
While most of us spend family reunions eating potato salad and trying to recall the name of our third cousin once removed, Leo Tolstoy’s descendants listen to Chopin and have marathon War and Peace reading sessions.
February 5, 2017 – 1:00pm
fact
While most of us spend family reunions eating potato salad and trying to recall the name of our third cousin once removed, Leo Tolstoy’s descendants listen to Chopin and have marathon War and Peace reading sessions.
February 5, 2017 – 1:00pm
After a big game in any sport, fans and players are going to be clamoring for commemorative merchandise, often just minutes after the game ends. To meet this demand and cash in on the wallet-loosening “We’re #1” euphoria, manufacturers and retailers produce and stock two sets of T-shirts, hats and other merchandise, declaring each team the champ.
Based on strong sales after the Chicago Bears’ 2007 NFC Championship win, Sports Authority printed more than 15,000 shirts proclaiming a Bears Super Bowl victory well before the game even started. And then the Colts beat the Bears, 29-17.
That’s a lot of misprinted shirts that can’t hit store shelves, and seem like fine candidates for the incinerator instead. And for a long time, that’s where they went, with all four major American pro sports leagues—MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL—requiring the destruction of incorrect post-season apparel.
Fortunately, most of the leagues changed the way they do things and started donating the gear.
For almost two decades, an international humanitarian aid group called World Vision collected the unwanted items at its distribution center in Pittsburgh, then shipped them overseas to people living in disaster areas and impoverished nations. After losing Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, Arizona Cardinals gear was sent to children and families living in extreme poverty in El Salvador. In 2010, after the New Orleans Saints defeated Indianapolis, the Colts gear printed up for Super Bowl XLIV was sent to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.
In 2011, after Pittsburgh lost to the Green Bay Packers, the Steelers Super Bowl apparel went to Zambia, Armenia, Nicaragua, and Romania.
Beginning in 2015, after 19 years with World Vision, the NFL started working with Good360. After New England defeated Seattle in Super Bowl XLIX, Seahawks gear was distributed in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Well, @12s here’s what the #BackToBack shirts would have looked like! #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/zUoIxc5HS8
— Kristen Drew (@KDrewKOMO) February 2, 2015
It’s too early to say where this year’s Patriots or Falcons merchandise will end up. In 2016, Good360 chief marketing officer Shari Rudolph told mental_floss that details about the products available for donation will be sent to Good360 in about a week. They’ll notify their nonprofit partners and determine who needs what.
“Once they request the product, it is shipped to a domestic location and stored within their facilities until they have enough product (through Good360 and other sources) to fill a container,” Rudolph said. “Then it is shipped overseas and distributed to people in need.”
As for those hats that seem to materialize out of thin air: Apparel company New Era Caps has already made 288 lids for each team. They’ll be stored in bags and monitored before being brought out to the field so the winners can celebrate in style.
A prior version of this story appeared in 2009. Additional reporting by Jake Rossen.
February 5, 2017 – 12:30pm
Last year, comedian James Veitch‘s TED Talk on replying to email scams went viral, as he recounted his adventures in toying with email scammers. Last week, TED released 10 more minutes of Veitch’s adventures. The audience reactions in this are priceless. My favorite exchange:
Spammer: “Don’t delay. I don’t much days here on earth.”
Veitch: “When are you leaving earth?”
Enjoy:
If that had you laughing and you haven’t seen the original video, you’re in for a treat.
February 5, 2017 – 12:00pm
As a recurring feature, we share some amazing Amazon deals we’ve turned up. These items were the ones that were the most popular with our readers this week, and they’re still available.
Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers (including Amazon) and may receive a small percentage of any sale. But we only get commission on items you buy and don’t return, so we’re only happy if you’re happy. Good luck deal hunting!
Amprobe BAT-200 Battery Tester for $6.26 (list price $7.95)
Energizer Ultimate Lithium 9V Battery (1 Count) for $6.99 (list price $9.99)
2 Pcs Duracell CR1632 1632 Car Remote Batteries for $5.96 (list price $6.99)
Tesla Coil Lighters USB Rechargeable Windproof Arc Lighter for $18.99
Lexar JumpDrive P20 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive – LJDP20-128CRBNA for $49.99 (list price $72.53)
SanDisk Ultra Fit 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive (SDCZ43-032G-G46) for $11.95 (list price $18.49)
eSecure All-in-1 USB Card Reader for all Digital Memory Cards for $8.95 (list price $29.99)
LEGO STAR WARS TIE Striker 75154 for $54.00 (list price $69.99)
LEGO Star Wars Wookiee Gunship 75129 for $7.99 (list price $9.99)
Merope 20000mAh Power Bank for Smartphones – Black for $26.99 (list price $158.99)
Invicta Men’s 17204 AVIATOR Stainless Steel Casual Watch for $89.66 (list price $895.00)
KITCHEN
Sommelier Rose Wood Professional Corkscrew by True for $6.97 (list price $12.00)
Hamilton Beach Electric Kettle, Cordless 1.8-Liter, Black (K6080A) for $15.00 (list price $22.99)
Bamboo Cooking Utensil-Set (6-Pieces) – Utopia Kitchen for $7.99 (list price $29.99)
Contigo Autoseal Fit Trainer, 20-Ounce, Dazzling Blue for $15.99 (list price $19.99)
Lodge L8GP3 Cast Iron Grill Pan, 10.25-inch for $25.78 (list price $28.00)
LINKYO French Coffee Press – Stainless Steel Coffee Maker 34oz, 1L for $22.79 (list price $49.99)
Tovolo Sphere Ice Molds – Set of 2 for $6.47 (list price $11.00)
Friis 16-Ounce Coffee Vault, Stainless Steel for $18.77 (list price $24.99)
Winco WB-4 4 Quart Wine Bucket for $10.50 (list price $12.81)
Norpro 335 Nutmeg Grater for $4.49 (list price $14.25)
Prepworks by Progressive Lettuce Keeper – 4.7 Quart for $12.96 (list price $25.00)
Glasslock 18-Piece Assorted Oven Safe Container Set for $39.32 (list price $44.99)
Chef’n PopTop Microwave Popcorn Popper (Cherry) for $18.04 (list price $19.99)
Stella Artois Chalice Glass, 33 cl for $5.21 (list price $10.99)
Oster DuraCeramic Panini Maker and Grill for $23.99 (list price $39.99)
Pyrex 6-Ounce Custard Cups, Set of 4 for $8.49 (list price $24.99)
Rachael Ray Cucina Stoneware 4-1/2-Inch Terra Cotta Garlic Roaster for $8.33 (list price $26.00)
BangTi Titanium Bold Toothpick+Waterproof Holder Pocket Travel Kit for $22.99 (list price $29.95)
Wabash Valley Farms Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper for $29.49 (list price $43.89)
BlenderBottle 3-Pack Water Bottle of 28oz, Blue/Black/Red, 28 ounce for $23.99 (list price $29.99)
Brita Standard Replacement Water Filter for Pitchers, 3 Count for $13.39 (list price $14.88)
Magic Bullet Blender, Small, Silver, 11 Piece Set for $34.93 (list price $49.99)
BLACK+DECKER FP1600B 8-Cup Food Processor, Black for $23.99 (list price $29.95)
Instant Pot Silicone Mitts (Set of 2), Mini, Red for $3.94 (list price $14.99)
HOME
DropForge Leather Cream // All Natural & Handmade in the USA for $11.50 (list price $19.95)
Shark Steam Pocket Mop (S3501) for $52.75 (list price $79.99)
Nestl Bedding Microfiber Duvet Cover 3 Piece Queen (White) for $25.99 (list price $59.99)
Whitmor Extra-Wide Portable Clothes Storage Closet / Wardrobe, White for $27.54 (list price $53.18)
Swiffer 360 Dusters Extender Kit, Extends up to three feet for $12.42 (list price $21.60)
AmazonBasics Velvet Suit Hangers – 50 Pack, Black for $17.99 (list price $23.99)
Bath Dreams Luxury Bamboo Bathtub Caddy Tray with Extending Sides for $27.99 (list price $80.99)
Dyson V6 Motor Head Cord-free Vacuum for $289.99 (list price $399.99)
Hagerty 10120 Silversmiths’ Silver Polish, 12 Ounces for $12.19 (list price $15.99)
Large Capacity Premium Quality Plastic Makeup Palette Organizer for $24.97 (list price $29.99)
Holmes Twin Window Fan with Comfort Control Thermostat for $41.95 (list price $59.99)
Jeronic 11-Inch Plastic Folding Step Stool, Black for $9.99 (list price $16.99)
Vicks Personal Steam Inhaler for $27.42 (list price $30.63)
Big Joe Milano Chair, Stretch Limo Black for $38.98 (list price $59.99)
Gorilla Grip 5×7-Feet Non-Slip Area Rug Pad for Hard Floors for $15.39 (list price $26.79)
Vornado MVH Whole Room Vortex Heater, Black for $56.99 (list price $79.99)
Evenflo Position and Lock Tall Pressure Mount Wood Gate for $16.19 (list price $29.99)
Cosco Dorel Industries Lightweight Folding Steel Step Stool, Two Step for $19.88 (list price $29.99)
Yankee Candle Company Balsam & Cedar Large Jar Candle for $21.44 (list price $27.99)
Casual Home 324-54 Montego 5-Tier Bookcase, Walnut for $69.34 (list price $103.99)
Yankee Candle Company Pink Sands Large Jar Candle for $21.00 (list price $27.99)
Gorilla Grip Non-Slip Bath Pillow with Three Panel for $20.99 (list price $39.99)
O’Keeffe’s Original Lip Repair Stick for $3.47 (list price $5.99)
Nerdwax Stop Slipping Glasses as Seen on Shark Tank for $10.99 (list price $12.99)
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion, 12 oz. for $11.15 (list price $13.99)
NIVEA Men Sensitive Face Wash 5 Fluid Ounce for $4.45 (list price $5.99)
Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub, 4.2 Fl. Oz for $4.19 (list price $10.00)
Agadir Argan Oil Treatment, 4-Ounce for $15.94 (list price $40.00)
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands Hand Cream, 3 oz., Tube for $6.47 (list price $10.00)
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, 16 Ounce for $13.35 (list price $15.99)
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash, 18 Fl. Oz for $5.89 (list price $8.00)
Dove Men+Care Body Wash, Extra Fresh 23.5 oz for $5.89 (list price $9.19)
Reach Mint Waxed Dental Floss, 55 Yards (Pack of 6) for $6.06 (list price $8.40)
Conair Velvet Touch Paddle Hair Brush for $5.99 (list price $6.99)
Philips Sonicare Essence Sonic Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush, Pink for $19.95 (list price $49.99)
Colgate Wisp Portable Mini-Brush Max Fresh, Peppermint, 24 Count for $3.99 (list price $7.99)
Panasonic ER-GN30-K Nose Ear & Hair Trimmer, Wet/Dry for $14.99 (list price $19.99)
Conair 1875 Watt Hair Dryer; White for $9.99 (list price $16.99)
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens, Fine Point, Assorted Colors, 8 Count for $8.50 (list price $15.47)
Avery Durable View Binder, 1″ Slant Rings, 220-Sheet Capacity, DuraHinge, White (17012) for $3.50 (list price $5.98)
Custom Self Inking Rubber Stamp – 3 Lines (42A1539) for $8.70 (list price $19.99)
Scotch Stretch Wrap, 5 Inches x 725 Feet (8033) for $7.90 (list price $9.99)
Fiskars 8 Inch The Original Orange-Handled Scissors for $8.97 (list price $11.99)
Mr. Sketch Scented Twistable Gel Crayons, Assorted Colors, 12-Count for $11.34 (list price $12.99)
EXPO Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, 12-Count for $9.99 (list price $17.99)
Strathmore Series 400 Sketch Pads 9 in. x 12 in. – pad of 100 for $8.72 (list price $12.89)
Stanley FL5W10 Waterproof LED Rechargeable Spotlight for $32.77 (list price $49.99)
Mr Bar B Q 05012X Apple Wood Chips for $6.49 (list price $9.14)
RTIC Cooler (RTIC 20 Tan) for $101.99 (list price $124.99)
Outmate 6 pcs Aluminum D-ring Locking Carabiner Light but Strong for $7.99 (list price $11.99)
SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post for $35.99 (list price $49.99)
I Go 89-Piece First Aid Kit, Red for $10.19 (list price $30.99)
Aerobie Pro Ring – Single Unit (Colors May Vary) for $8.59 (list price $9.99)
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Litter, Multi-Cat, 28 Lbs for $12.29 (list price $25.99)
Camelbak Eddy Glass .7-Liter Water Bottle, Charcoal for $14.39 (list price $25.00)
Fiskars X7 Hatchet 14 Inch for $24.97 (list price $29.99)
Portland Design Works Shiny Object CO2 Inflator with 16G Cartridge for $23.04 (list price $30.00)
Hothands Game Day 24 Pair Hand Wamers & 8 Pair Toe Warmers for $15.07 (list price $27.99)
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Litter, Multi-Cat, 28 Lbs for $12.29 (list price $25.99)
Camelbak Products Chute Water Bottle, Charcoal, 1-Liter for $10.99 (list price $14.00)
Dell KM117 Wireless Keyboard & Mouse for $18.49 (list price $24.99)
Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (512 GB, 16 GB RAM, Intel Core i7e) for $1,826.99 (list price $2,199.00)
Cymas Full HD 1080P 2.0 Inch Sports Action Camera with 16 Accessories for $52.99 (list price $69.99)
NETGEAR N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender, Essentials Edition (EX2700) for $29.79 (list price $39.99)
Sabrent SuperSpeed 2-Slot USB 3.0 Flash Memory Card Reader for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Certain Android Systems – Supports SD , SDHC , SDXC , MMC / MicroSD , T-Flash [Black] (CR-UMSS) for $6.49 (list price $16.99)
Wolverine F2D Mighty 20MP 7-in-1 Film to Digital Converter for $129.69 (list price $139.99)
Sennheiser HD 202 II Professional Headphones (Black) for $24.50 (list price $35.00)
Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro LED Pen Light with Holster, Black for $17.78 (list price $21.11)
Stanley 15-106A Coping Saw for $5.99 (list price $9.60)
24 Piece Premium Titanium Lock Tool Set with Transparent Pad Lock for $29.99 (list price $59.99)
Stanley 68-010 Multibit Ratcheting Screwdriver with 10 Assorted Bits for $9.64 (list price $26.84)
Century 7 Day Heavy Duty Digital Programmable Timer – Dual Outlet for $12.99 (list price $18.99)
Vastar 3 Pack 23.6 Inch Drain Snakes Hair Clog Remover Cleaning Tool for $6.99 (list price $15.99)
DEWALT DCF885C1 20V Max 1/4″ Impact Driver Kit, for $149.00 (list price $169.00)
PORTER-CABLE PC1500HG 1500-Watt Heat Gun for $29.99 (list price $39.97)
Stanley 85-753 22 Piece Long Arm SAE & Metric Hex Key Set for $9.99 (list price $15.99)
Black & Decker 15557 Drill Bit Set, 10-Piece for $4.91 (list price $7.59)
Stanley 10-778 Fatmax Retractable Knife for $8.74 (list price $16.10)
Black & Decker BDEJS300C Jig Saw, 4.5-Amp for $27.99 (list price $56.04)
TR Industrial TR88302 Multi-Purpose Cable Ties (100 Piece), 8″, Black for $6.20 (list price $9.99)
February 5, 2017 – 11:00am
Most people have heard of London but many haven’t been to the city to explore the sights such as the Houses of Parliament, parks, markets, Baker Street and Madame Tussauds, but what are the most famous landmarks and why do they attract so many visitors? The Palace of Westminster lies on the north bank of the River Thames. It is more commonly known as the House of Commons, but it is more than that as it also includes the House of Lords – the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The chairs in the House of Commons
The post 7 Famous Landmarks in London appeared first on Factual Facts.
Many old pictures of Dorothy Parker feature the celebrated writer and wit clad in a luxurious mink coat. Parker—who was a part-time resident of rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania—purchased the coat from a Philadelphia furrier sometime around World War II. The glamorous garment hung down to Parker’s shins, and her cursive signature was even embroidered into its lining.
After Parker died, the coat was sold; currently, it belongs to a private collector. To mark the upcoming 50th anniversary of Parker’s June 7, 1967 death, Kevin Fitzpatrick—president of the Dorothy Parker Society, a group that promotes the late author’s work and legacy—has launched a Kickstarter campaign to purchase Parker’s mink and have it professionally cleaned and stored. He hopes to bring the coat back to Manhattan’s Algonquin Hotel (where Parker was a member of the famed Algonquin Round Table) on special occasions, and to use it to raise money for charity.
Fitzpatrick is offering the ultimate prize to donors who contribute $50 or more: the chance to actually wear Parker’s coat.
“If you’re in the Jane Austen Society, and they had anything Jane wore, do you think anyone would let you touch it, much less wear it around New York? I don’t think so,” Fitzpatrick jokes in a Kickstarter video.
Pledge $50, and you can try on the mink and take selfies in front of the Algonquin’s storied Round Table. $100 or more gets you a professional photo shoot of yourself wearing the coat in front of the Algonquin Hotel. And Parker fans who donate $250, $500, or $1000 can don the mink while enjoying a night out on the town. (The more you pay, the longer you get to wear it.)
The Kickstarter campaign has already met its goal, but you can still contribute (and score the chance to wear Parker’s mink) until March 1, 2017.
February 5, 2017 – 6:00am
The fourth moonwalk in human history occurred on February 5, 1971. The Apollo 14 mission was a big one, in part because the disasters suffered by Apollo 13’s crew had shaken (and then reaffirmed) public confidence in the space program. Apollo 14 was a do-over of Apollo 13, but with a different crew. Commander Alan Shepard—who had been the first American in space—was on the crew. By 1971, he was the oldest US astronaut to visit space, aged 47.
When Apollo 14 reached the moon, it had trouble landing at the Fra Mauro highlands. The astronauts ran into trouble docking the Kitty Hawk command module with the Antares lunar lander. When that finally worked (after firing the thrusters from each craft to force them together), the Antares lander’s radar had trouble calculating distance to the moon upon descent. The glitches were solved just in time to make a landing. When he arrived on the lunar surface, Shepard said, “It’s been a long way, but we’re here.”
The next day, toward the end of the second EVA (extravehicular activity) and history’s fifth-ever moonwalk, Shepard proceeded to try something unprecedented: lunar golf. Shepard had smuggled a makeshift six-iron in a sock, along with two golf balls. The club was a little odd, as it was a six-iron head modified by a Houston golf pro to screw onto a rock collecting implement provided by NASA. Shepard was forced to golf one-handed due to his bulky EVA suit. His first shot was awful (“I’m gonna try a little sand-trap shot here…Got more dirt than ball!”), but the second traveled an estimated 200 yards (despite Shepard’s excited statement “miles and miles and miles!”). The whole thing happened on live TV, complete with banter from Houston on his first “slice”—here’s a clip:
For more on what Apollo 14 achieved, check out the NASA documentary Apollo 14: Mission to Fra Mauro here:
For more on the golf club (and the smuggling sock), let this Atlas Obscura article by your guide.
February 5, 2017 – 4:00am
Whether you plan to become fluent in a new language or finally tackle that home improvement project, picking up a new skill can seem overwhelming—especially if you have a time crunch. For the infographic below, “custom writing service” WriteMyPapers.org (note that here at mental_floss, we support writing your own papers!) compiled 25 helpful tips to save you time and frustration when learning something new.
February 5, 2017 – 12:00am
Here’s a fun riddle: Professor Fukanō plans to circumnavigate the world in his new airplane. But the plane’s fuel tank doesn’t hold enough for the trip—in fact, it holds only enough for half the trip. But with the help of two identical support planes (which can refuel him in mid-air) piloted by his assistants Fugori and Orokana, the professor thinks he can make it in one trip. But since all three planes have the same problem of limited fuel, how can they work together to achieve the professor’s goal without anyone running out of fuel?
This TED-Ed riddle is very much like a Popular Mechanics riddle written in 2016. It’s a tricky one, and it helps to have a piece of paper handy.
It’s explained in the video below (along with a “pause now” bit so you can solve it yourself). If you’re not a fan of video, here are the starting rules:
1. The professor’s plane must make a single continuous trip around the world without landing or turning around.
2. Each plane can travel exactly 1 degree of longitude in 1 minute for every kiloliter of fuel. Each can hold a maximum of 180 kiloliters of fuel.
3. Any plane can refuel any of the others in mid-air by meeting at the same point and instantly transferring any amount of fuel.
4. Fugori and Orokana’s planes can turn around instantaneously without burning fuel.
5. Only one airport is available for any of the planes to land, take off, or refuel.
6. All three planes must survive the experiment, and none may run of fuel in mid-air.
As the video explains, the airport mentioned in point #5 happens to be on the equator.
Here’s the video:
For a bit more from TED-Ed on this riddle, check out this lesson page. If you want to read a solution to a very similar puzzle without watching the video above, try this Math is Fun puzzle page.
February 4, 2017 – 8:00pm
There’s a lot of life under our feet—and now we can appreciate that more than ever. After three years, a multi-disciplinary team of 121 scientists put together the new Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas. It showcases the bacterial, fungal, and animal life that together comprise an estimated quarter of all global biodiversity.
February 4, 2017 – 1:00pm