There's a definite problem with a religion cooked up by one guy trying to sell movie tickets. Imagine you've converted to the Jedi religion on the faith inherent in the Star Wars original trilogy, just to have that faith yanked out from under you in the prequels. The cognitive dissonance is real test of faith -or something like that. May the fourth be with you. Link -via Tastefully Offensive
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Stuntbear's Australian version of Star Wars, we can safely assume, is a completely accurate depiction of the culture of that nation. Here is Episode IV: A New Bloke--a tale of courage, cricket and pubs. I hope that Episode VII features koalas in place of Ewoks.
Bourbon is a whiskey made of mostly corn that is aged in charred oak barrels. Straight bourbon is aged at least two years, and the best bourbon is aged at least eight years. That's the conventional wisdom. But a new brand of bourbon made in Cleveland is aged only a few days! Tom Lix developed a procedure for engineering the distinctive taste of bourbon without waiting so long.
Bourbon is typically aged over a period of time in which fluctuating temperatures throughout the day move distilled liquor in and out of the pores of oak barrels. Lix uses pressure to speed this up. He pours distillate into a stainless steel vat and throws cut-up pieces of barrel in after it.
He wouldn't let me see his machinery — "intellectual property," he says — but it sounded something like an overloaded washing machine during the spin cycle. Each beat, Lix says, is roughly the equivalent of 24 hours in a stationary barrel. The agitation squeezes the wood like a sponge and the "aging" of each batch is done within a few days.
Other bourbon distillers use other methods to speed up the process, like blasting loud music to vibrate barrels. Lix's product is called Cleveland Whiskey, which some whiskey aficionado don't like, but he manages to sell as much as he can make. Read about the new type of bourbon at NPR. Link -via Boing Boing
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You waste a third of an apple if you eat it from side to side, down to the core. An apple core, Foodbeast's Elie Ayrouth argues, is completely edible if you eat it from end to end:
In between bites, Geoff managed, “See, eating it from the sides is wasteful. But if you eat it from the top, the core doesn’t even exist.”
In that moment, Geoff handed the apple back to me. Sure enough, he was nearly halfway through the apple, all without choking on what we normally consider the inedible ‘core.’ Eating from the top allowed more of the pleasant flesh to encompass the surface of every bite.
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Russians commonly use dash cams to record what happens on the road to defend themselves in case of accident fraud. That's why we have so much footage of the meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk. The custom also records some wonderful instances of kindness. This compilation shows drivers and passersby helping drivers stuck in the snow, animals in the street, and many little old ladies terrified by traffic. -via Laughing Squid
I've always found the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, as a bit owlish. And apparently so did deviantArtist EatToast, who created this adorable Doctor Whoo sculpture: Link
What can you do with an old doorknob? If unlatching a door isn't an option, you can turn it into a wine bottle stopper. That's one of many upcycling projects by Artfully Reimagined. I think this could be a great way to remember an old home.
Graduation time is coming. This year give your favorite grad the Walking Graduation Cap from the NeatoShop. This adorable plush toy looks like a graduation cap with tassel. When you push the button the cap walks and plays a rock version of Pomp and Circumstance.
Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Gifts for Grads.
What do you think? DC Comics has redesigned He-Man for the new Masters of the Universe issue #4, out in July. Your reaction will probably depend on whether you grew up playing with He-Man action figures and watching him on TV and you are very accustomed to the classic Conan-esque look with Prince Valiant hair. Some of the reactions are: He looks too young, like a teenager. He looks too much like a generic superhero when he should be fantasy character. He look too much like Thor. And why is he wearing tights? But others look the look. Link -via io9
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Remember all the hoopla about horse meat in beef? "That's cute," said China. Fake meat there consists of rats and foxes:
In Wuxi, in east China's Jiangsu Province, suspects made fake mutton from fox, mink and rat by adding chemicals. The products were sold to markets and the suspects made more than 10 million yuan (1.62 million U.S. dollars) from the illegal activities. [...]
According to an initial investigation, the suspects had been using hydrogen peroxide solution to process chicken claws since July 2011. With an output of 300 kg per day, suspects made more than 4 million yuan in profits.
Charles Lushear's coffee table is made from reclaimed materials. The wood is from a fence. The directional pad is a copper cross used as currency a century ago in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The start and select buttons are AR-15 magazines and the A and B buttons are clockwork pieces. In sum, Lushear's got a piece of everything in this lovely table.
Can you imagine Fast & Furious 6 as a road trip movie about a non-traditional family? Everyone just pretend to be normal! It's just NextMovie re-imagining 2013 Summer blockbusters as indie movies. Take a look: Link - Thanks Andie!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Cotard's Delusion is a condition in which the sufferer is convinced he is dead. In other words, they are zombies in their minds. Cases in medical literature go back to at least 1788. Mental_floss "dug up" ten such cases.
6. In 2009, Belgian psychiatrists reported the case of an 88-year-old man who came to their hospital with symptoms of depression. The man explained that he was dead, and was concerned and anxious that no one had buried him yet. His delusions subsided with treatment.
7. The same doctors also treated a 46-year-old woman who claimed to have not eaten nor gone to the bathroom in months, nor slept in years. She explained that all her organs had rotted, that she had no blood and that doctors who monitored her heart or took her blood pressure were deceiving her because her heart didn’t beat. After multiple admissions to the hospital and a lapse in taking her medication over the next 10 months, her condition gradually improved.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Your significant other is having a bad day. The sink is full of dirty dishes and it's his or her turn to wash. So, what do you do?
A. Grab the sponge and wash the dishes in the name of love. They'll notice and be thankful
B. Do nothing, not because you're lazy, but because it won't do any good
If you answer A, you'd be wrong, at least according to a new study by University of Arizona researchers:
Researchers found that individuals who made sacrifices for their significant others generally reported feeling more committed to their partners when they performed those nice behaviors. But when they made sacrifices on days when they had experienced a lot of hassles, they did not feel more committed.
"On days when people were really stressed, when they were really hassled, those sacrifices weren't really beneficial anymore, because it was just one more thing on the plate at that point," Totenhagen said. "If you've already had a really stressful day, and then you come home and you're sacrificing for your partner, it's just one more thing." "You need to be mindful of the resources that you have to do those sacrifices at the end of the day," she added. "Maybe trying to pile on more sacrifices at the end of a really stressful day isn't the best time."
Redditor Art4261 noticed that the insane and murderous Roman emperor Caligula looks a lot like the insane and murderous King Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones--at least as the latter is portrayed by actor Jack Gleeson.
Caligula is Latin for "Little Boot"--the nickname of Gaius Julius Caesar Geramanicus. Here's a sample of his madness:
He went out of his way to humiliate the senate (Suetonius says that he intended to make his horse consul), and encouraged treason trials for his own financial benefit. He also insisted on being treated as a god (in contrast to the wiser policy of Augustus). Excavations in the Roman forum in the summer of 2003 confirmed that he incorporated the ancient Temple of Castor and Pollux within his palace - a sacrilege reversed by his successor Claudius I.
Gaius had three sisters, with whom he was alleged to have committed incest, and they were given unprecedented public honours, being included in the soldiers' oath of allegiance.
Will Joffrey appoint his horse to the small council?
Filmmaker Joe Nicolosi's mom saw The MatrixImage may be NSFW. Clik here to view.for the first time and lived to tell the tale. Here's her account of what the movie is all about: Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - via Boing Boing
Every year when my kids were young, we ventured as far as Lexington to shop for Easter dresses. And the stores had marvelous but very expensive hats for sale that you won't find in most states, because they are for the Kentucky Derby. It's a traditional that no one questions, but many make fun of. If you can't buy a classic hat the exact shade of your Derby outfit, you may as well go to extreme and wear something outrageous. See some of the weirdest in a collection at Buzzfeed. They do make a statement: it's a silly tradition. Link
Mother's Day is May12th. This year give your hard working Mom the perfect desk accessory. The Revolving Photo Frame from the NeatoShop holds up to 6 4x4 photos. The cube revolves slowly around the base so that she can always be surrounded by her favorite family memories.
Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Home Decor items.
Street art might drive you up the wall, but that's a good thing when Anders Gjennestad is at work. This Norwegian street artist who goes by the name Strøk used layered stencils to make this gravity-defying mural.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view. Image: Grap/Wikimedia
The next time your mom complains that you don't throw junk away, tell her that you're in good company: nearly 15 million people suffer from varying degrees of hoarding disorder. But what causes hoarding?
A few years ago, Samson (not his real name) unplugged his refrigerator. It had, he says, “got out of hand.” He didn’t empty it, and he hasn’t opened it since.
That's how Bonnie Tsui's journey to understanding the science of hoarding began:
In a National Public Radio interview a couple of years ago, Frost talked about the reasons hoarders might collect certain items: a decades-old newspaper because it could be useful in the future; an array of bottle caps purely for their fascinating physical characteristics; a seemingly insignificant postcard because it reminded the owner of a loved one or a specific event. Frost saw universality in the way the beliefs seem to be tied to information processing. “There are some problems with attention—that is, distractibility and sometimes a hyper focus, problems with categorization, the ability to organize things,” he explained. “People who hoard tend to live their lives visually and spatially instead of categorically, like the rest of us do.” One of his patients, Irene, would put an electricity bill on top of a pile; if she needed it again, she would remember where it was in space, rather than filing it away—mentally and physically—in a “bills” category. “We don’t know the nature of the emotional attachments that people who hoard have to objects,” Frost told me. “How do they form, and why are they so? What are the vulnerabilities that lead up to it?”
Read the rest of Bonnie's article over at Pacific Standard Magazine: Link
We've seen extreme Bloody Marys before, but this one from O'Davey's Irish Pub in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin advances human gastronomy into previously unknown territory:
This ultimate hangover cure is topped with an extensive beer chaser consisting of pop corn, bacon, peanuts, beans, sausage, pretzel, sliders, a pickle and (this is Wisconsin after all) a cracker and cheese curd. Plus a Brewers flag.
"That's amazing. I'm coming to America just for these," a reader remarked in the Reddit forum.
An Australian commented: "As an Aussie, I can't help but look at that and think... 'Is this actually a thing??' Are you serious? You can actually order that?"
Owning a professional sports franchise is my dream job. (I'm willing to relocate.) Of course, I could never afford my own team, except maybe in the NHL. Clearly, you have to be exceedingly wealthy to become an owner. But have you ever wondered how all those owners made all that money? Hopefully so, because I went ahead and did the research. Here's a list of seven billionaire owners and how they built their fortunes.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.1. Robert Kraft, New England Patriots (NFL)
I'd never really given it much thought, but I'd always assumed Kraft bought the Patriots with big cheese money he'd inherited. But Kraft got his start in the paper business. His wife, Myra, is the daughter of Massachusetts philanthropist Jacob Hiatt. After Kraft finished Harvard Business School, he went to work with his father-in-law's packaging company. In 1972, Kraft founded International Forest Products, which is now part of the Kraft Group "“ a diversified collection of companies ranging from Gillette Stadium to the New England Revolution (Major League Soccer) to Carmel Container Systems (Israel's largest packaging plant). Kraft is seen as a savior in New England "“ before he bought the team in 1994, the Pats seemed destined for relocation to St. Louis. Plus he's made them really, really good, winning three Super Bowls this decade.
One drawback to owning your own sports team? Run-ins with foreign heads of state. In 2005, Kraft met Vladimir Putin, who walked off with one of Kraft's Super Bowl rings. Kraft now claims it was a gift, but that might just be what you say when a Russian leader steals your jewelry.
2. Robert L. Johnson, Charlotte Bobcats (NBA)
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Lower on my list of dream jobs is running a cable network that caters to urban youth. So I'm all kinds of envious of Robert L., who founded BET and sold it to Viacom for $3 billion in 2001. His fortune was depleted by an expensive divorce, but Johnson's estimated net worth is still $1.1 billion. His resume is full of firsts — BET was the first African-American owned company traded on the NYSE. He was the first African-American billionaire in the U.S. And, in 2002, he became the first African-American majority owner of a professional sports franchise.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.3. Hiroshi Yamauchi, Seattle Mariners (MLB)
Despite America's strong resistance to Japanese ownership "“ and despite his admitted lack of interest in baseball "“ Hiroshi Yamauchi became majority owner of the Seattle Mariners in 1992. Yamauchi is the man credited with transforming Nintendo from playing-card company to video game giant. His 55-year tenure saw incredible growth. But that doesn't mean there weren't a few bumps along the way. Forays into instant rice, taxi service and short-stay hotels (also known as "love hotels") did not pan out.
4. Rich DeVos, Orlando Magic (NBA)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.In 1959, DeVos and high school friend Jay Van Andel started selling all-purpose cleaner. Their business grew to become Amway, which now brings in $6 billion each year under the ominous-sounding Alticor name. Whether you see Amway as an empowering direct sales company or as something resembling a cult, it sure was good to DeVos. Forbes estimates his wealth at $3.5 billion, making the paltry $85 million he spent on the Magic in 1991 a minor investment.
5. Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
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Power blogger and dance icon Mark Cuban owns the Dallas Mavericks. In 1990, the 32-year-old Indiana University alum sold his software company, MicroSolutions, for $6 million. Ten years later, his internet radio startup, Broadcast.com (formerly Audionet), was acquired by Yahoo! for almost $6 billion in stock. Since he purchased the Mavericks from Ross Perot in 2000 for $285 million, the team has improved its regular-seasoin winning record from 40 percent to 69 percent. Which is to say, everybody in Dallas loves him.
6. Malcolm Glazer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), Manchester United (English Premier League)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Malcolm Glazer inherited a small jewelry repair business from his father. But it was Malcolm's investments in Florida trailer parks that started his financial ascent. He went on to become president and CEO of First Allied Corporation, which now owns 6,700,000 square feet of retail space. He was also chairman of Gilbert/Robinson, Inc., which managed over 100 restaurants, including Houlihan's and Darryl's. Today, the Glazer family oversees strip malls and nursing homes throughout the land. Glazer also has a large stake in Zapata, an oil company founded by George H.W. Bush.
Glazer made five previous attempts to join the elite ranks of NFL ownership, including a failed 1993 bid to bring an expansion team to Baltimore. The New York Times said Glazer had "a reputation as a franchise window shopper, one who looks at virtually every team that comes up for sale." But in 1995, he outbid George Steinbrenner for the downtrodden Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Under his leadership, the franchise was righted, earning a Super Bowl title in 2003. Glazer also bought Manchester United, and fans weren't exactly pleased.
7. Stanley Kroenke, Denver Nuggest (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), St. Louis Rams (NFL -partial owner)
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Stanley Kroenke is a self-made man who also married mega-rich. He earned an estimated $2.1 billion fortune in real estate, developing shopping centers across the country. Then he went ahead and married Ann Walton -as in Sam's niece. She's worth another $3 billion or so. A sports junkie, Kroenke also owns a Major League Soccer franchise, the Colorado rapids, and a share in the Arsenal Football Club, part of the Premier League in England.
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Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The article above, written by Jason English, is reprinted with permission from the January-February 2008 issue of mental_floss magazine. Get a subscription to mental_floss and never miss an issue!
Be sure to visit mental_floss' website and blog for more fun stuff! Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Remember all the hoopla about horse meat in beef? "That's cute," said China. Fake meat there consists of rats and foxes: 
Your significant other is having a bad day. The sink is full of dirty dishes and it's his or her turn to wash. So, what do you do?
