mental_floss Question of the Day

Q: Have product placement deals ever found their way into novels?

mental_floss — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 07:00:31 +0000

A: Sure, we’ve all seen less than subtle product placement on the big screen. The lead character finding his fiancée while chatting on AOL, a couple serendipitously bumping into one another at a Starbucks, a ball player getting that extra ounce of energy from the last sip of his Coke. But, for the most part, that sort of underhanded advertising has been relegated to film, right? Well, in 2001, literary types were shocked to discover that author Fay Weldon’s latest novel, The Bulgari Connection, had more than just a titular connection to the jewelry manufacturer. Bulgari had, in fact, paid Weldon to write it. That explains the dozens of sensual descriptions of their products found within (“it was a sleek modern piece … the mount following the irregular contours of the thin worn bronze”), but not why a respectable, Booker prize-nominated writer would accept such a payoff. In her defense, a defiant Weldon said, “I don’t care. They never give me the Booker prize anyway!” Having earned so much critical condemnation, she’s unlikely to get one now.

Q: How come no one knows where Genghis Khan is buried?

mental_floss — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 07:00:00 +0000

A: Well, for good reason! Apparently those in charge of the burial were ridiculously cautious about not letting word get out as to the location of the site. It was on August 18, 1227 when Genghis, the most feared leader of the 13^th century, was led to burial, with a procession of 2,500 followers and a mounted bodyguard of 400 soldiers (kind of like a Macy’s parade minus the floats). Anyone unfortunate enough to happen upon the procession was immediately put to death by the soldiers. When the procession arrived at a remote mountain location in Mongolia, 40 virgins were killed to provide dear Genghis with needed pleasures in the afterlife. Then, at the end of the funeral ceremony, the soldiers killed all 2,500 members of the procession. And when the 400 soldiers returned to the capital city, they were all immediately put to death by another group of soldiers. You see, because Khan was considered a god, it was of utmost importance that his site not be plundered. And what better way to ensure this than to make it so that those with knowledge would keep their mouths shut – permanently. So did anyone survive the expedition? Well, yes – a camel. The creature was spared so that she could find her way back to the site if Khan’s family needed to visit. Of course, the family had to be led blindfolded – if they knew the whereabouts, then they too would be put to death. It’s the kind of arrangement that would surely make you think twice about expressing your condolences.

Q: What’s the difference between murder and manslaughter?

mental_floss — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:00:45 +0000

A: So, you’re in a bit of a dilemma. You have this, uh, friend. Yeah, that’s it—a friend. And he’s gotten himself into a little bit of a, um, predicament. He just needs some legal advice, that’s all. Well, for those trying to discern between the two, there’s a quick trick for telling the difference between murder and manslaughter. If your “friend” planned the crime ahead of time, it’s murder. You see, most of the world’s legal systems distinguish between cold-blooded killings, crimes of passion, and accidental (but still unlawful) deaths. In America, “murder” applies to carefully pre-planned deaths, such as a mafia hit. “Voluntary manslaughter” on the other hand is what’s committed when, for example, a husband catches his wife in bed with a tennis pro and snaps. A third category, “involuntary manslaughter,” covers situations in which the death is neither pre-planned nor intentional—for instance, convincing your buddy that riding his bike off a cliff would be a totally rad idea. Of course, criminal law still differs widely from nation to nation. In Japan, the worst sentences are reserved for people who kill their own descendants, while in Italy, a punishment can actually be lessened if the killer can prove that he acted to avenge his honor.

Q: What’s the greatest piece of art written about coffee?

mental_floss — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 07:00:38 +0000

A: Before we get going on the art, let’s chat about the worth of this delectable beverage. It’s estimated that about one-third of the world’s population consumes the dark, caffeinated deliciousness that is coffee. And for said deliciousness we can thank the farmers of the Islamic world, who first cultivated coffee plants in the early 15^th Century. Perhaps this explains why Arabs were inventing algebra while Europeans were busy debating how many angels could fit on the head of a pin. It may also have something to do with why Europe’s Renaissance kicked into high gear in the 16^th century (the same year coffee was introduced there). But as long as we’re giving coffee credit for fostering human innovation, add the masterpieces of composer (and noted java fan) Johann Sebastian Bach to that list. In 1732, Bach wrote “Kafee Kantate,” which told the comic story of a man who wants his daughter to give up drinking the beverage, but the woman refuses. Coffee, she sings, “is lovelier than a thousand kisses.” Amen, sister.

Q: What’s so grand about a “grand jury”?

mental_floss — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:00:59 +0000

A: You hear the term all the time, but what makes a grand jury so special? Well, unlike regular jurors who hear both sides of a case, the grand jury only hears the State’s side of a criminal case shortly after a defendant is arrested. The job of the grand jury is that of a filter – to decide if there’s enough evidence to officially charge the defendant with the crime – not to decide if the defendant actually did it. Of course, those of you familiar with TV court room dramas will find the grand jury layout particularly strange. In a grand jury hearing, there is no judge, no defense attorney, and no defendant; only the prosecutor putting on a case before the jurors to prove that the case should continue (that the defendant should be indicted). The prosecutor has no duty to divulge any exculpatory evidence or evidence that may actually suggest the defendant is innocent. Needless to say, most grand juries find to indict the defendant.

Q: What’s the largest book ever created about an athlete?

mental_floss — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 07:00:07 +0000

A: There are only three things you need to be a true Muhammad Ali superfan: an Amazon.com account, an exceptionally sturdy coffee table, and $3,000 in cash—minimum. That can get you a Collector’s Edition copy of GOAT (short for Greatest of All Time), a book that packs six decades of the boxer’s life into 800 pages and 75 pounds. (Talk about making a mountain of Muhammad!) But true fanatics will surely spring for the $10,000 Champion’s Edition, the most expensive book for sale on Amazon.com. It comes tricked out with a silk cover, four autographed photos of Ali, and an original piece of modern art by Jeff Koons made from two inflatable pool toys and a stool. When it was released in 2004, GOAT was the biggest, most-costly book ever made. Unfortunately, this heavyweight title quickly lost its crown to a new contender. Only weeks after GOAT’s publication, it was knocked out by a five-foot-wide tome on the landscapes of Brunei.

Q: How much money can you make off competitive SCRABBLE?

mental_floss — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:00:45 +0000

A: Sure, all board games dream of becoming famous, but none has surpassed the star-power of SCRABBLE. Invented in 1931 by out-of-work architect Alfred Mosher Butts, the game inspiringly overcame the definition of its name (scrabble literally means “to scrape or grope frenetically”) and went on to sell more than 100 million sets worldwide. The wild success of the game spawned the National SCRABBLE Association, a legion of 10,000 professional tournament players (not to mention their arsenal of 120,000 approved words), and more than 200 clubs across the United States and Canada. All of this culminates in the National SCRABBLE Championship, which is proudly broadcast on ESPN and featuring more than 850 letter lancers going head-to-head. Although it might be tough to become the “Rocky of Etymology,” amateur wordsmiths who think they have their frenetic groping down to a science can show up at one of 180 different NSA-sanctioned tournaments in an attempt to score one of 12 qualifying slots, giving them the opportunity to compete for upwards of $100,000 in total cash and prizes. In a word, the popularity and potential profitability of the game is pretty a-m-a-z-i-n-g (to use a 19-point word).

Q: Who’s the greatest female pirate of all-time?

mental_floss — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:29:28 +0000

A: There’s no doubt about it, if you’re looking to pick one buccaneer who did more for pirate feminism than any other, it’d have to be Grace O’Malley (born Gráinne O’Malley), the 16^th-century’s Irish Sea Queen. Earning her sea legs as a kid on voyages with her father, O’Malley went on to lead a crew of 200 sailors as part of her Celtic Sea “protection service.” Her specialty? Intercepting merchant ships to negotiate their safe passage to Galway and ruthlessly pillaging any “uninterested customers.” Infamous for being lewd, gambling too much, and cussing like—well—a sailor, O’Malley truly proved her mettle when she gave birth mid-voyage. (Working mothers take note: she also had three kids at home.) Soon after labor, Turkish pirates attacked the ship, and when the flailing crew came running to O’Malley, she reportedly snapped, “May you be seven times worse off this day 12 month, who cannot do without me for one day!” When the postpartum firebrand finally emerged on deck waving her gun, the attackers quickly remembered they had other engagements.

Q: What’s the greatest PR-related stunt involving e-Bay?

mental_floss — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 07:00:18 +0000

A: Sure, there have been celebrity-laced goods like rapper Eminem’s childhood home that went up for sale on the site, and the fake stuff as well — like the time a fan tried to make a statement by posting the heavy metal band Metallica’s integrity up on the auction block. But that hardly matches the degree of audacity we’re talking about. The greatest PR stunt we’ve ever witnessed on e-Bay are the shenanigans of GoldenPalace.com – and specifically, the way get some real bang for their advertising bucks by simply wasting it on weird stuff at eBay. For what it’s worth, they seem to pull in a whole lot of free press. In June 2005, for instance, the company paid $10,000 to Karolyne Smith, who auctioned off her forehead as ad space (it’s since been branded with a GoldenPalace.com tattoo). Of course, that’s just one of their many golden purchases. Some of the company’s less cruel, but equally press-worthy acquisitions include a VW Golf that formerly belonged to Pope Benedict XVI ($233,424.72) and—in keeping with the Catholic theme—a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich bearing the likeness of the Virgin Mary ($28,000).

Q: Who’s the genius behind the Life Saver?

mental_floss — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:55:19 +0000

A: Now realize, we’re talking candy here, not flotation device (we did use the word genius, right?) Well, here’s the story. Before electric refrigeration became widespread and affordable (around 1920), summer was a bad time for chocolate makers. So when Ohio chocolate manufacturer Clarence Crane was looking for some non-melty revenue streams in 1912, he decided to develop a hard, peppermint candy that could withstand the summer heat. To make his candy even more summer-friendly (and to differentiate them from the traditional square mints) Crane shaped his invention like the life preservers seen on ocean vessels. Unfortunately, the candy innovator underestimated the American passion for food with holes and sold the brand to an ad salesman named Edward John Noble for a paltry $2,900 just before Life Saver sales began to skyrocket. The only change Noble made to the product was switching the packaging from thin cardboard (which made the candy taste, well, like cardboard) to its trademark foil. Between 1913 and 1987, over 33.4 billion Life Savers were sold.