How do you make a boring household appliance, like a blender, the hip new thing? Well, you can either design it to be retro-adorable, or you can appeal to the misbehaving-kid demographic. BlendTec appears to have gone the latter route -- its new ad campaign is a fantastic, unholy cross between a cooking show and "Mr. Wizard," as set in a frat house. Watch as star Tom Dickson crushes lightbulbs and beer bottles using nothing but his bare hands and his blender! See what the "soup" setting can do to a rake... READ ON
Judging by the state of my house right now, I need a mammogram. Women who keep their homes clean and tidy are less likely to develop breast cancer than those who let the dust and dishes pile up, according to a new report. Researchers found regular moderate exercise such as housework provides greater protection from the disease than more strenuous but less frequent sporting activity. Being active in the home cut the likelihood of pre-menopausal women developing breast cancer by 29 per cent compared... READ ON
Somehow, I don't think this is what the great painters of old were hoping for when they developed... READ ON
Today's second archival tidbit comes from our current issue, on stands now. Shame on you if you don't already have a copy. The Original Ocean's 11: The 2003 Antwerp Diamond Heist If you think George Clooney's "Ocean's 11" character was smooth, check out the velvet finish on criminal mastermind Antonino Finotto. In February 2003, Finotto and his gang of thieves, known as the School of Turin, pulled off one of the stealthiest heists in history. Daring to break into the... READ ON
Today's first archival tidbit comes from Scatterbrained: Diamonds are forever, the saying goes—and now you can be a diamond forever, too. Chicago's LifeGem company will turn the cremated remains of your favorite pet or loved one into a reasonably high-quality "memorial diamond" suitable for mounting in a ring or necklace. The process replicates the awesome heat and pressure needed to create a natural diamond, but instead of millions of years, it takes about six months.... READ ON
I'm currently traveling in Japan, and since I've subjected you to seven Armchair Field Trips in the last two weeks, I think instead I'll let you see for yourselves what I've been seeing, via pictures (mine) and links (from elsewhere). We've already talked about wasabi and namako-kabe; now let's check out the ginormous early-morning Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, the biggest fish and seafood wholesaler in the world. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to transfer my... READ ON
Today's tidbit comes from volume 5, issue 6: Noted comic (and drunk) W. C. Fields left the world with these fine parting remarks: "God d*** the whole friggin' world and everyone in it but you, Carlotta." If that sounds sweet, consider that Fields' wife's name was Harriet. Carlotta Monti was his... READ ON
Today's first archival tidbit comes from What's the Difference? According to the Billiard Congress of America, during the Civil War billiard results often received wider coverage than war... READ ON
I'm currently traveling in Japan, and since I've subjected you to seven Armchair Field Trips in the last two weeks, I think instead I'll let you see for yourselves what I've been seeing, via pictures (mine) and links (from... READ ON
I'm currently traveling in Japan, and since I've subjected you dear people to seven Armchair Field Trips in the last two weeks, I think instead I'll let you see for yourselves what I've been seeing, via pictures (mine) and links (from elsewhere). First up: the wasabi fields of the Izu peninsula, about three hours south of Tokyo. * Loads of good wasabi trivia here (caveat emptor: as you'll already know from our magazine, "many, if not most, of the brands of wasabi powder and wasabi paste are... READ ON
5 Questions: Boys Behaving Badly
Lesser-Known Founding Fathers
The winning word at the 1940 National Spelling Bee was "therapy."
