Kluster is a new effort to harness the power of online social networks to collaborate and work together on projects. At its core, the system involves a virtual currency (”watts”) which are invested in projects started by community members. Projects can be “sparked” with ideas, and users collaborate in work phases to build a product online.

Some projects are financed by real-world money, which makes it way back to the community members who invest their time, “watts,” and ideas into the project. The site gives the example of a logo design — I could put up a challenge to design a logo, back it with $500, and let the community go to work for me. At the end, my $500 is distributed among community members who took a stake in the project, and I get the design (or designs) they created. Neat, huh?

Kluster is currently making a splash at TED, creating a brand new product in just 72 hours — and offering $15,000 in rewards to fund the work. The product is still under development (until tomorrow), and currently it’s shaping up to be an educational game. Currently work is proceeding on creating the game cards; the next phase will design the packaging, then the marketing campaign, and so on.

You can sign up for free at Kluster.com. Because there’s a lot of lingo involved (”sparks,” “amps,” “watts,” and so on), it’s a good idea to take a video tour of the site first. You can also read a bit more about the site’s origins at ReadWriteWeb.

1. As you’ve all probably heard by now, all Starbucks stores closed down on Wednesday for a special company-wide retraining session, which I’m sure was lots of fun. What’s your worst corporate training experience?

1b. Any readers work at Starbucks? How’d it go?
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On ‘Back to School Night’ in second grade, we were asked to leave our parents a note. “If you have a special nickname,” Mrs. Onufrak told us, “you can use it.” I did not have a special nickname, but I didn’t know the next time we’d be granted such liberal name-signing power.

At the time, my two biggest influences were Lawrence (”LT”) Taylor and the WWF. Since “JE” wasn’t very special, I opted for an uninspired moniker in the tradition of Gene Okerlund. “Mr. Mean” was born.

The name didn’t stick.

When I asked all-star mental_floss designer Terri Dann to whip up a banner to promote this WWF Action Figure Quiz, she asked what my WWF nickname would be. I told her that story, and now Mr. Mean has a second chance to catch on.

Take the quiz, then feel free to share any ridiculous nickname stories. Don’t leave Mr. Mean dangling out here all alone.

Day after day, the Amazing Fact Generator just keeps churning out facts. It’s like these things grew on trees. If you haven’t tasted our sweet juicy mind fruit yet, head on over to the generator and grab a few facts for yourself.

If you like what you see, and want to share your knowledge, then check out my post from Monday to learn about how a fact submission could win eternal life for your fact and get you a sweet prize.

So yesterday we talked about zombie movies and what makes them tick, and I learned something new about our readers: you people love the walking dead! I was expecting a few people to pipe up and argue that horror movies are disgusting and unnecessary; after all, isn’t there enough pain and suffering in the world as it is? All ya gotta do is open up the newspaper, and there’s your horror story! Which would’ve given me the opportunity to provide the counter-argument to that, which is: I think that’s exactly why we need them.

Let me explain by providing a recent example from my local newspaper, the LA Times. For those of you who haven’t heard (I’m not sure how far news like this travels), we’ve had a strange and bloody couple of weeks here in angel city:

Sunday, Feb 24: Two People Stabbed While Watching Horror Movie
This is probably my worst nightmare; I often think of how vulnerable we are in movie theaters, sitting essentially alone in the dark surrounded by strangers. (Heck, Lincoln died that way, and John Dillinger was shot and killed by police coming out of a Chicago theater where he was watching a gangster flick.) Here’s the scoop:

Half an hour into “The Signal,” a man seated in a back row stabbed a lone moviegoer in front of him, police said. As the victim fled, a witness told police, the man walked toward the screen and stabbed a second man. The victims apparently did not know each other or the suspect, “leading us to believe this is just a completely random assault,” Basham said. At the time, there were only two moviegoers in the theater in addition to the stabber and victims, police said.

Here’s the creepiest part: “After the suspect fled, Basham said, the movie resumed: It is a slasher film about a mysterious electronic signal [broadcast through TVs and radios] that compels people to kill.” (more…)

If you’ve made it this far, I commend you! One more puzzle to solve and you’re home free. First one to send in the correct answer to the challenge below, along with the correct answers found all along the path this week, AND, the logic behind ‘em (which is to say: HOW DID YOU KNOW?), gets a pick of any t-shirt or book from our store.

As comments have been turned off for the length of the hunt, please click on the following link and send your answers and logic to us at: TriviaHunt@Gmail.com.

If you missed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s challenges, there might still be time to solve them all. No one knows how long it’ll take for one of you trivia junkies to nail down the whole megillah so make haste, make haste. And now, on the next page, I present the final puzzle, drawing on all the answers you dug up along the trail.

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Each of the famous fellas in this quiz wore something resembling a beard at one time or another in their lives. Let’s see how well you know them by taking my Men Who Experimented with Beards quiz.

As always, be sure to come on back and let us know how you made out!

I noticed that my (relatively inexpensive) digital watch says that it’s March 1, not February 29. The dates on computer systems, cell phones, and most newer and more expensive electronic devices should update automatically, but don’t forget to check on other small appliances and electronics and such, as well as any clocks or watches with day/date functions. It might save you from accidentally post-dating a check or missing a meeting.

Enjoy the day, and remember that it’s rarer than most other holidays. I’ve seen 40 Christmases and 40 Independence Days, but this is only my 11th Leap Day. (I’m shooting for 25 of them, by the way.)

On the list of crazy stuff that’s happened, the Henriksen family’s Leap Day trifecta ranks near the top.

On February 29, 1960, Heidi Henriksen was born. Four years later to the (Leap) day, she was joined by brother Olav. And on February 29, 1968, the Henriksens achieved the improbable with Leif-Martin. Today, the Henriksens are celebrating their 12th, 11th and 10th birthdays. (Leif-Martin was kind enough to send us that family photo.)

In honor of the Henriksen’s remarkable coincidence (or extraordinary family planning), let’s celebrate Leap Day with a 20%-off sale. Everything (excluding subscriptions) is on sale until midnight tonight — just visit the mental_floss store and enter the code “leap” during checkout.

Other people celebrating a birthday today (who didn’t send in a photo): Ja Rule (February 29, 1976), former Law & Order star Dennis Farina (February 29, 1944), former linebacker Bryce Paup (February 29, 1968) and motivational speaker Anthony Robbins (February 29, 1960).

Last year, we learned that a few readers are also in this exclusive club (or at least are close to a Leap Day baby): Kate’s mom (they turned 11 in the same year), Sandy, Alex, Moonablaze’s friend, and Julie’s boyfriend. And happy 4th anniversary to Jo-Anne and her husband!

Since last February, our audience has grown considerably. So I’ll ask everyone born on this date to speak up and assure your place in our Leap Day 2012 post.

Robbers Target Club During Biker Meeting

Two masked men with machetes went to a Sydney, Australia nightclub intending to rob the place. They picked the night that about 50 members of the Southern Cross Cruiser motorcycle club were holding their monthly meeting.

“These guys were absolutely dumb as bricks,” Jerry Vancornewal, leader of the bikers, told CNN Thursday. “I can’t believe they saw all the bikes parked up front and they were so stupid that they walked past in.”

The bikers subdued one robber and restrained him with electrical wire. The other crashed through a glass door and jumped off the balcony to escape. Police arrested him nearby. A third person, waiting in a car, has not been apprehended.

Elephant Fitted with Prosthetic Leg

A young elephant in Thailand was the vicim of a land mine near the border with Myanmar and lost one of her front legs. Veterinarians at the Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital in Lampang province have made Mocha a new leg, and reporting that she is able to walk more easily on all four legs.

Traffic Cops take Ballet Lessons

Police officers charged with directing traffic in Timisoara, Romania have been sent to dance class to get their moves down.

“The aim is to develop an ability to regulate traffic and achieve elegance in their movements, which will not only be agreeable to the eyes but could also help drivers waiting at a red light get rid of their stress or sadness,” the head of the community police in the town of Timisoara, Dorel Cojan, told AFP.

The twice-a-week classes are taught by two former members of the Timisoara Opera Ballet. See a video here.

Woman Gives Birth To Child Nearly Her Own Size

33-year-old Stacey Herald is 28.5 inches tall. She was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. Five weeks ago, Herald gave birth to an 18-inch daughter! Her first child, Katira, has the same genetic disorder, but the new baby Makaia is expected to grow to normal height. For years, doctors told the northern Kentucky woman that she wouldn’t survive a pregnancy. Now, officials from the Guinness Book of World Records are investigating Herald’s claim to be the smallest woman who ever gave birth.

Deadly Cactus Found in Australia

An invasive species of cactus, native to Mexico, has been found in Mundubbera, Australia. The spines of the Hudson pear cactus are so tough they can penetrate tires, and pliers are required to remove them from flesh! They have been known to kill koalas who cannot remove the spines and then develop infections. The plant was introduced to Australia as a garden plant, but has spread over hundreds of miles and threatens the value of farmland.

Counterfeit Ferrari Ring Busted

Police in Rome uncovered a business that cobbled together fake parts to produce counterfeit Ferrari sportscars. 21 automobiles were confiscated, including 14 which had already been sold. Authorities believe the buyers knew the cars were not actual Ferraris. The cars were sold for around 20,000 euros, or about a tenth of the price of a real Ferrari.

Large Truck vs. Small Tunnel

A flatbed truck carrying an oversized crane was caught on video entering the Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston Tuesday. The driver didn’t stop, despite warning lights that were triggered by overheight sensors. The video shows sparks flying as the crane became detached. The truck finally stopped when the crane ripped the tunnel’s ceiling. No one was injured, but it took an hour and a half to clear the wreckage.