mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
by - November 17, 2007 - 12:43 PM
In case you weren’t glued to this site all week, consider this your make-up class. Here’s a look back at some of the wonderful topics we’ve recently covered:
• 7 Pampered Celebrities and their Ridiculous Pre-show Demands
• Manly Ways to Prepare Turkey
• 7 Insane Food Competitions
• Famous Last Words: The Animated Musical
• When Sitcom Stars Start Expecting
• Stuff You Don’t Know About Writers You Might
• The Monster of the Andes, The Meanest Man in America, and 7 other Prolific Serial Killers
Read on for more of this week’s best posts, plus the aforementioned weekend nonsense and a chance to win a t-shirt!
• Absinthe Comes to America
• The First Time News Was Fit To Print: Golden Gate Bridge, Bill Maher, Toyota Prius
• (Way More Than) Everything You Wanted to Know about Guinea Pigs
• The Life and Times of Gary Larson
• Nine Holiday Gifts that Send a Message
• Feel Art Again. And Again.
• Why the Farm Bill is Cool
• Eat Like the Pilgrims
• Quizzes: Nintendo History, Transient Sports Franchises, Inventions Timeline and Opening Lyrics
And here now the nonsense: How long do you think it takes for toothpaste to fall off the brush?
At 11:30am Eastern Time this morning (and 59 seconds), I (Jason) stood my Braun Professional Care electric toothbrush upright. At what time will the toothpaste become unstuck and reach the strategically placed Post-it Note waiting below?
A couple of things to consider:
1) After taking this picture, I relocated the toothbrush to the top of my dresser. Laptop heat is not a factor.
2) The toothpaste is Crest Sensitivity.
We’ll play Price is Right rules. The person who comes closest to the actual time of toothpaste/toothbrush separation without going over wins a free mental_floss t-shirt. You can guess up to five times, but they all must be in separate comments. Keep those guesses in Eastern Time. And be sure to mention which shirt you’re playing for. Like this:
Comment #1: Jason
Saturday, 11:33am
Rhesus shirt, Large
Since there’s nothing more boring than thinking about someone watching toothpaste, scroll back up and read a few of this week’s greatest hits. I’ll post the winning time tomorrow. Best of luck.
UPDATE: Sunday, 11:52pm
Around 3pm Saturday, I moved the toothbrush back to its bathroom base. (Around 2:59pm, this was what my wife said: “Seriously, get the toothbrush out of here.”) All afternoon, the increasingly solid Crest Sensitivity toothpaste clung admirably to the bristles. But after an intense evening walking of the dog, I chose to shower up. I like my showers hot. And the steam hot showers produce does wonders for crusty globs of toothpaste. While toweling off, I noticed the toothpaste had fallen, the contest over. It was 10:38pm. Looks like Sarah’s guess – 10:04pm – is the winner! We’ll be in touch about your t-shirt. Congratulations!
Comments (57)
- Follow mental_floss
Saturday, 11:32 and 47 sec
Rhesus, large
posted by Charlotte on 11-17-2007 at 1:24 pm
High Noon
Scurvy, Medium
posted by Amit on 11-17-2007 at 1:28 pm
8:01 P.M. tonight!
mental-floss logo shirt, small
posted by Sally on 11-17-2007 at 1:56 pm
2:39pm
Scurvy, XL
posted by Tanner G on 11-17-2007 at 2:11 pm
Is never an option? It is possible it could stay there until it because sticky and hard. Like the stuff in the sink. Eww.
I pick “never”.
large women’s pavlov shirt.
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 2:15 pm
Saturday, 3:35 pm.
large womens pavlov shirt
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 2:16 pm
Saturday, 5:46 pm
large women’s pavlov shirt
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 2:17 pm
Sunday, 1:15 am.
large women’s pavlov shirt
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 2:17 pm
Saturday, 2:24 pm
large women’s pavlov
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 2:18 pm
saturday, 6:06 pm
large rhesus
posted by Allan on 11-17-2007 at 2:35 pm
I think something will happen (heavy walking across floor, dresser gets bumped etc.) that will cause the toothbrush to tip over getting the toothpaste on the dresser and/or floor. Do I have to provide a time for this? If so, I think it will happen by 8:48 pm.
large rhesus
posted by Allan on 11-17-2007 at 2:40 pm
Saturday, 4:21pm
Pluto, large
posted by Nick on 11-17-2007 at 2:40 pm
Monday 1:15am
Pluto Large
posted by Fred on 11-17-2007 at 3:02 pm
Saturday 11:40 and 30 seconds
Marx
posted by Amber on 11-17-2007 at 3:38 pm
My previous one was supposed to be AM
Saturday 11:45 AM and 24 seconds
Marx
posted by Amber on 11-17-2007 at 3:39 pm
Saturday 11:58 AM
Marx, small
posted by Amber on 11-17-2007 at 3:40 pm
Saturday 12:02 AM
Marx, small
posted by Amber on 11-17-2007 at 3:40 pm
It won’t…there’s not a big enough glob there to plop…
posted by Anita on 11-17-2007 at 3:41 pm
Saturday 12:05 AM and 4 seconds
Marx, small
posted by Amber on 11-17-2007 at 3:41 pm
Saturday, 11:51am
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 4:14 pm
Saturday 1:18pm
Pavlov, women’s small (I forgot to put this on my last one, which was 11:51am)
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 4:16 pm
Saturday, 10:04 pm
Pavlov, women’s small
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 4:17 pm
Saturday, 3:28 pm
Pavlov, women’s small
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 4:18 pm
Saturday, 5:47 pm
Pavlov, women’s small
posted by Sarah on 11-17-2007 at 4:19 pm
5:52 p.m.
Freud-Medium
posted by Kelli K. on 11-17-2007 at 4:54 pm
11:52 AM
Women’s pi-Med
posted by SongLee on 11-17-2007 at 4:59 pm
Saturday, 11:32 and 39 seconds
Simple as pi, women’s fitted large
posted by Erick Grant on 11-17-2007 at 4:59 pm
Saturday, 11:46am
Scurvy, Large
posted by David on 11-17-2007 at 5:05 pm
1pm, Saturday
Scurvy, Large
posted by David on 11-17-2007 at 5:06 pm
Sunday, November 18th at 9:15 am
Rhesus, women’s large
posted by gretchen on 11-17-2007 at 5:23 pm
Saturday, 12:36pm
Achilles Small
posted by Laura on 11-17-2007 at 7:05 pm
Saturday, 11.49pm
achilles small
posted by Laura on 11-17-2007 at 7:06 pm
Sunday, 8:23am
achilles small
posted by Laura on 11-17-2007 at 7:07 pm
Sunday 11:46am
achillies small
posted by Laura on 11-17-2007 at 7:08 pm
Sunday 3:17pm
achilles small
posted by laura on 11-17-2007 at 7:09 pm
2:34 PM (32 seconds) (Saturday)
Pavlov Long-Sleeved Shirt XL
posted by chris on 11-17-2007 at 8:48 pm
Sunday, 9:15 p.m.
pluto, medium
posted by heather on 11-17-2007 at 9:01 pm
It won’t fall off, it will dry out before then.
rhesus womens, XL
posted by Amy on 11-17-2007 at 9:49 pm
1:20 pm, saturday
Scurvy, Large
posted by David on 11-17-2007 at 10:26 pm
12:06pm, sat.
Scurvy, L
posted by David on 11-17-2007 at 10:31 pm
at the very time this (very early) Sunday am entry actually gets posted. So, whatever the time given is, therein is my answer!
Pavlov – Small
posted by Amy on 11-17-2007 at 11:50 pm
Darn the time difference! Ok, I stick by my above theory that it will make its ‘Humpy Dumpty’-esque topple at precisely the moment of this entry’s posting.
However, due to the time difference, this might make it still SATURDAY, albeit not for much longer.
Again, Pavlov – Small
posted by Amy on 11-17-2007 at 11:53 pm
12:14 pm
Pi, Women’s M
posted by NaechsteHaltestelle on 11-18-2007 at 1:28 am
4:05pm, monday
posted by V on 11-18-2007 at 4:54 am
pluto W S
posted by V on 11-18-2007 at 4:54 am
3:01p
mens pi shirt, small
posted by bob on 11-18-2007 at 9:51 am
2pm, Saturday
Scurvy, L
posted by David on 11-18-2007 at 11:18 am
3:23 pm Sunday
rhesus small
posted by alcasabas on 11-18-2007 at 11:26 am
Sunday, 6:02pm
Women’s pi
posted by Erin on 11-18-2007 at 3:04 pm
12:57
Pavlov, XL
posted by Amy on 11-18-2007 at 5:09 pm
Thursday 959pm
Pluto XL
posted by MIss Nae on 11-18-2007 at 6:07 pm
Annie
Monday 11:53 am
Idioms Small
posted by Annie Xie on 11-18-2007 at 7:02 pm
Annie
Sunday 6:45 am
Idioms Small
posted by Annie Xie on 11-18-2007 at 7:03 pm
Annie
Monday 6:03 pm
Idioms Small
posted by Annie Xie on 11-18-2007 at 7:04 pm
12:22 p.m. Saturday
Pluto, XXL
posted by Andrew on 11-18-2007 at 9:12 pm
12:37 p.m. Saturday
Pluto XXL
posted by Andrew on 11-18-2007 at 9:15 pm
My earlier post should have read
Saturday 12:57 pm
Pavlov XL
posted by Amy on 11-18-2007 at 10:55 pm