Did you ever have the macaroni nightmare? It doesn't have to be about macaroni, but anything you could possibly say that makes everyone laugh at you. And I guarantee we've all had that dream where people laugh at how uncool we are. It's almost as bad as people laughing at you in real life. This is the latest comic from Buttersafe.
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You may think of hot dogs as a particularly American food (until you recall they were originally frankfurters), but Iceland is very proud of their hot dogs. Both locals and tourists say you must try the hot dogs in Iceland. So Fran Hoepfner and Cameron Scheetz had to go to Iceland to try them out. Well, to be honest, they also went for other reasons, but since airfares to Iceland are pretty cheap right now, why not? Fran says,
It felt weird to prioritize a hot dog, to our credit, a thing I maybe only otherwise prioritize if I’m at a baseball game, but yeah, our final morning of the trip we went to Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur—Bæjarins Beztu for short, obviously—which translates to “the best hot dog in town.” It’s just a little stand right in the center of Reykjavík, the capital city of Iceland, that’s been open since 1937. It’s also not just a tourist trap: The day we went the line was full of a healthy mix of tourists and locals trying to get their dog on.
Read their impressions and review of the famous Icelandic hot dogs at the A.V. Club.
(Image credit: Cameron Scheetz)
Ferryville, Newfoundland, is in the global spotlight right now because of an unexpected visitor. The town of about 500 people has seen its share of icebergs float by, but this one is a doozy- 150 feet tall! That's bigger than the iceberg that caused the Titanic to sink. The berg showed up on Easter weekend and is hanging around the Ferryville shoreline, drawing photographers, news media, and tourists looking for a thrill. Too bad the town's only two restaurants won't be open for another month. See more pictures and a video of the Ferryville iceberg at TVOM.
My neighbors think I am a great gardener. The secret is to immediately get rid of my failures, so that only the successes are seen. When someone compliments my lilac bush, I don't mention the several previous lilacs that died. Similarly, people talk about the risky behavior they survived in their younger years, while no one gets to hear from those who actually died. That is survivorship bias. This guy won the lottery, but that doesn't mean he has any particular wisdom about it, much less a foolproof method. After all, the many people who lost money on that lottery were not asked to speak about their experiences. This illustration of survivorship bias is brought to you by Randall Munroe at xkcd.
The 1970 Black Sabbath song "Iron Man" is a heavy metal classic, no pun intended. Or maybe it was intended. Anyway, you can't get any further from the popular concept of heavy metal than the angelic music of the harp. So of course, Camille and Kennerly Kitt, known as The Harp Twins, had to play the song on harps.
In case you're wondering about the fascinating backdrop, this was recorded at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington, Illinois. See more videos from the Harp Twins. -via Digg
In the early hours of April 21st, 1945, Swedish Jew Norbert Masur met with Gestapo chief Heinrich Himmler as a representative of the World Jewish Congress. Just showing up was dangerous, and the diplomacy required for such a talk was fraught with peril. But by that time, Himmler knew the war was lost and that Hitler was losing his mind. The negotiations with Masur would be more about Himmler's legacy: explaining himself and covering his tracks. Masur writes,
I tried very carefully to get him away from the unfortunate thought to defend his policies against the Jews in front of a Jew, because such an attempt would force him to add lie upon lie to his argument. But it was impossible to do so. It seemed that he had the need to express his defense to a Jew, as he probably felt that the days of his life, or at least the days of his freedom were numbered. And Himmler continued: "In order to stop the epidemics we were forced to cremate the bodies of the many people who died of the diseases. That was the reason we had to build the crematoria, and now, because of this, everyone wants to tighten the noose around our neck." This was the most convulsing try by Himmler to cover up his deeds. I loathed this explanation of the crematoria to such an extent that I could only remain silent.
Himmler also tried to defend the concentration camps, Germany's war losses, and the value of the Nazi party in opposing Communism. As a result of Masur's visit, Himmler allowed around 7000 women to leave the Ravensbruck concentration camp with the Swedish Red Cross. Read Masur's report of the meeting in this .pdf document. -via Metafilter
(Image credit: German Federal Archives)
As Dick Van Dyke sang in the musical Mary Poppins "A sweep is as lucky as lucky can be." And that's why you want one at your wedding. In Britain, chimney sweeps make money during the summer by attending weddings, where they are considered a good luck charm. For these occasions, they dress as the Victorian stereotype sweep, often complete with a cat or a small boy. Kevin Giddings owns a company that cleans and services fireplaces and heating systems, and gets hired for many weddings.
On those days, he dresses up—in a top hat, black gloves, a cravat, and a dress jacket with tails (he puts the jacket on right over his boiler suit). He sits his black cat, Sooty, on his shoulder, and picks up an old-fashioned wooden chimney brush. He smears soot all over his face. And then, once he’s all kitted up, he heads off to a stranger’s wedding.
How did this custom originate? It could be any one of many possible explanations, which you can read about at Atlas Obscura.
(Image credit: Milborrow Chimney Sweeps)
In February, 93-year-old Tom Sitter entered The Moth in Madison StorySLAM storytelling contest in Madison, Wisconsin. He told about his Valentines Day experience in 1933, when he was in third grade.
Sitter scored the competition's first-ever perfect ten. Maybe it's because he told it so well, or maybe it's because we can all relate to the tale. Or both. He now advances to the StorySLAM championship round. I hope we get video of his performance in that round. -via Tastefully Offensive
Undercover #420 operations are in place. Discreet traps have been set up throughout the city today. #Happy420 pic.twitter.com/Jo8mh0Z5lQ
— Wyoming, MN Police (@wyomingpd) April 20, 2017
Police in Wyoming, Minnesota, set up a sting operation to catch revelers celebrating 4/20 today. They had all the proper bait, and a butterfly net. Wonder if they caught their limit. -via The Daily Dot
The following article is from the book Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into California.
(Image credit: Flickr user Gerry)
Here’s a look at one of the most unusual, most unlikely, and, strangely, most beloved campgrounds in the entire United States.
OPEN…AND CLOSED
When the United States entered World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, it was just a matter of time until American soldiers would go into battle against the German and Italian forces occupying North Africa. So in 1942, the Marine Corps opened a base called Camp Dunlap on 630 acres of desert land in Southern California, where it trained troops to fight in conditions similar to those in North Africa.
Camp Dunlap wound down after the war and closed for good in 1956. The military stripped the base of everything of value, and after they cleared out, the citizens of the nearby city of Niland tore down the few remaining buildings and used the lumber to build a church. All that was left were the concrete slabs that had served as the floors for dozens of portable buildings and tents. A few ex-marines decided to stay behind, roughing it on campsites they built on the slabs. “The Slabs,” or “Slab City,” as it’s called, has been occupied ever since.
FOR THE BIRDS
(Image credit: Flickr user Don Barrett)
Only the toughest and most determined “slabbers” could stand to live at the site year-round; in summer the temperature can climb past 120°F in the shade, what little there is. But over the years, the site became a popular wintering spot for RV “snowbirds.” By the 1980s, more than 3,000 campers, travel trailers, and motor homes were descending on the site each October and staying until April, when they packed up and headed north again before it got too hot. Slab City had a lot to offer its “citizens,” most of whom were on limited or fixed incomes: It was warm in winter but not unbearably hot, and because it was owned by the state (and not private property) it was legal to stay there. It didn’t cost a penny in rent, and because it was just 50 miles north of the Mexican border, affordable prescription drugs and medical care weren’t far away, either.
…AND NOW THE FINE PRINT
Wedding photography is an exacting art and science. A formal wedding is usually a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the photos will be the legacy that lasts for decades or even generations. The professionals who do this work put everything they have into it. Several experienced pros shared some things they'd like you to know before the big day. Not really secrets, just good information about their tasks.
4. FEEL FREE TO ASK WHY THEY CHARGE AS MUCH AS THEY DO.
Sure, wedding photographers may charge a few thousand dollars for what seems like eight hours of work. But they also met with you countless times before the wedding. And do you realize how many times you emailed? Then there’s the editing process. Those photographers put many more hours of work into those pictures than you ever imagined. Also, that camera equipment wasn’t free (and it needs to be upgraded every couple of years). Stacy Able, an Indianapolis-based wedding photographer with Stacy Able Photography, says she loves it when couples ask why she charges so much, because it offers her the opportunity to really explain everything that goes into shooting a wedding.
5. THEY’RE WATCHING YOUR CHEMISTRY.
When the couple first sees each other at their wedding and they relax instantly, it’s a sign that they’re going to last, [Gina] Cristine says. “They really enjoy the day together.”
“I shoot 20 to 30 weddings a year, and I can tell when a couple has really great chemistry,” [Jason] Brown says. “It’s when they’re in sync with each other and when they’re fun-loving with each other.” Once in a while, though, there’s the bride and groom who aren’t really into each other, and don’t really hang out at the wedding. That’s a red flag—as is the couple who are worrying incessantly about everything being perfect during their wedding instead of simply relaxing and enjoying their big day, Cristine notes.
Before you hire a photographer for your wedding, read the rest of the 17 Secrets of Wedding Photographers at mental_floss.
(Image credit: Daniel Case)
We love dogs, but remembering all the breed names is next to impossible, especially when they're all good dogs. We should give them names that have something to do with their appearance, behavior, or at least their impressions on us. That would be especially useful for those of us who have trouble distinguishing between a dog and a cat, or a dog and a dragon. This chart by A Good Guy …Maybe makes a lot more sense than trying to remember breed names. -via Boing Boing
Bob Ross, the host of the calm, pleasant, and long running show The Joy of Painting, is remembered as a great guy because so many people loved to watch his show, and he encouraged so many people to enjoy painting. That's a pretty good legacy. But how much do we really know about the man? It turns out that no one knew all that much about him.
Not that there's any deep, dark scandals to be found, but Ross was so private that people couldn't help but be curious about his life. Simon Whistler of Today I Found Out spills what we know and don't know about the affable but very reserved Bob Ross. -via Tastefully Offensive
It was only a couple of weeks ago that astronomy fans were all excited about planet GJ 1132b, which shows evidence of an atmosphere. But the information from outside our solar system comes thick and fast (scientists have catalogued over 3,400 exoplanets), and now we have planet LHS 1140b to get excited about. Why? This planet, 40 light years away in the constellation Cetus, might have the conditions necessary for life. Specifically, it is a rocky planet with an orbit around its sun that could support conditions for flowing water on the surface.
The discovery team is particularly excited about gazing at the newfound world because it is close enough to Earth for existing telescopes to tell whether it has an atmosphere and, if so, whether its air contains signs of alien life.
“The scientist in me wants to be super cautious and consider all the reasons why we might not find life on this planet,” says study leader Jason Dittmann of Harvard University, whose team describes the new planet today in Nature.
It's a big leap from "favorable conditions" to "signs of alien life," but since we can monitor LHS 1140b, we will probably hear a lot more about it in the coming years. Read more about this intriguing exoplanet at National Geographic.
(Image credit: M. Weiss/CfA )
You've watched some of the many TV shows set in New York City, and at one time or another you've wondered how these characters can afford to live there. In reality, most of them could not. If you are dead set on living in Manhattan without roommates, yet you can't keep a job, you will most likely be living in a closet and showering down the hall. But they don't show that on TV! An article at The Washington Post compares and contrasts the realities of New York living with various TV shows. It concentrates on Girls, but looks at other shows over the past 60 years. The further back you go, the more realistic the rent is. Sure, rent was cheaper in the 1950s and '60s, but the characters weren't living in the lap of luxury, either. Neither Ralph Kramden nor Archie Bunker could afford to live in Manhattan. See the breakdown of real estate realism here.
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