On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply (you really can do that now!), whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

© Rick Friedman/Corbis, 2004

1. Today is the big Facebook IPO. There are people who document every inch of their lives on the social network, and there are people who interject their hatred of the company every time it’s mentioned. For everyone in between, do you have any examples — positive or negative — of ways Facebook has made an impact on your life, or someone close to you? Reconnecting with an old friend? Stalked by an old enemy? Found a job? Fired for updating your status at work?

2. What was the last great meal you had?

3. We’ve been talking about installing a trophy case in the office. The problem is, we don’t receive a lot of awards. In order to fill it, we’d each bring in a trophy from our childhood (my contribution). Whether it was an Outstanding Participation Award or something legitimately impressive, what was the first trophy you received?

4. I am running to lunch with co-worker Andrèa Fernandes, who I talk to almost every day but haven’t seen in four years. So if you want to pose a question to your fellow _flossers, have at it!

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply (you really can do that now!), whatever you want. Today has been a little crazy with all these 11 lists, so I’ve warmed up some previous topics…

1. I recently found myself in a “Wow, am I really doing this?” moment at Stop & Shop, and not in a good or exciting way—I was returning grapes.

During my three-year stint as an A&P cashier (and Tuesday Night Front End Manager), I would have ridiculed anyone who returned produce moments after purchasing it. But these grapes were not sufficiently seedless. In fact, they were quite seedful, which ran counter to the packaging, on which the word “seedless” appeared in two languages. I received a full refund and was not asked to pay for the three grapes I’d already eaten. Big win for Team English.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever returned? (Or the weirdest reason you’ve given for returning something?)

2. When I was growing up, there was no greater villain than the local guy who burned down the Sizzler. Our teachers loved to dangle him out there. Go to the bathroom without a pass? “Keep this up and you’ll end up like the guy who burned down the Sizzler.” Forget your homework? “The guy who burned down the Sizzler forgot a lot of homework when he was your age.” I guess it worked—the Sizzler was never again the target of arsonists. Who was your town’s “worst case scenario” resident?

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On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

Lockers image via Shutterstock

1. Do you remember your locker combination? I am hazy on grades 7-12, but in sixth grade my lucky numbers were 18-48-40. This should come in handy if I’m ever transported back to 1991 and need a social studies textbook.

2. It seems like a lot of our readers have been on game shows. Have you? Did you win big? Take home any lovely parting gifts?

3. I don’t think we have any Olympians out there (please correct me). But what Olympic event — summer or winter — would be your best?

4. If you could ask any artist to explain what a certain song means and he or she was obligated to tell you, which song would you choose?

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

1. It’s not often that I’m asked to speak to (and inspire) America’s youth, but when my three-year-old daughter’s preschool class invited me to lead today’s story time, I stepped up. After way too much thought, I chose A Fly Went By for its Seussian rhythm and high talking animal content. There’s also a big life lesson about the importance of understanding people’s motives, which we’ll get to in the breakout sessions. If you had to read one story to a dozen preschoolers, which book would you choose?

2. How do you get your local news? Besides gossip, of course. Especially if you live in a small town, do you read the local paper? The physical paper? Does an online news source have you covered?

3. Talking purely about design here, not symbolism or an affinity for a country’s people. What’s your favorite flag?

4. This is the first Happy Hour since we instituted the new commenting system. How’s that working out for everybody? I’m sure there are still some quirks, and perhaps we don’t know what they are yet. But for me, allowing actual conversations in the comments is a nice leap forward.

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

Books image via Shutterstock

1. Some people are fast readers. Other people are fast readers when they’re really excited about a book. What books holds your personal record for the fastest book you’ve ever finished?

2. Tomorrow is Record Store Day. If you still have a record store near you at which you could celebrate, you’re probably in the minority. Where was your favorite place to buy music growing up? A record shop? Used CD store? Columbia House?

3. Your college or high school called (your choice) and they want to name something after you. What’s an appropriate way for you to be remembered at your school?

Also: if you’re in New York and not busy on April 26th (Thursday), we’re having a party. I look forward to asking you random questions in person.

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

1. The general premise behind a movie remake or reboot is that if something was popular once, it should be popular again. Or, as Nick Offerman’s character puts it in 21 Jump Street, “The guys in charge of this stuff lack creativity and are completely out of ideas. So all they do now is recycle sh*t from the past and expect us all not to notice.”

But let’s look at this another way. What are some movies that could have been really good if not for a casting mistake, a weird plot turn, or some other regrettable decision? What movies NEED to be remade, because they could have been so much better?

2. If you had the power to dictate such things, and if un-remake-able were a word, what’s one film you would declare un-remake-able?

3. Everyone has books they reread from time to time, but what single book do you most-wish you could read again for the first time?

4. If you could have lived with any TV family growing up, which would you choose?

Also: if you’re in New York and not busy on April 26th, we’re having a party.

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

Graduation image via Shutterstock

1. Thinking back to your college experience and knowing everything you do now, do you think you chose the right college? If not, where do you wish you’d gone?

2. We’ve talked about your first movie theater experience. We’ve also discussed movies you saw multiple times in theaters. But what was the first movie you saw more than once in the theater?

3. Brag a little: What is your most useless talent?

4a. I did this thing for Flavorpill earlier this week where I recommended five Twitter accounts everyone should follow. Let’s open it up to everyone: what’s one Twitter account we should be following?

4b. I know roughly half of you are preparing your “But I hate Twitter!” responses. So for that part of the room, I’ll ask a slightly different last question: if you could resurrect one mall store that’s gone out of business, what would it be?

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

1. Tonight’s Mega Millions winner won’t walk away with Scrooge McDuck money — in 2011, Forbes estimated his net worth to be $44.1 billion. But he or she will be doing OK. That is, of course, unless they blow it. I’ve read competing statistics this morning that say either 68% or 90% of lottery winners file for bankruptcy within ten years. But today is a day for completely unrealistic dreams! If you won the jackpot, would you take the lump sum or the annuity? What would be your first crazy purchase?

2. Last week a few of us here went on a food pilgrimage … about 10 blocks south, to the Taco Bell in Penn Station. Since I had no interest in the Doritos Locos Taco but wanted to splurge on something, I opted for a bucket-size Twig and Berries (44 ounces) from the Planet Smoothie next door.

It was a long walk back.

What’s the longest distance you’ve traveled for a specific food?

3. Six years ago, we quoted a New York State wildlife expert who calculated that if a woodchuck could chuck wood, he could chuck as much as 700 pounds of the stuff. In the last ten days, two gentlemen named Garrett Ourth and Joe Pratt have emailed me a combined total of 16 times to take issue with the statistic. While I don’t want to encourage people to send me 16 emails on any subject, I am curious to see if others have done their own research. Here’s Garrett and Joe’s math:

“We believe a woodchuck’s chucking ability depends wholly upon their weight and the size of their teeth as well as the time they are given for them to chuck wood. The average woodchuck weighs 7 pounds. If they are born in the fall they have 1 inch teeth, 16 weeks later (which is spring). Woodchucks can chuck three times their body weight in two days. So a woodchuck of average proportions should be able to chuck 10.5 pounds in a day. Most woodchucks live in white pine forests. The average white pine weighs 26 pounds. This being understood, the average woodchuck chucks an average of 1/3 of an average white pine tree per day. Please email us back your opinion on this ASAP.”

I ask you: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

1. Congratulations! You’ve been given a huge advance from an ailing publishing company. Your assignment: write a memoir about any single job you’ve held. Looking back at your resume, what job experience do you think would make the best book?

2. I was out of commission earlier this week with strep throat and a fever. In an attempt to be productive, I wrote down some story ideas. At least I think they were story ideas. “Ways to improve the grocery store”? Um, OK. Let’s use that one here. How would you improve the grocery store experience?

3. We’ve got a little under two months before college graduation season, so there’s still time for soon-to-be graduates to heed your advice. What’s one book you think every student should read before graduating?

4. In addition to your new publishing deal, you’ve been hired as the chief planner of Mental Floss Day, which will be a series of events happening around the world. So, chief planner, what happens on Mental Floss Day?

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts. Grocery store image via Shutterstock.]

On Fridays, I post a series of unrelated questions meant to spark conversation in the comments. Answer one, answer all, respond to someone else’s reply, whatever you want. On to this week’s topics of discussion…

1. When someone asks if you’ve read a book, and you’ve actually listened to the audiobook version, do you point that out when answering?

2. Tomorrow is Middle Name Pride Day. (Before I forget: Happy Middle Name Pride Day!) I have so much pride in my middle name I use it exclusively. But pretend for a second we weren’t celebrating our real middle names. If you could re-middle-name yourself, what new name would you choose?

3. This question relates to wherever you are right now — work, home, school, the dentist, the subway, etc. You have to install a coin-operated arcade game in that space. For that specific spot, what game would be the most successful?

4. I’m going to go all focus group-y on you. I’m loving Erik Sass’ series on World War I. In case you’ve missed it, he’s covering the events that led up to the conflict exactly 100 years after they happened. I asked this question last year, but just in case something new has popped into your head, what other events should we be giving this treatment?

[Have a great weekend! See all the previous Friday Happy Hour transcripts.]