Scorpion Vodka, advertised as a drink that "stings the palate" | Image: Firebox
If you fancy the idea of serving some liquor that will raise eyebrows at your holiday get together, look no further than the linked collection of bizarre booze. Think eating the worm in the tequila bottle is edgy? Try the edible scorpion shown above. The maker advertises that their "specifically bred Chinese scorpion is totally safe to eat, tail and all." Not only that, but the bottled, stinging sidekick also "endows the vodka with a soft, woody taste."
See more examples of strange brew in this article.
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The official Star Trek and Beyond trailer was released today, to what looks like reactions divided into two camps: those that complain it looks like Fast and Furious in space, and those who are excited about the less subdued, action-packed look. The J.J. Abrams-produced, Justin Linn-directed film was written by Simon Pegg, who also plays Scotty. The film, which stars Idris Elba, Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Karl Urban, will be in theaters July 22, 2016. Via Uproxx
Star Wars airsickness bags were a collaboration between Virgin Airlines and LucasArts | Image: Bagophily
Cool action figures, toy light sabers, costumes and the like aren't the only Star Wars merchandise to bring smiles to fans of the franchise. In fact, far more questionable collectibles remain in circulation. Two shameless examples follow:
2. REVENGE OF THE SITH AIR SICKNESS BAGS
In 2005, Virgin Atlantic partnered with LucasArts to promote the then-new Revenge of the Sithvideo game. Four limited-edition Star Wars air sickness bags were made for all transatlantic flights. One bag included instructions on how to operate a lightsaber, while others featured a diagram of what’s inside of a lightsaber and how a Jedi Knight duels a Sith Lord. Another featured an airplane’s seating chart which highlighted the Light and Dark Sides of the Force.
15. JAR JAR BINKS LOLLIPOP
The infamous Jar Jar Binks lollipop from The Phantom Menace might just be the most bizarre movie tie-in product ever released with any Star Wars film. It was a push-up style lollipop with the Gungan’s hideous reptile-like tongue as the sweet candy inside. Who thought it would be a good idea to make a candy where kids actively French kiss Jar Jar?
See more bizarre, branded Star Wars merchandise, including the most unfortunate of bathroom necessities, at mental_floss.
Suck on the tongue of Jar Jar Binks with the official Star Wars lollipop bearing his name and likeness
This Asian small-clawed otter is sprawled out on a beach towel, relaxing as he munches on his chows. Perhaps those orange stripes are taking him back to his vacation days spent on the beaches of Thailand? Ahhh... those were the days. In fact, he's probably blissed out and planning on calling his travel agent after his meal. Via Tastefully Offensive
Gingerbread Iron Throne | Image: imgur
Have you ever tried to make a gingerbread house? It's quite a bit more challenging than it looks. Mishaps with "construction supplies," breakage and lack of adhesion and stability can all be problems one encounters along the way. Twice I've seen adults set out with the best of intentions to make a gingerbread house with kids and end up frustrated, with no recognizable structure, hopelessly and defeatedly munching on materials.
That's why I'm impressed whenever I see gingerbread projects that stand out in their excellence. It always makes me wonder how long it took the builder, and how many calories they may have stress-ingested during the construction process.
Check out these 13 cool gingerbread creations inspired by popular movies and television shows. Some of them boggle the mind in their delicious detail.
"Ginger-Barad-Dûr," Lord of the Rings | Image: zamfall / Via imgur
Gingermeth House, Breaking Bad | Image: reddit
Milk aisle at the grocery store | Image: AshokaJegroo
During this season of rich and plentiful foods, we often want to share the wealth with our beloved pets. Yet it's not fun later when a dog has digestive issues as a result of what they've eaten; both for the dog and the owner. Even worse of a scenario is feeding something to the dog that could put his life at risk.
Such a deadly reaction can happen with xylitol, pictured below in the form of peanut butter. A sweetener often found in nut butters, chewing gum and other products labeled "sugar free," the substance can cause vomiting, lethargy, stupor, seizures, and coma in dogs. It can also cause liver failure due to excessive insulin release and hypoglycemia. Surely nothing to mess around with when it comes to our furry best friends.
Read about 29 things that two prominent veterinarians warn are unhealthy or dangerous to feed dogs in this article. Better safe than sorry. Via The Presurfer
Xylitol, found in many peanut butters | Image: mrsdkrebs / Flickr
Eddie Van Halen | Image: Alan Light
The public perception of celebrities often tends to underestimate them in terms of intelligence. It's easy to look superficially at entertainers and other famous people and assume they are mostly dim bulbs. But many are deeper than they appear, and have active, industrious minds. People such as guitar god Eddie Van Halen, for example.
Inheriting from his father a penchant for solving life's problems with inventions, when a problem or inconvenience arises in his music career, Van Halen creates gadgets to eradicate such issues. He's made a number of adjustments to his guitars that have allowed him more comfort and efficiency of movement as he plays.
Van Halen's guitar support | Image: Eddie Van Halen
Eddie patented some of his ideas, such as a bridge with a lever that allowed him to retune his guitar quickly while onstage. Perhaps his most recognizable invention is a support for stringed instruments that he created in order to better see the string side of the guitar as he picks and taps.
Read about more celebrity inventions by everyone from Gary Burghoff (Radar from M*A*S*H) to Charlie Sheen, here.
Image: Wellcome Images via Wikimedia Commons
Neatorama's own Miss Cellania presents us with this historical look at arsenic as a murder weapon; specifically, how women used the substance to do away with their enemies. And what a way for a "lady" to kill and not even get her white gloves dirty! Not until 1832 was there a scientific test for the presence of the poison in a corpse, and even then, only those deaths suspected to be poisonings were subject to it. So who used arsenic to get rid of their human problems?
"8. NANNIE DOSSSerial killer Nancy Hazle later became known as Nannie Doss and was also referred to in the press as "the Giggling Granny" because of her bizarre behavior. In 1921, when she was only 16 years old, she married Charlie Braggs. They produced four daughters. The two middle daughters died under mysterious circumstances in 1927, and Braggs left Doss. She met Frank Harrelson through a lonely hearts column and married him in either 1929, 1937, or 1945 (accounts vary). He died from ingesting rat poison in 1945. Meanwhile, two of Doss' grandchildren died under mysterious circumstances. Doss married her third husband, Arlie Lanning, in 1947. He died in 1952 of heart failure, although he had no history of heart problems. Soon after, their home burned. The house had been willed to Lanning's sister, but the insurance beneficiary was Doss. Soon after, Lanning's mother and Doss' sister died.
Husband number four was Richard Morton, whom Doss married in 1952. During that marriage, Doss' father died and her mother came to live with her. The arrangement did not last long, as Louisa Hazle died within a few days of her arrival in 1953. Richard Morton died three months later. Nannie Doss immediately began looking for another husband, and married her fifth, Sam Doss, in 1953. Within a couple of months, he was hospitalized with a mysterious illness, but survived and was sent home on October 5th, only to die later that night. Sam Doss' suspicious doctor ordered an autopsy and found (you guessed it) arsenic. Nannie was finally arrested, and she confessed to murdering all four deceased husbands, a mother-in-law, her own mother, her sister, and a grandson. She pleaded guilty to the murder of Sam Doss and was sentenced to life. She died in prison in 1965."
Read about more black widows who used arsenic as a murder weapon at mental_floss.
Woman returning home with a Christmas tree, 1895
The Victorian era is generally regarded to be the years of Queen Victoria's reign, from 1837 to 1901. Shown here are a few selections from a fascinating collection of photographs of Christmas in the Victorian years. Artificial Christmas trees didn't yet exist, thus the trees had an imperfect, usually shorter shape than we're used to seeing today. Christmas lights strung on the tree? Negative. Beautiful handmade ornaments? Practically guaranteed.
Check out this treasure trove of Victorian Christmas images at Vintage Everyday.
Children on Christmas
Christmas, 1860
BATOSTAT ANTI-FIRE ACTIVATOR pic.twitter.com/3wAgXgW8ZQ
— Batman 66 Labels (@BatLabels) November 24, 2015
The Batman television series that ran from 1966-1968 was so lovable, with its combination of kitsch, over-the-top music and sound effects and sixties glam. Now a Twitter account called "Batman 66 Labels" is bringing the sixties Bat back with its collection of labels for Bat "weaponry."
Anything that followed a line like "quick Robin, access the" is fair game. The bag of tricks with which B and R used to fight crime was vast, and often amusingly labeled. Whether the moniker is obvious or oblivious to its hilarity, it's something everyone who's seen episodes of the classic series can enjoy.
Go visit Batman '66 Labels on Twitter to see more. Via i09
EMERGENCY BAT-TURN LEVER pic.twitter.com/iMzgo0z2gZ
— Batman 66 Labels (@BatLabels) December 12, 2015
DRINKING WATER DISPENSER pic.twitter.com/1XPOISKyJZ
— Batman 66 Labels (@BatLabels) December 12, 2015
TRUTH CONTROL BAT TESTER pic.twitter.com/YJK5YQQLo9
— Batman 66 Labels (@BatLabels) December 10, 2015
ICE LADDERS pic.twitter.com/ZMuq26JS70
— Batman 66 Labels (@BatLabels) November 30, 2015
This beautiful, fanciful skyscraper is a proposal by architect, professor and Assistant Dean at the Yale School of Architecture Mark Foster Gage. The design proposal, intended for 41 W. 57th Street, would certainly be a standout in the midtown Manhattan skyline.
The 102-story residential building, a nod to art deco architecture like the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, is overflowing with elaborate embellishments that look like jewelry draped over the building.
Gage says via his website,
“Each unit has its own unique figurally carved facade and balconies that frame particular features of the surrounding urban and natural landscapes.”
Whether this is just an exercise in how to revolutionize midtown’s Billionaires’ Row or a true contender as future midtown real estate remains to be seen.
Read more about the building proposal here, and see the video below to check out the design in more detail.
Images: Mark Foster Gage | Via Gizmodo
Ornaments in Glossy Pantone Colors | Image: BRIT.CO
For people who put up a tree every year, ornaments can be the perfect gift. So varied are their styles that one can always find an ornament to fit the personality of the receiver. Unlike socks. we tend to remember who gave us any ornaments we didn't select ourselves, thus the gift can create memories. Also, most ornaments are affordable for people on a budget.
Have a look at this collection of 30 unusual and geeky ornaments at mental_floss. You might come across one that's perfect for a friend, or even as a fun, early gift to yourself to hang on the tree this year.
The Tardis
A most festive T. Rex made of resin and glass
The iron throne
London, after 4 degrees Celsius of warming
Today is the final day of the international climate change conference in Paris, where experts and government representatives from all over the globe have convened to discuss the issue and decide what they are willing to do about it as a group.
Many experts predict parts of cities worldwide becoming submerged underwater, as a result of melting glaciers and ice caps. The linked Esquire article illustrates such a scenario, with striking images showing some of the world's most iconic structures half drowning or completely under. The option to see satellite images of the highlighted areas is also included.
Above and below are two examples; see all of the images here.
Durban, South Africa after 2 degrees Celsius of warming
Durban, South Africa after 4 degrees Celsius of warming
Chocolates | Image: André Karwath aka Aka
Most of us, when thinking of our list of dream jobs, skip possibilities because we can't even conceive of the luck some people have in finding their chosen professions. For example, how would you like to work at tasting chocolate? As a career? Talk about a sweet job!
In the article linked below, Bon Appetit acts as a platform for professional chocolate taster Georg Bernardini to detail his delicious duties. Is the job every bit as wonderful as it sounds? Read the piece and see. Below is a rich and tasty teaser:
"Hand Georg Bernardini, a professional chocolate taster and tester, a bar of Hershey’s milk chocolate and he’ll unwrap it, smell it, examine the surface and texture, and then bring it to his ears to listen to it break. Finally, he takes a bite, letting the chocolate melt almost completely before he chews, deliberately. His review for the milk chocolate is unrestrained: “Extremely rancid—cheesy…Inedible.” Then on to the Cookies ‘n’ Creme: 'Oh dear, oh dear, the ingredients list reads like the list of protagonists of a chamber of horrors…I don’t like it.' The only explanation for why people in the U.S. must like it 'is that there were no alternatives,' he guesses.
Bernadini consumed 70 pounds of chocolate—4,200 chocolates from 70 different countries—a year this way. He evaluated everything from flavor, taste, appearance, melt, ingredients, and quality to determine which chocolates are really the best in the world. And he put it in his new, ultimate chocolate guide, Chocolate: The Reference Standard, now available in English. What’s it like to be Bernadini? Sometimes a total nightmare, and other times super sweet."
What are the downsides of Bernadini's job? How does it affect his diet? What are the hallmarks of the best and worst chocolates? Read answers to those questions and more here.
The Cable Guy | Image: Columbia Pictures
It's an often used (and often unrealistic) element of plot in movies: those with knowledge about computers and other electronics are able to do practically any underhanded thing possible to surveil, investigate and foil their chosen victims. One old example is The Cable Guy, in which Jim Carrey, as the title character, just by virtue of his knowlege of cable and phone systems is able to destroy practically everything good that protagonist Matthew Broderick has going for him in life.
It may be a frequently used plot convention, but that's only because it's mostly true, particularly in this age in which cameras, computers and other modes of surreptitious recording can be activated remotely.
Thus, when Gizmodo asked readers about some of their nightmare IT stories, the responses were all over the map. Examples follow:
"I had an office IT guy aid and assist a jerk in our civil department who was really creepily stalking me and when I took it to HR found out 3 other women in our firm had the same issue with the civil jerk, but none of them had been smart enough to know the IT guy did it. He was letting civil jerk look through my office emails, not that I’m stupid enough to ever send anything inappropriate through office email.
I figured it out because creepy guy referenced something I said in an email to my boss about taking the day off to look at new apartments, and I wasn’t sharing it because coworkers knew my then boyfriend and I didn’t want him to know I was moving out. When the civil guy emailed me and was like “I heard you were looking for a new apartment, maybe I can help” I got super creeped out and went to HR. We both knew the IT guy was the only one with the power to let people in to others emails. Unfortunately the IT dude was the brother of the firm founder... needless to say I found a new job asap." -Architect Queen Bi*ch
"In the early 90s when web-based porn primarily consisted of photos on listservs I worked for a state agency in a western state. The network was run by one guy and two assistants. The assistants were complete idiots. They would come around and try to fix things and usually the head guy would have to intervene. The network was unbelievably good though for those days. Later I found out the head guy ran a bunch of porn sites on the side and intentionally hired the idiots so they wouldn’t know what he was up to with his side business. That guy knew the value of having a system that didn’t go down. Best IT guy ever. And from the government’s perspective- worst IT guy ever." -TheBlightofGrey
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