Neatorama |
- Wolverine Adamantium Claws
- The Secret Lives of Kitchen Spices
- Parenting Achievement Unlocked
- Are They Really Snickerdoole Poppers Or Churro Bites?
- Real-time Media Map
- Advice from 1489: To Stay Youthful, Drink the Blood of the Young
- Univision Will Air a Spanish Version of Breaking Bad
- Watch a Cyclist Come within Inches of Getting Run over by a Train
- New Crop of Pirates Fans
- Heisenberg vs. Batman in <i>Breaking Bad Rises</i>
- Treehouse of Horror XXIV
- Ram Mask
- <i>Star Wars</i> Reads Day: A Force for Literacy
- Stay-at-Home Mom Quits Marina Shifrin Style
- The Secrets of Nacho Cheese Doritos
- Drive Thru Skeleton Prank
- Origins and Meanings of 9 Pirate Words and Expressions
- Giraffe Cups
- 25 Cool Alternatives to Carving Pumpkins
- Why Do We Eat Popcorn at the Movies?
- Fashion Logos Made From Images of Their Founders
- Happy Virus Appreciation Day! Save 20% on All Giant Microbes from the NeatoShop
- Iron Man Laplander Hat
- Marvel Families
- Every Day of World War II in Europe Mapped
- Overly Attached Cuttlefish
- What Is It? game 295
- Pumpkin Lasagna For The Fall Win
- How Different Cats Are Spending Autumn
- 14 Costumes Only Children Can Pull Off
| Posted: 04 Oct 2013 05:00 AM PDT Want claws like Wolverine, but don't have the pain tolerance or the know how to have the near-indestructible metal alloy adamantium bonded to your skeleton? Stop brooding. Now you can get that same superhero look with the Wolverine Adamantium Claws from the NeatoShop. This fantastic set includes a pair of plastic claws for that authentic Wolverine look. Wolverine Wig & Dog Tag also available. By them both and make it a fierce set. Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Halloween items.  | ||||||||||||||||||||
| The Secret Lives of Kitchen Spices Posted: 04 Oct 2013 05:00 AM PDT There’s a warmonger, a cure-all, and a former currency in your cabinet. Do you know which is which? CINNAMON STORKS
In ancient times, the origins of cinnamon were a mystery to the Western world, and Arab merchants wanted to keep it that way. To hike up the price, they spun an elaborate tale, claiming that giant birds collected cinnamon sticks from far-off lands and used them to build nests on cliffs. To get the precious sticks, traders laid out massive chunks of ox meat, which the birds grabbed and carried to their nests. But because the slabs were so large, the nests would collapse, allowing the clever merchants to collect their prize. Europeans bought this story until the late 1400s when the Portuguese found the real source of cinnamon—lush groves in Sri Lanka. Once they’d figured it out, the Portuguese struck a deal with the Sri Lankans to monopolize the trade and built a fort there to protect their assets. They were displaced by the Dutch in 1658, who were subsequently displaced by the Brits in 1796. But by then, the trees had been exported worldwide, so there was little need to fight for a cinnamon fix. THE POWER OF CUBEB COMPELS YOUWith notes of allspice and clove, cubeb comes from a plant that’s a close relative to black pepper, and it tastes somewhat similar. So it’s no surprise that cubeb was used as a cheap stand-in for its far more expensive cousin during the Middle Ages in Europe and through the 1800s in the U.S. Today, cubeb is rarely found outside Indonesian cuisine, but it’s a key ingredient in a ritual far more interesting than dinner: exorcisms. In his 17th-century book Demoniality, Italian priest Ludovico Maria Sinistrari recalls that cubeb did wonders for a “young maiden of noble family, who was tempted by an Incubus that appeared to her both by day and by night.” He tossed a few kernels of cubeb into her bedroom, and “the Incubus came, but never dared enter.” THE GREAT TEXAS SALT FIGHT
OK, we know it’s not technically a spice, but bear with us—this is good! First extracted from briny spring water in Romania in 6050 BCE, salt’s use as a food preservative allowed the local population to flourish. On the other hand, salt has also sparked more than its fair share of wars and revolutions, even on American soil. When Judge Charles Howard formed a “Salt Ring” in 1877 to gain control of the dry salt lakes near the base of the Guadalupe Mountains, the Mexican-Americans who’d been living there and collecting salt for free decided they didn’t want bland food imposed on them. So they rioted. Twenty Texas Rangers swaggered in to clean up the mess, but they were no match for the rebels, who disarmed and ousted the Rangers, killing Howard in the process. At that point, the settlers were allowed to keep their salt, but the flats soon fell into disuse after railroads started bringing in cheaper salt from Kansas in 1881. Nonetheless, the Rangers are still bitter about the experience—it was the only time in history they were forced to surrender. DEATH BY (FAKE) SAFFRON
The saffron you sprinkle on your paella is the most expensive spice in the world, fetching as much as $1,000 per pound. And for good reason: Saffron comes from the stigma of a sterile flower that no longer exists in the wild. The saffron we eat is the result of 3,000 years of breeding that began in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Stranger still, a pound of saffron requires 50,000–75,000 flowers—enough to cover a football field—and would take days to pick. Throughout history, saffron has been lauded as a cure-all. In the fourth century BCE, Alexander the Great took saffron baths to soothe his battle wounds. During the 14th century CE it was a go-to treatment for outbreaks. Even today, recent studies show that saffron can help treat Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, depression, and an array of other ailments. No wonder counterfeiting has been such a problem over the years. In the 1300s, Germany enacted the Safranschou code, which made saffron tampering punishable by death. One convicted tamperer was roasted over a fire of his flavorless saffron. 24-KARAT PEPPER
Grow a Piper nigrum shrub, pick its red berries, boil them until they turn black, dry them in the sun, and you’ve got pepper—the most popular spice in history! Long before shakerfuls hit every diner in America, pepper originated in the mountains of India, where it was referred to as “black gold.” This was a misnomer—pepper was worth more than its weight in gold, and individual peppercorns were even accepted as currency at the time, and it wasn’t just India. In Dutch, the term “pepper expensive” is used to describe something extremely pricey, which explains why the country waged war against the Portuguese in the 1590s to get a piece of the trade. The spice remained costly for centuries. Even in 19th-century England, shady suppliers would dilute pepper, mixing in charcoal or floor sweepings to stretch its street value. Since then, however, pepper’s price has plummeted as it became more widely grown. As for the stuff you’re sprinkling on your scrambled eggs, don’t worry—it’s pure. ENGLAND’S NUTMEG SWINDLE
Nutmeg wasn’t just valued for its sweet, nutty taste—Europeans once wore bags of it around their necks to ward off the Black Plague. (It’s possible it worked, since the spice repels fleas!) For centuries, the Banda islands of Indonesia were the only place nutmeg trees grew—a perfect opportunity for a monopoly, which the Dutch snapped up in the 1600s. After occupying the islands, the Dutch started a brisk business, making sure to douse any nutmegs they sold in lime so they couldn’t grow elsewhere. The plan would have been airtight if it weren’t for the tiny Banda island Run, which continued trading with the English. Although Holland and England had signed a peace treaty in 1619, Holland decided to invade Run and took over the island in 1666. A year later, Holland appeased the British by trading the exotic island of Manhattan for Run. As historian Giles Milton quipped, although the war “robbed England of her nutmeg, it gave her the biggest of apples.” _______________________
Be sure to visit mental_floss' website and blog for more fun stuff! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Parenting Achievement Unlocked Posted: 04 Oct 2013 04:00 AM PDT
When your kids get sneaky and deceptive in order to read books, you know that you've raised serious readers. If my parents ever caught me reading under the covers with a flashlight, they never let on about it. Marklo Kloos, the author of this tweet, is also a budding science fiction writer. He wrote Terms of Enlistment, an excellent military science fiction novel similar to Heinlein's Starship Troopers. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Are They Really Snickerdoole Poppers Or Churro Bites? Posted: 04 Oct 2013 03:00 AM PDT Either way, these tasty sweets are super easy to make. Just a can of Grand's Biscuits, vanilla pudding, cinnamon sugar and oil. The basic concept involves just frying the dough, rolling them in the cinnamon sugar and then injected with tasty pudding. Impressively, one can of biscuits makes 32 bite-size treats. You can find the rest of the instructions over at Oh, Bite It! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 04 Oct 2013 02:00 AM PDT The real-time Media Map by Bit.ly shows the preferred media outlets in each state. Click on a state at the interactive page, and get the top ten for that state. In this screenshot, you can see what online media is preferred in each state; you can also look at the most popular newspapers, TV/radio news outlets, and magazines rank in each state. Or you can watch the real-time information on users, with dots popping up when someone accesses the news. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Advice from 1489: To Stay Youthful, Drink the Blood of the Young Posted: 04 Oct 2013 01:00 AM PDT
Do you want to fight aging? Forget about plastic surgery. Follow the example of animals and drink the blood of young people:
You won't have to tell me twice! Line them up, bartender. -via VA Viper (Image: Domineco Ghirlandaio) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Univision Will Air a Spanish Version of Breaking Bad Posted: 04 Oct 2013 12:00 AM PDT Sony Pictures Television and Teleset are collaborating on a new series that will follow a chemistry teacher in Colombia who turns to making meth. Sound familiar? Diego Trujillo will star as Walter Blanco, with Roberto Urbina as his younger sidekick Jose Miguel Rosas. Walt and Jose will not be cooking in an RV, but an old bus, otherwise, the story remains the same in the series called Metastasis. The Spanish language version of Breaking Bad will air in the U.S. as well as Spanish-speaking countries to the south. You can see a promo trailer at HuffPo. The series will premier in 2014. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Watch a Cyclist Come within Inches of Getting Run over by a Train Posted: 03 Oct 2013 11:00 PM PDT When the barrier comes down across the road, just think of it as a suggestion. That appears to be what this bicyclist was thinking. According to British Transport Police, an unknown bicyclist decided to disregard a train crossing in Waterbeach, UK. She moved past the barrier, brought her front wheel almost to the track, then jerked back as the train came straight at her. She came within mere inches of getting hit. -via Jalopnik | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 10:00 PM PDT As the Pirates go against the Cardinals in the playoffs, the folks in Pittsburgh are getting excited about the postseason play. St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh presents its newest Pirates fans, displayed in the "Baby Bucco bullpen." The baseball team onesies and the red bandanas indicate that these children will be loyal fans for life. They've even got itty bitty bats! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Heisenberg vs. Batman in <i>Breaking Bad Rises</i> Posted: 03 Oct 2013 09:00 PM PDT There's a poison flowing through the streets of Gotham--a new, deadlier form of meth. A mysterious mad genius is responsible and only another madman can take him down. Watch this trailer by InpiQue Productions for the next great Batman movie. And if you're not sure that this is a good idea--if you suspect this crossover could go badly--then maybe your best course would be to tread lightly. -via VA Viper | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 08:00 PM PDT The couch gag opening of The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" episode this weekend was created by Guillermo del Toro and is three minutes long. You may have to watch it twice: once to enjoy it, and once again to see how many horror movie references you can spot, because it's chock full of them! -via Buzzfeed | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 07:00 PM PDT Do love ruminant mammals? Don't be sheepish. We encourage you to express your love of livestock with the Ram Mask from the NeatoShop. This great latex mask is shaped like a rams head and features white fur and horns. There is never a baaed time to dress up like male sheep. Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Halloween items. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| <i>Star Wars</i> Reads Day: A Force for Literacy Posted: 03 Oct 2013 07:00 PM PDT This Saturday, over 600 public and school libraries and 1,000 booksellers in the United States are promoting reading by celebrating Star Wars Reads Day. Other libraries in Austria, Australia, Germany and Canada are also participating. With the assistance of Lucasfilms's publishing arms, these organizations will provide Star Wars-themed books and graphic novels. Members of the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion--organizations of Star Wars fans who dress variously as stormtroopers and Rebel Alliance fighters--will be on hand to assist in the events. Hopefully there is no violence between the two groups. You can find a list of participating libraries here. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stay-at-Home Mom Quits Marina Shifrin Style Posted: 03 Oct 2013 06:00 PM PDT A few days ago, Marina Shifrin quit her job at Next Media Animation with a dance video that immediately went viral. Two days later, her boss and former co-workers responded with their own video. Now this stay-at-home mom is ready to hit the road and find better employment elsewhere. Here she performs her own departure video using Kanye West's "Gone." Content warning: NSFW lyrics. P.S. Miss Cellania, the editor of Neatorama, thinks that both videos are viral promotions for Next Media Animation. They were, as you can see, probably cheap to produce and gave the company a chance to show off its facilities to prospective employees. POLL: Do you think that the original two videos are promotional stunts by Next Media Animation?
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| The Secrets of Nacho Cheese Doritos Posted: 03 Oct 2013 05:00 PM PDT Nacho Cheese Doritos are the powerhouse of chips, known for being particularly addictive. Once you start eating them, there's a tendency to continue until they are gone. Then you can lick your fingers. What's the secret to this behavior? It's not just one ingredient, but a whole kitchen laboratory of flavors and flavor-enhancing substances. Oh, you know they have cheese, and salt, and artificial coloring, but did you know that the flavoring powder is ground into the finest powder possible to aid its adherence to the chip (and to your fingers)? The amount of fat is carefully balanced to sooth your brain, and lactic acid is in there just to get your mouth watering. That's just the beginning; read more specific Nacho Cheese Dorito ingredients and their purpose at the New York Times. -via the Presurfer | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 04:00 PM PDT Workers at fast-food restaurants have seen just about everything now. When a car comes through being driven by a skeleton, they don't faint, they don't scream, they just get their phones out to take a picture. But then, the skeleton turns to look at them and all bets are off! -via The Chive | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Origins and Meanings of 9 Pirate Words and Expressions Posted: 03 Oct 2013 03:00 PM PDT Arr! Avast, landlubber! Scuttlebutt has it that our pal Today I Found Out has created a new video clip explaining the origins and meanings of 9 pirate words and expression. If you don't view it, you're a bilge rat and not worthy of sharing grog with the rest of us - maybe we'll keel haul you instead. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 02:00 PM PDT The Giraffe is a functional coffee cup that's also an art piece. Each cup stands on three long legs, which is not only a conversation-starter, but makes reaching a cup on a low coffee table easy, too! Designed and handcrafted by Madrid artist Raúl Lázaro, they are sold in pairs, but look good in a herd.
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| 25 Cool Alternatives to Carving Pumpkins Posted: 03 Oct 2013 01:00 PM PDT Tired of the plain old jack-o-lantern you carve every year? Well, you could grab some of our great Neatoshop pumpkin decorations or you can try to make something different with one of these 25 cool pumpkin ideas from A Subtle Revelry. If you're looking to cook your pumpkin after Halloween, many of these offer you great options that don't involve carving so it will stay fresh until you're ready to cook the meat. I particularly like #25, the pumpkin turned into a flower base as it would make a great centerpiece or a great outdoor decoration depending on what flowers you put in it. Via Make | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Why Do We Eat Popcorn at the Movies? Posted: 03 Oct 2013 12:00 PM PDT Popcorn and movie theaters seem to go together naturally. Popcorn is easy to make, easy to eat with your hands, can be made without a huge kitchen, and the smell makes people want to buy it. Back in the mid-1800s, the popping itself was considered entertainment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fashion Logos Made From Images of Their Founders Posted: 03 Oct 2013 11:00 AM PDT The Netherlands-based artist Mike Frederiqo has recreated the logos of haute couture using cartoon images of their founders. Chanel, Yves Saint-Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and fashion mag Vogue got the treatment. View the larger pics over at Highsnobiety | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Happy Virus Appreciation Day! Save 20% on All Giant Microbes from the NeatoShop Posted: 03 Oct 2013 10:28 AM PDT Happy Virus Appreciation Day, Neatoramanauts! What? You didn't know that today, October 3, 2013, is Virus Appreciation Day? Why, it's the perfect occassion to have a sale on virus plushies over at the NeatoShop! Well, the holiday may be fake and made up, but the savings are real: save 20% on all Giant Microbes plushies by Drew Oliver over at the NeatoShop. Giant Microbes are plush toys inspired by viruses, bacteria, and human cells. They're the perfect gift for your favorite scientists!
View all Giant Microbes | All Sale & Clearance items | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 10:00 AM PDT Cold weather is approaching. Don't stand idly by as your head and ears are blasted by the strong and dangerous forces of nature. Suit up and protect yourself from chills with the Iron Man Laplander Hat from the NeatoShop. This stylish knitted cap is a wonderful way to defend yourself from the bitter elements. Be sure to check out the NeatoShop for more great Winterwear and fantastic Iron Man items. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 10:00 AM PDT
As a follow up for his incredibly cute and very popular series Justice League Families we covered before on Neatorama, cartoonist Andry "Shango" Rajoelina of El Shango Wuz Here created the Marvel version for the Paris Comic Con, as hosted by Geek-Art. Now, how adorable are these?
Take a look at more over at Andry's deviantArt gallery. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Every Day of World War II in Europe Mapped Posted: 03 Oct 2013 09:30 AM PDT EmperorTigerstar made a map showing the allegiance or occupation of Europe for every day of World War II. Watch the slow, steady, ominous growth of Nazi-controlled territory. The map also shows the massive involvement and contribution of the USSR, which America downplayed in history classes due to Stalin's reign of terror. Here's what the colors mean:
As you watch, remember that there were people dying because of the war every day, both in the red and at the fronts. EmperorTigerstar has lots of other animated history maps. -via Metafilter | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 09:00 AM PDT
You're being awfully foward, Cuttlefish. We've just barely started this job interview! -via Knitqueer | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Posted: 03 Oct 2013 08:31 AM PDT Hey look! It's time for our collaboration with the wonderful What Is It? Blog! Do you know what the object in this picture is? It doesn't really matter if you do, because we are looking for the funniest guesses. You can win a t-shirt from the NeatoShop! But first, read the rules: If you guess the correct answer, you'll get a big pat on the back. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Pumpkin Lasagna For The Fall Win Posted: 03 Oct 2013 08:00 AM PDT For some people, pumpkin lattes are enough to satisfy that need for fall flavors, but for the rest of us, we need some actual pumpkin to make the most of the season. And, of course, it's a great option for your Halloween pumpkins if you don't carve them. While there are hundreds of recipes out there for pumpkin sweets, this pumpkin lasagna is a totally unique and totally tasty option for a delicious main course with everyone's favorite fall flavor. You can find the recipe over at Cake Dutchess. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| How Different Cats Are Spending Autumn Posted: 03 Oct 2013 07:30 AM PDT There are so many things to enjoy in the fall. Cats are experts at enjoyment, so it seems a good idea to illustrate the joys of autumn with cats! This pleasant interlude is brought to you by Pleated-Jeans. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 Costumes Only Children Can Pull Off Posted: 03 Oct 2013 07:00 AM PDT To be fair, I don't think that all of the 14 costumes in this Buzzfeed list really are only good on children, but there are certainly a few that would look mighty silly on an adult -like this Nintendo costume, or the gnome costume. Really though, there are plenty of great Marie Antoinettes, though the best ones are missing their head, which is something that wouldn't be quite right for a youngster. |
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