After Selling for More Than $1 Million, Banksy Artwork Shreds Itself

Leave it to Banksy, one of the world’s most eccentric (and anonymous) artists, to pull something like this off. At a recent Sotheby’s auction, his piece “Girl with Balloon” sold for $1.4 million — a whopping three times more than the artwork was estimated to fetch.

However, the highest bidder was in for a big, surprise. A shredder was built into the piece’s ornate frame, and when the auction ended, an alarm went off and “Girl with Balloon” was shredded to pieces in front of a dumbstruck crowd.

Photo Credit: Instagram,banksy

Here’s a video of the incident.

The Sotheby’s listing noted that the frame is “an integral element of the artwork chosen by Banksy himself.” No word yet on next steps for the person who bought the piece. Were they in on the prank? I guess time will tell. But Banksy has announced that he was in the room when the shredding went down…

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This Just In: Pumpkin Spice Is Nothing New

This time of year, “pumpkin spice” is in everything you see. Lattes, beer, dog treats…the list goes on and on. It seems to be a national obsession. But if you think this trend is something from the last decade or so, you’re way off. In fact, pumpkin spice has been around for an incredible 3,500 years.

Pumpkin spice is a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. On an Indonesian island called Pulau Ay, archaeologists discovered nutmeg residue on ceramic pottery that they estimate to be 3,500 years old. So a key ingredient in pumpkin spice has been around for much longer than previously thought.

The thousands-of-years-old spice trade was a global link from Africa to the Middle East to Asia to Europe. Spices were used in food and medicine (think about how bland European food probably was before the introduction of various spices) and were highly sought after commodities.

In the 1300s, traders went to Pulau Ay and other nearby islands seeking various spices – including nutmeg, which was only known to be grown in that region. And it was very big business.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Nutmeg was so desired that in the late 1600s, the Dutch traded their colony of New Amsterdam (now known as a little place called New York City) to Britain in exchange for the nutmeg-rich island of Pulau Run. So nutmeg literally changed the course of history.

Just in the past year alone, nearly half a billion dollars of pumpkin spice-flavored products were sold in the U.S. So next time you’re sipping on your pumpkin spiced latte, remember that you’re carrying on an ancient tradition that’s been cultivated over many, many generations. Cheers!

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Drone Footage of Utah’s Fall Foliage Is Absolutely Breathtaking

Unless you live there, Utah may not be the first state that jumps to mind when you think of beauty, but this new video from a drone near Snowbasin Resort shows that it’s just as beautiful as anywhere else in the country.

Photo Credit: YouTube

The bright, bursting colors don’t even look real from high above the forest – it has to be seen to be believed.

Take a look at this magnificent video from Justin McFarland.

What do you think? Pretty unbelievable, right?

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15 People Share Their Experiences of “First World Torture”

“First world problems” usually refers to an issue that grates on people who live pretty healthy, wealthy lives, all things considered – a problem that is clearly totally minor compared to the problems you might have if you were living somewhere that lacks, for instance, clean water and electricity.

Now, we head into “first world torture” which is along the same line.  Maybe it’s standing in line at the DMV or having to check that bag that won’t fit in the now overcrowded overhead bins.

So, we hope you enjoy this list of things that are so annoying we would appreciate if the world could please correct them. K, thanks.

#15. Amen

“Sitting near those guys who talk through the entire movie in the theater.”

#14. Netflix

“Netflix not adding every season of a show.”

#13. Obligated to talk

“Stumbling into someone you know well enough to feel obligated to talk to in public when you really just want to buy your stuff and go home.”

#12. Waiting is the worst

“Buying a new game and immediately having to download an update before you can play.”

#11. Wet socks

“Stepping unto something wet while wearing socks.

Then, after you’ve changed to fresh socks and cleaned up the mess, finding another small puddle… with your freshly replaced socks.”

#10. You know this blows

“When you leave a safe following distance between you and the car in front of you, but the asshole waiting to pull out from a side road ignores safety and merges into the too-small gap they perceive as an opening then proceeds to go 5 miles below the speed of traffic in a no passing zone.”

#9. Special sort of talent

“Working in retail and listening to the repetitive, really bad music track.

Tuning it out is a special sort of talent I’m glad I’ve developed.”

#8. Incessantly

“Driving behind another vehicle that stays 5 MPH below the speed limit, touches the brake incessantly for no reason whatsoever, on a road with no passing zones.”

#7. But really friendly and sweet

“Getting that ancient (but really friendly and sweet) cashier who scans your items at a rate of 10 per minute, and you just happen to be in a rush.”

#6. Obligated to talk

“Stumbling into someone you know well enough to feel obligated to talk to in public when you really just want to buy your stuff and go home.”

#5. Bad ideas

“Missing your train narrowly enough that you can physically see it pull away.

Talking politics with someone that you really want to get along with, but disagree with on pretty much every level. It’s a tightrope you walk where you don’t want to give anyone the impression you support this Thing, but at the same time you don’t want to disagree with them too strongly, or you might get into an actual argument, and ruin the vibe of the party and man you’re a cool guy to hang out with as long as we don’t discuss this can’t we get back to drinks and a good time?

Or they have some kind of power over you and disagreeing would be a bad idea.”

#4. Long ad buffers

“Having a long ad that buffer before a video.”

#3. If you’re lucky

“When you pay for expedited shipping (ex. Amazon Prime) and the item doesn’t arrive on time. Now you’re stuck waiting for your cat calendar for another day, if you’re lucky.

Edit: Spelling”

#2. Why wouldn’t everybody else?

“Sitting on Greyhound bus next to someone who thinks “I love this music, why would’t everybody else”.

Fuck you public music listeners. With a rusty shovel.”

#1. The worst

“I’m hungry. I have plenty to eat but it’s all in the freezer. I don’t want any of it. I don’t feel like cooking.”

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10 Photos of the Most Dangerous Roads in America

Some of the most treacherous stretches of road in the U.S. are on this list and span all the way from Alaska to Florida.

If you find yourself on one of these highways, keep your eyes on the road!

1. The Million Dollar Highway – Colorado

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

While the scenery is very beautiful, this highway is also dangerous. Drivers must negotiate three different 10,000 passes with tight turns and NO GUARDRAILS.

2. Interstate 4 – Florida

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This highway stretches 132 miles in the Sunshine State, but it is anything but pleasant for many people. It’s been ranked the deadliest interstate in the U.S. and has been ranked in the top 10 deadliest interstates for the past 6 years.

3. The Dalton Highway – Alaska

This 400-mile highway cuts through very remote areas in Alaska. There is a 240-mile stretch of the Dalton Highway that is completely barren: no gas, no restrooms, no restaurants, nothing. There are also steep sections and avalanche risks.

4. Highway 2 – Montana

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Montana is sparsely populated, so accident victims regularly have to wait an average of 80 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. Highway 2 has a 70 mile per hour rate through mountain roads, often leading to accidents.

5. I-45 – Houston, Texas

Photo Credit: Flickr,Ken Lund

This highway was ranked the second deadliest in the U.S. in 2016. There were 51 fatal wrecks on I-45 in Houston between 2011-2015.

6. I-10 – Arizona

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

If you’ve ever driven through the desert on I-10 from Arizona to California, you know how desolate it is. One year saw 85 deaths alone on this highway in Arizona.

7. I-15 – Nevada

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The route between Las Vegas and Los Angeles was judged to be the most deadly stretch of road in the nation in 2010. Over the course of 15 years, 1,069 died on this highway.

8. Highway 1 – Florida

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Remarkably, over 1,000 people have died on this stretch of highway in the last 10 years. It’s been ranked as having the highest fatal crash rate in America.

9. Interstate 285 – Atlanta

Atlanta traffic is legendary, and Georgia ranks 7th in the U.S. for fatal car accidents. This particular highway had 3.5 fatal crashes per every 10-mile stretch in 2013.

10. Highway 17 – South Carolina

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The road is very picturesque, but very dangerous. Highway 17 cuts through rural areas and has sharp turns and many wild animals wandering near the roadway. The highway was named the 4th most dangerous road in the U.S.

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12+ Teachers Who Definitely Deserve a Raise

They work all the time, they don’t get paid enough, a lot of them have second jobs to supplement their income. Oh yeah, they also put up with everyone’s terrible children on a daily basis. Being a teacher is extremely tough.

Here are 15 teachers going above and beyond the call of duty who deserve some more cash and a promotion. I think you’ll agree…

1.

Photo Credit: Tumblr

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15.

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Just throw money at them! They deserve it!

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Six Flags Has a Coffin Challenge This October

Spending 30 hours in a coffin is exactly what the Six Flags in St. Louis is inviting guests to attempt this Halloween season, WATE reports.

Most people go to amusement parks for thrills, but they would typically find those in high-flying rides like rollercoasters and not, you know…coffins.

The “Coffin Challenge” is to take place during the park’s Fright Fest and aims to help people see what it would be like to live as the undead. The people who take the park up on their dare will crawl into “slightly used” coffins at 1pm on October 13th and remain there until 7pm the next day.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Slightly used? Nope nope noppity nope.

If you feel differently (and are, I’m assuming, not at all claustrophobic) and want to take Six Flags up on their dare, you should know that you are allowed to bring pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags and you will be allowed meals, snacks, drinks, and one short bathroom break per hour.

I’m sure you’ve realized by now that successfully completing this challenge will come with a reward from Six Flags – if you last the entire 30 hours, you’ll be the proud owner of 2 Six Flags 2019 season passes, a Fright Fest prize package with two VIP haunted house passes, and two tickets to ride the park’s haunted train ride.

Photo Credit: Six Flags St. Louis

Anyone who attempts the challenge, regardless of finishing it successfully, will be entered in to a random drawing for an unnamed $300 prize.

Oh, and you get to take your “slightly used” coffin home with you, so…free decorations?

Photo Credit: Pixabay

If you’re interested in putting yourself in the shoes (coffin?) of a vampire for a weekend in October, you can complete this form for Six Flags and return it before midnight on October 3.

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13 Over-the-Top Pumpkins to Inspire Your Carving This Halloween

October is here! If you’re someone who loves cool temperatures, brilliant leaves, hot cider, and sweaters, you’re also probably included in the 46% of people who carved and put out pumpkins in 2017.

If this sounds like you, then you might be inspired to up your game in 2018. Check out these 13 designs!

#13. Let me answer your question: yes, this is just one pumpkin.

Image Credit: Instagram

And no, he doesn’t need to explain his life choices to you.

#12. This one looks like something the Ghostbusters would blast.

Image Credit: Instagram

…Or it might blast them with whatever’s in its mouth!

#11. Those are some impressive hands!

Image Credit: Instagram

…And teeth and eyes and entire face.

#10. Brainnnsssssss.

Image Credit: Instagram

What kind of pumpkin is that??

#9. I’m not going to be okay until I know how they did this.

Image Credit: Instagram

Seriously, that’s foam and not a real pumpkin, right?

#8. Bet you never thought of carving the butt.

Image Credit: Instagram

But look what you get when you do…a sweet granny pumpkin!

#7. That’s one big pumpkin.

Image Credit: Instagram

And completely terrifying.

#6. Peek!

Image Credit: Instagram

Whether this is guy is underwater or space, he’s pretty freaky.

#5. If only it were that easy to smash Vader.

Image Credit: Instagram

“Luke, I am your pumpkin.”

#4. Poor little pumpkin.

Image Credit: Twitter

Yeah, I’m not okay with this one.

#3. He doesn’t want to be a scary pumpkin.

Image Credit: Instagram

#2. I think the teeth are the most impressive part.

Image Credit: Instagram

But more importantly, why is he sewing a small pumpkin to his face?

#1. Yer a pumpkin, Harry.

Image Credit: Instagram

Okay, that’s seriously adorable.

 

Get to carving, people, and maybe your pumpkin will show up on a list next year!

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10+ Romantics Recall Their Very First Kiss

My first kiss took place in middle school and was sufficiently awkward enough to coincide with the setting. They say you never forget your first kiss – or your first love – and I can say that for me, at least, both are true.

These 15 people have memories of their own, and whether they’re sweet, awkward, or hilarious, you’re going to love them.

#15. It was a trap.

“She asked me over to fix her computer. There was nothing wrong with it. She looked at me shrugged then kissed me. It was a trap.”

#14. For free homemade cookies.

“7th grade I wanted to go to the Valentine’s Day dance for free homemade cookies. However I couldn’t enter the dance without a date, so I asked this kid that was in detention to play as my boyfriend so I could get in to the dance.

After the dance he walked me home, when he dropped me off he asked me for a kiss. I replied “sure” and eyes wide open kissed him on the lips.

Edit: spelling.”

#13. I kinda want to kiss you.

“Was on the third date with my crush. We were out in the parking lot after a movie and he walked me to my car. We just talked and hugged for a bit. Then he said “I kinda want to kiss you.” I was stunned for a few moments, but I said “I’d be okay with that.”

We’ve been dating for almost 6 months now.”

#12. Some practice.

“Sleepover at a friend (we’re both girls) we we’re talking about it and then she kissed me. Very good to have some practise before my first guy kiss happened a few months later.”

#11. Never saw him again.

“We were 15. He went to my Saturday drama club. Some emo/goth looking kid. I was hooked on him. Was devastated the day he brought his girlfriend with him. Couple weeks later they split up and I was elated. Still I was ugly and fat and awkward and shy…

I can’t keep my feelings hidden though. A girl from the club who also went to my school threw a birthday party and I was invited. I didn’t particularly like this girl, she was a two faced snide bullying bitch (the kind that wears you down with snide comments that if brought up she’d laugh off as a joke). When she realised I was making excuses not to go she said the magic words; Colin will be there!

Spent the night being awkwardly pushed in his general direction. He gave me my first beer and it was foul (still can’t stand the stuff despite my now husband being something of a connoisseur). At one point we ended up on the couch side by side. Another girl suddenly stood up and said “oh for God’s sake, everybody out except you two!” and ushered everyone out of the room, turning off the main light and turning on a red lamp that happened to be there.

He turned to me, said “oh what the hell” and we made out for about 2 minutes before everyone came back in. At the time it was breathtaking. Looking back it was terrible, he litteraly just poked the tip of my tongue with his. Spent the rest of the night with his arm around me. Eventually we were ushered off to bed by the birthday girls parents, girls upstairs, boys downstairs. He whispered to me to come find him downstairs. I wanted to but I didn’t have the guts. My dad picked me up the next morning before he even woke up. Never saw him again.”

#10. I was a huge dork.

“We were walking to the parking lot after my first school dance, and there was a lot of snow gently falling. I spotted my ride and said something like, “Oh, hey, there’s my dad” and she spun around and kissed me while we were right in the center area of a street light. It was really lovely, but I have to give all if the credit to her, since I was a huge dork.”

#9. All tongue.

“Her name was Kyria and she was so soft and beautiful. A few years ago we had to put her down, but I’ll always remember when she kissed me for the first time. It was all tongue.”

#8. I just about died.

“We just ate some chilli for dinner and  he took me by surprise. I full on belched my chilli stinking breath in his mouth. I just about died. Luckily our second kiss was more successful.”

#7. A second go.

“Asked “want a kiss?” then handed me a Hershey. Later that night he leaned in for a kiss and our glasses knocked together. We laughed a bit and had a second go.”

#6. Little romantic me.

“Was at my first girlfriends house, we were around 17 at the time. We were cuddling on the couch in her room when I leaned over her. I was incredibly nervous and she was so beautiful and I didn’t know of kissing her was okay (we weren’t together then). She lifted her head a little and gave me a soft kiss. I must’ve looked a bit startled because she said “you had that look on your face”. We kissed again and I dorked out, failing to ask her then and there if she wanted to date me, asking her later that night over Skype. Yeah. Little romantic me ruined that part of her first relationship.”

#5. Halfway around the world.

“Flew half way around the world to meet a guy I had been talking to online for the last 7 years. He met me in the airport and asked if he could kiss me, I said yes.

It’s been just over 6 years since then, and this random internet stranger and I are now married with two little puppies.”

#4. He asked if I was a lesbian.

“I was just a couple weeks before being 21, drunk, at my crush’s house, and kissed some random guy after he asked me if I was a lesbian. So romantic.”

#3. The right moment.

“We met on World of Warcraft and talked for 9 months on skype and the phone. I moved from Texas to Iowa to be with her. she lived with her parents to sisters and their husbands and kids. We hung out alone all day, then met her family that afternoon and that evening went to the lake. It was Fourth of July. her and I walked around the lake holding hands then when it got dark we headed back sat down, I bought her brother in laws and dad and I a few beers and bought food and drinks for everyone. we sat there on the ground she was in front of me my arms around her. she had her little niece in her lap. we watched the fireworks go off. that night she took me back to where I was staying. as she went to get in the car to go home. I grabbed her shoulder spun her around and put both of my hands on her neck and kissed her. at that exact moment the neighbors across the street started shooting off fireworks. It just was perfect and was so unplanned and just was the right moment.”

#2. A REAL kiss.

“Technically it was in primary school; i was sitting with my “boyfriend” and we were watching some movie (it was in school, some kind of a science class), he was hugging me, I turned around to tell him something and he kissed me, but his lips were so wet I immediately moved away; I don’t even count it as my first kiss. but my “second first time” was when I was 14 and I was with my boyfriend for a month. I don’t even remember how it happened, I just told him I was ready (it was such a big deal for me idk why, I just was so stressed), he gave me a quick kiss and I was like “no you dumbass, I want a REAL kiss” and we made out.”

#1. Inhaled my face.

“I was 14 and he was 18 (yes, I now know how fucking creepy that was). My parents didn’t know about our relationship yet and he would walk me to the corner of my street from where the school bus let us off. My mom was in the front yard so we had to part a little earlier. We had talked about me wanting my first kiss earlier so we decided to do it there. He was a horrible kisser and practically inhaled my face, but I didn’t care because I finally felt like I was officially a teenager who was desired by someone. Every one of my peers had had their first kiss way earlier and I hated feeling so left behind.”

I hope all of your memories are as sweet as these!

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17 Parents Share Priceless Before and After Having Kids Photos

Becoming a parent is awesome and life changing. Sure, there are those sleepless nights and tantrums that make you think back to simpler times when you were single or it was just you and your significant other. But overall, it’s positive. Check out these 17 parents whose lives drastically changed after having kids.

1. This is what parenting feels like, in a nutshell.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

2. From “sexiest man alive” to sticker sheet.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

3. She wanted one of these pictures taken way more than the other.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

4. From “let’s stay up all night” to “I can’t believe the baby kept us up all night.”

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

5. Oh, how things change.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

6. This young girl hasn’t even turned five-years-old and she’s already a mother.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

7. If you’re that old and sleeping in a race car bed, something either went right or went really wrong.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

8. Dads make great ice cream catchers.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

9. Get used to it. No food is safe anymore.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

10. She’s still got time to sneak a drink.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

11. The cat got a demotion.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

12. From party animal to professional hairstylist.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

13. A ladies man through and through.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

14. There’s nothing more metal than waking your dad up at 6 am.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

15. Kids make for great strength training.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

16. Other parents: I feel like my kid is holding me prisoner.

Them:

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

17. Raising a future party animal.

Photo Credit: Instagram: gottoddlered

What can you say? Kids sure do age a person…

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