mental_floss e-news: "Cash for Clunkers" - mentalfloss.com Issue 209 :: Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Issue 209 :: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Subscribe to our Magazine
by Mangesh - Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Every August, mental_floss spends a good bit of time thinking about the upcoming calendar year. We analyze the magazine stories that have sold well for us: like the "25 Most Powerful Books" issue. Then we spend some time reflecting on the disasters, like the mental_floss Swimsuit Issue. (My friend Chetan and I significantly overestimated America's craving for photos of Einstein and Eleanor Roosevelt.)    Of course, what I love most about these brainstorms isn't the good ideas, but the bad ones. Jason and Jenny's idea for an untimely 1980 celebration issue: "Happy 29th Birthday 1980!" was shot down with vigor. I am convinced it would have sold tens of copies.   I also liked "The Incredible Temper Tantrum Issue!" where we'd cover historical temper tantrums and include a perforated spine in case you wanted to tear the magazine in half; and "The Black Market Issue!"-- the hope being that booksellers would only sell the issue in the alleys behind their stores or trade them for kidneys.   I am certain none of these will make the cut. While I'm keeping the actual good ideas under wraps (you'll have to wait till next year to see them on the newsstand), I am both in love with bad ideas, and inspired by the government's Cash for Clunkers program. That's why I'm asking you to send in your bad idea here. We'll mock up our 5 favorite entries for the website. And if you win, I'll personally mail you a moderately crisp $1 bill straight out of my wallet. If the program ends up being too successful, we might expand the budget. Eagerly awaiting your submissions, Mangesh   E-mail Jason and Mangesh, here.          Don't forget!   We've got hilarious shirts for JUST $12 when you buy them at mental_floss Outlet Store.     Our weekly attempt to stock our newsletter readers' closets (and bookshelves) with mental_floss paraphernalia!   THIS WEEK's THEME: HOOKED ON BOOKS   Our insanely interesting fact: After Fonzie got a library card on "Happy Days," library card applications reportedly increased 500%.   Can you out-trivia us?     Send in your fascinating one-sentence submissions, along with your full name and address to beatourfacts@gmail.com. This week's winners will receive T-shirts from the mental_floss store. Oh, and even if your fact doesn't win you some swag, it could win you some fame! The best user-submitted facts will go into our Amazing Fact Generator. Last Issue's Theme was "HIRED HELP." The winners (and their facts) are: 1) During the Georgian era in England, some wealthy estate owners would pay professional hermits to stay in a cave on their properties to ornament their landscaped gardens. -Steve Trentham 2) In ancient China, hired laborers were routinely worked much harder than the actual slaves, a fact that hired workers are recorded as frequently complaining about. -Amy Sticha 3) Several New York ad agencies pay corporate seat fillers to dress and act like workers so that when clients visit, the firm looks more successful. -Missa Haas Congratulations to all of you... you should be receiving your T-shirts by Pony Express any day now! From the mental_floss Twitter Account It's estimated that 10% of living Europeans were conceived on an Ikea-produced bed.   In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson issued the first Medicare card. The recipient was Harry Truman.   Hoshi, a traditional Japanese inn that opened in 718, has been in the same family for 46 generations (and counting).   At the Chicago Columbia Exposition of 1893, Tesla sent 200K volts through his body to prove electricity was safe. His hair stood on end for a week.    Corporate Initials You Probably Know, But Just In Case: The three Ms in 3M stand for Minnesota Manufacturing & Mining.   Grace Kelly's father won three Olympic medals in sculling (rowing).   In the 'Peanuts' comic strip, Peppermint Patty's real name is Patricia Reichardt.   Corporate Initials You Probably Know, But Just In Case: Shipping company DHL originally stood for Dalsey, Hillblom and Lyn   For more random knowledge, 140-characters at a time, follow us on Twitter. Check it out: Daily Lunch Quizzes | All our Most Popular Lists Continue reading trivia If you're not already a subscriber click here to join the mailing list. To change your email address or update other contact information click here. Click here to forward this email to a friend. You can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking here. Disclaimer: All submissions made to mental_floss become the property of Mental Floss LLC and may be used without further permission by the submitter and without compensation to the submitter. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not submit anything to mental_floss. Contents of this newsletter are copyright © 2008 Mental Floss LLC. Free email newsletter subscriptions are for personal, non-commercial use only. Reprint and redistribution rights may be subject to licensing fees. Please contact trivia@mentalfloss.com for more information. 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