time making them, too.

1. MILK CHOCOLATE BARK CANDY

Once upon a time, you had to use a double boiler to make chocolate bark, but this recipe melts your ingredients in the microwave. The result is Milk Chocolate Bark Candy from Organized Island that looks a lot more complicated than it is. You can vary the toppings according to your tastes and how you want it to look in a gift box.

2. FLAVORED MARSHMALLOWS

It’s very possible that some people on your gift list have no idea that you can actually make your own marshmallows, so they’ll certainly be impressed to receive a box of homemade flavored marshmallows this holiday season. Dannyelle at Life Is a Party has the recipes for Coffee Marshmallows and Bailey’s Chocolate and Vanilla Marshmallows.

3. BRIGADIEROS

Brigadieros are festive Brazilian candies that look perfect in a gift box. Darcie Hunter’s Brigadieros at Gourmet Creative are made of a base of soft caramel. Then you can separate the batch and add different flavors to the portions, like chocolate, coconut, or pumpkin spice, and use several decorating options. Then you’ll have an assortment of attractive candies to pack for each gift.

4. CURRIED LENTIL SOUP MIX

When you give the gift of a homemade soup mix, your friend or loved one can have a meal, partially prepared by you, whenever they please. A jar of Curried Lentil Soup Mix is a matter of layering the ingredients nicely in a jar, and attaching the cooking instructions with a ribbon. You’ll also want to share the full recipe, because they may want to make more.

5. PEPPERMINT HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

Hot cocoa mix is a gift that keeps on giving, and the recipient will think about you every time they make a cup. Just layer up four ingredients nice and pretty, and the recipient can shake it all together themselves. The recipe for Peppermint Hot Chocolate Mix from The Bathonian makes enough for six jars.

6. COOKIE BUTTER

Anyone would love to receive a gift of their favorite cookies in spreadable form. You can use any kind of cookie by following instructions for Homemade Cookie Butter at A Beautiful Mess. Pack it in decorated reusable jars for a personalized and delicious gift.

7. MINT CHOCOLATE PUDDING FUDGE

It’s chocolate fudge, revved up for Christmas! The pudding makes them extra silky, and the peppermints and marshmallows on top make them extra festive. You’ll find the recipe for Mint Chocolate Pudding Fudge at Kraft.

8. CANDIED MAPLE VANILLA PECANS

Pecans by themselves are a wonderful treat. Add sugar and the flavors of maple and vanilla, and they’re worth showing off as a gift to friends and family. The recipe for Candied Maple Vanilla Pecans at Hudson Valley Handy Works is surprisingly quick and easy.

9. PEPPERMINT MERINGUE

Believe it or not, these Peppermint Meringues are only about 15 calories each! Yes, they are made of real sugar, but the largest ingredient is air. The sweet and fluffy treats have even fewer calories when you give them away as gifts. The recipe by Sonja and Alex at A Couple Cooks makes around 45 of them, which should fit in several nice holiday tins.

BONUS: VANILLA EXTRACT

Homemade vanilla extract is possibly the easiest homemade gift you’ll ever make, with only two ingredients needed: vanilla beans and vodka. It takes a couple of months to do it right, so you can file this one away for next year. Lindsay Garza explains how to make Homemade Vanilla Extract at Honest Cooking. Luckily, you’ve got almost a year to find some pretty bottles to put it all in.

Why Rogue One Is Better Than The Force Awakens. It’s an entire story instead of an episode of the saga.
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5 Awesome Behind-the-scenes Facts About Rogue One. Darth Vader really floored the actors, who grew up as Star Wars fans.
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This Is What “American Parties” Look Like Around The World. They nailed it: hot dogs, baseball, and red Solo cups.
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The 10 Best Documentaries of 2016. Look for them on a streaming service near you.
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How a Dire Cook Shortage is Wrecking American Restaurants. A fair shake for workers means more expensive meals to come.  
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The Secret To Harvesting 1 Million Christmas Trees In 6 Weeks. Modern machinery is the answer.
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Becoming Father Christmas. Actor John Field takes his Christmas role very seriously.
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8 Legendary Monsters of Christmas. Old holiday tales can be pretty grim, or even Grimm.

Dorothea Lange’s Censored Photos From Inside U.S. Japanese Internment Camps. They were too personal and poignant to use for propaganda.
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The winners of the Nikon Small World in Motion 2016 competition have been announced. See the top videos that give us a look at the microscopic world around us.
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Inside The Forgotten Scandals Of Early Hollywood, Part One and Part Two. A short course in the way things used to be.
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What Star Wars learned from its prequel problem. Let’s hope those lessons will make Rogue One a good story.  
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Christmas Caroling with Brittany Snow. Marnie is an avant-garde artist who’s really into Christmas.
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This invention helped me write again. When graphic artist Emma Lawton could no longer control a pen, she turned to inventor Haiyan Zhang for help.
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Uber and Lyft drivers share 14 things that they’d love to tell passengers but can’t. Two of them are a reminder about leaving a tip.
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Can you tell which one of these gingerbread houses is made of medication? Pills and candy decorations are nearly indistinguishable.

The 17 Best Christmas Horror Movies. For those times you need to put a little Krampus in your Christmas cheer.
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How Mozart in the Jungle Brought an Obscure, Avant-Garde Piece of Classical Music to Rikers Island. The Amazon show’s production was the first symphony concert in the jail’s history.  
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33 Pictures That Show 2016 Wasn’t A Completely Terrible Year. There are a lot of good people in the world.  
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The World’s Oldest Known Wild Bird Is Expecting A New Chick. Wisdom the albatross laid an egg at age 66.
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Why Are Cats So Obsessed With Laser Pointers? They don’t see it the same way we do.
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The United Nations has ended its ill-fated partnership with Wonder Woman. Everyone found some reason to dislike the fictional character as an honorary ambassador.
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In Rogue One, there is no dark or light side. The story is told in varying shades of gray, unlike any of the earlier Star Wars films.
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9 Flowcharts to Help You Navigate the Christmas Season. The stress is serious; these charts are not.

The Obsessed, Feuding Searchers Still Looking for Amelia Earhart. They have their own competing theories, evidence, interpretations, and even lawsuits.
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These are the 10 worst Christmas songs. With videos so you can judge them yourself.
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Artificial People. Meet some early computer-generated personalities that left a mark.   
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How Scientists Accidentally Found the Man With the Largest Healthy Testicles. The “nugget of knowledge” was found buried in the methods section of a medical research paper.
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5 Places You Never Knew Were Penal Colonies. The old-school solution to crime was to export criminals to far-flung territories.
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Explore the curious (and sometimes creepy) traditions of funeral foods. The after-funeral buffet evolved from more gruesome practices.
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Portion Sizes: America vs. France. It’s a matter of quantity vs. quality.
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Stunning Photos From the Peary-Henson North Pole Expedition. The 1909 expedition got plenty of pictures, but did not see Santa Claus.