While I find Smart Cars pretty adorable (I just want to pinch their little rear view mirrors!), apparently the nerdy vehicles are eager to shed their Pointdexter reputations. And it seems like the makeovers are working, sort of. I'm not sure why suped-up Smart Cars are so funny to me (TheCellar posted quite a few images last week), but I especially love this Smorvette convertible, and this big-tired Smaudi-- which looks like it could 4-wheel over any pebble in it's path. If you're itching to see more,... READ ON
After all this talk of how bad a Bear Market is, I decided to do some cursory research. This is the only picture I've been able to find, and from what I can tell, it doesn't look so bad. Most of the bears there seem to be handling it pretty... READ ON
While we hesitate to get political at mental_floss, we relish the opportunity to get historical. Yesterday, it was reported that Cindy McCain accused Sen. Barack Obama of waging "the dirtiest campaign in American history." There's no doubt that the mudslinging has certainly escalated in the last few weeks, but we're not certain that this campaign is that much harsher than any one in the past (in fact, it seems downright tamer!). Here are some highlights from Jenny Drapkin's cover story on presidential... READ ON
I was reading an article on Sarah Silverman this week in Bust Magazine (which is a terrific magazine by the way). Comedians spend so much time trying to be "on" that I have a real soft spot for when they're being genuine. In any case, I think Silverman is a genius, and though I'd read up on her before, here are a couple of things I was struck by. 1) She's been fired by Fax Machine I'm always stunned by people who come into their own at such a young age. At 17, Silverman was already working night clubs in... READ ON
Neatorama just featured this great and strange photo of bathing machines, and I was completely intrigued. Apparently, the sheds on wheels were popular in the 19th century (even Queen Victoria had one!) and were there to--what else?-- protect a woman's chastity. At the time, beaches were segregated, so men and women used separate sections. In fact, because it was considered coarse to see a woman in her bathing suit, ladies entered the machines in their street clothes, changed into their swimwear in the dark... READ ON
OhGizmo just featured this modified park and bus stop bench from designer Martin Nicolausson. Apparently, the designer is on a mission to encourage strangers to communicate in public spaces, and he figured that by turning seats into seesaws, anyone who wanted to sit comfortably would need to talk a stranger into balancing them out! It's a pretty fun idea, though I can't imagine it's coming to my neighborhood anytime soon. Link via the always entertaining... READ ON
While Saturday Night Live enjoys its reputation for refusing to pull punches on-air, who knew that the show's commitment to objectivity extended to their staff bios? I'm a huge fan of the show, but was stunned by the brutally honest (and harsh) way they've written about the former cast members on SNL's site. Here are just a few of the chestnuts that are currently published online. From Chevy Chase's bio "... The mega-hits "National Lampoon's Vacation" and "Fletch" followed. The second half of the '80s... READ ON
1. He's Got a First... READ ON
CNN is reporting that Hollywood actor House Peters, Jr. passed away today at the age of 94. While Peters has a lengthy resume as a character actor in Westerns and TV shows, he's most recognizable as the original face of Mr. Clean. From his IMDB profile, Peters seems like a gem of a person. Apparently, he claimed that if he wasn't a star by age 50, he'd quit the profession. Crazier still, he stayed true to his word (walking away from his regular gig as the sheriff on Lassie), and had a... READ ON
I learned plenty of strange facts this weekend at the Baseball Hall of Fame. But by far, the most amazing story I heard was this one: about a 17-year old girl who struck out two of the biggest names in baseball, only to be kicked out of the sport. Here's the full story: Virnett "Jackie" Mitchell was a left-handed phenom. Encouraged by her father to pick up sports at an early age, Jackie excelled at everything from boxing to shooting to basketball. But baseball was her greatest strength. As a teenage... READ ON
5 Questions: Great "Scott"!
Troy McClure Film or Actual Terrible Movie?
In a 1917 letter to Winston Churchill, Admiral John Fisher used the phrase "O.M.G."
