When Starbucks marketing director Howard Schultz visited Milan, Italy in 1983 and realized the city was home to more than 1500 coffee bars, a cartoon light bulb appeared over his head. Four years later, the ambitious Schultz acquired Starbucks—which had previously only sold ground coffee in bags, with no single servings—and proceeded to turn it from a six-store Seattle operation into a global phenomenon. Unlock the secrets of your home away from home with these 14 frothy facts.

1. THERE’S A BAN ON SMELLS.

Because aroma is so crucial to the Starbucks experience, Schultz laid down the law early on: Nothing can interfere with the smell of their freshly-ground coffee. The stores banned smoking in the late 1980s, years before it became commonplace; employees are asked not to wear perfume or cologne; and under no circumstances is pastrami to be stored anywhere on the premises.

2. THE MERMAID USED TO SHOW NIPPLE.

The siren of the famous Starbucks logo is intended to represent the seductive power of coffee, with her hair tastefully covering any hint of immodesty. But when Starbucks was still a regional chain in 1970s Seattle, their logo was far more candid: The mermaid had fully-exposed breasts. Some customers commented on it, but it didn’t become scandalous until the company began making deliveries and had to put their signage on trucks. Reluctant to traffic in portable nudity, the logo was revised.

3. THERE HAVE BEEN STORES MADE OUT OF OLD SHIPPING CONTAINERS.

In a monument to the company’s eco-friendly attitude, several stores built out of retired shipping containers have opened since 2011. Some use run-off drains to feed rainwater to nearby vegetation; others use local materials such as discarded wooden fencing to complete the job. The recycled storefronts are typically drive-thru only, but video cameras allow patrons to see a friendly barista’s face. At 1000 square feet, they’re also smaller than a typical store—and Starbucks has every intention of using that tiny footprint to burrow its way into locations previously thought to be too small to lease.

4. AN IMMUNOLOGIST CRACKED THE COFFEE CODE.

Infectious disease specialist Don Valencia was essentially just goofing off in 1990 when he developed a coffee bean extract that smelled and tasted just like the real thing. After neighbors couldn’t tell the difference between his sample and fresh coffee, he tried it out on a barista. Eventually, word got to Starbucks executives, who hired Valencia in 1993. Using his discovery to branch out into retail sales, Starbucks quickly became a top-seller of bottled coffee and super-premium ice cream—for a time, they even outsold pint-sized king Häagen-Dazs.

5. MANAGERS WERE FORCED TO PLAY WITH MR. POTATO HEAD.

Eager to ramp up efficiency in the face of stiffer competition in 2009, Starbucks dispatched executive Scott Heydon for some updated managerial training. To demonstrate how employees can cut down on idle time behind the counter, Heydon instructed managers to assemble a Mr. Potato Head toy and then put him back in his box in under 45 seconds. At least one supervisor was able to pick up the scattered pieces and re-assemble the spud in under 16 seconds.

6. THE STARBUCKS CIA LOCATION IS AS SECRETIVE AS YOU’D EXPECT.

Like most office buildings, the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Va. runs on caffeine. But it doesn’t run like a typical Starbucks: Baristas undergo background checks and aren’t allowed to leave their posts without a CIA escort. Customer names cannot be called out or written on cups due to security concerns. Despite the precautions, it’s still a social atmosphere: According to the Washington Post, one key member of the team that assisted in locating Osama bin Laden was recruited there.

7. THE EMPLOYEE DRESS CODE IS VERY SPECIFIC.

When Schultz opened his line of Il Giornale espresso bars in 1985, he mandated employees wear the bowties and crisp white shirts common in Italy. The current dress code [PDF] has relaxed on the attire but still insists on a certain kind of conformity. Rings cannot have stones; brightly-colored purple or pink hair is not welcome; untucked shirts can’t expose your midsection when bending over; ear gauges should be less than 10mm. Think you’re going to sport a face tattoo or septum ring? Mister, the only thing you’re brewing is trouble.   

8. NONFAT MILK RESULTED IN A CORPORATE STAND-OFF.

When Howard Behar came to Starbucks as an executive in 1989, he was dismayed to find that many customers had filled out comment cards voicing their desire for nonfat milk. But Schultz and his team had decided they didn’t like the taste and that nonfat wasn’t authentically Italian. Behar argued that customers should get whatever they wanted. Store managers protested, but when Schultz personally witnessed a customer walk out over the lack of options, he relented. Today, half of the company’s cappuccinos and lattes are frothed without fat.

9. THEY HAVE A SKI-THRU.

Skiers in Squaw Valley, California looking for a caffeine fix don’t have to take off their equipment: the Starbucks at the Gold Coast Resort is open to visitors via a Ski-Thru. They also take orders from the aerial lift. What could be better?

10. YOU CAN GET A BUTTERBEER FRAPPUCINO.

The preferred thirst-quencher for Harry Potter fans, Butterbeer isn’t really available outside of the books or the Universal Studios attraction—but you can get a pretty good approximation by requesting a Frappucino with caramel syrup, caramel drizzle, and toffee nut syrup.

11. THE ROUND TABLES MAY HELP YOU FEEL LESS LONELY.

Feeling self-conscious about sitting in a Starbucks by yourself? Don’t be: the round tables are there to help. The company believes that circular dining areas can make a space feel less empty when compared to the stern edges of a rectangular or square table. They don’t want you to feel alone. So, so alone.

12. THE DISNEY STARBUCKS HAS MAGIC CHALKBOARDS.

When Starbucks opened at Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida, some of the company’s trademark features were tweaked to fit their magical affiliation. The chalkboard was re-imagined as a 70-inch touch screen that can render illustrations in real time. Customers can also “draw” on the screen using their fingers, take selfies, and see what visitors in Disney’s Anaheim Starbucks are up to.

13. SOME STORES HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE GREATEST CUP OF COFFEE POSSIBLE.

Starbucks cares a great deal about serving an excellent cup of coffee. Employees never let brewed pots sit for more than 30 minutes, and stores use no artificially-flavored grounds. The next giant leap in bean prep might be the Clover, a proprietary machine engineered by Stanford that costs $13,000 to install and uses a vacuum and elevator system to shoot coffee grounds upward with precision water temperatures; the result is said to be a peerless experience. If you’re lucky enough to be near a store that has one, expect to pay up to $5 a cup. 

14. EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT IN A STARBUCKS, YOU MIGHT BE IN A STARBUCKS.

Starbucks is both a progressive and staunchly familiar brand. They want to innovate without alienating their loyal customer base. One solution has been to design and open a series of “stealth stores” that serve Starbucks coffee while going by another name, like 15th Avenue E Coffee and Tea in Seattle. Freed from the trappings of a conventional location, these undercover stores can offer live music and serve beer or wine. The company has eyes on opening roughly 100 similar locations in the future.

source: mentalfloss

Few people can claim one of the world’s richest men as their “Secret Santa.” But that’s what happened with one lucky Reddit user, when she discovered that the person behind her generous gifts through Reddit’s holiday gift exchange was none other than Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

For the last few years, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has been making one person’s Christmas a little bit more special by taking part in Reddit’s Secret Santa present exchange.

Nearly 60,000 users across 120 countries take part in the Reddit Gifts scheme – including the Microsoft mogul, who sent a box crammed with presents to a woman named Aerrix Laurel.

Ms Laurel received the parcel via Fed Ex and uploaded photos of her incredible haul to Reddit.

The Redditor known as Aerrix described how thrilled she was when she opened the giant box that was mailed to her from her Secret Santa.

“So then I get the box open and there’s just bubble wrap EVERYWHERE, but under the first layer I see a picture… and my jaw. Just. Drops. I will let the picture speak for itself! I immediately call my husband at work, I normally text him first to make sure it’s ok if I call but I couldn’t wait…he answered and I spoke very quietly because I knew if I didn’t I would just yell, and I said something like “dear, please tell me you can talk right now,” and he sounded worried and he’s like “yes? What’s going on?” And I said BILL GATES IS MY FREAKIN SANTA!!!!!!!! I worried him too much, it took a second for it to sink in but oh MAN I was excited and flipping out!” she wrote.

The parcel contained around 10 gift-wrapped packages which included:

An Xbox One

Xbox Controllers

A NES Classic Edition

Some Bluerays

Matching Zelda mittens for her and her dog Claire

Harry Potter-themed slippers

a paper “Zelda” “Master Sword,”

Cajun cookbooks,

And a photo of Aerrix, her partner, her dog – and a photoshopped-in Bill Gates

Also in the box was a note from Mr Gates saying:

Dear Aerrix,

“I can’t believe your Secret Santa left you hanging last year. To ensure you don’t lose faith in the Reddit Community I’ve enclosed several gifts that I hope you enjoy. There are a few video games for you to play, some things to keep you warm, and three of my favorite movies to watch over the holidays.

“I’ve also made a donation in your name to Code.org to help give more students the chance to learn computer science.

“With Best Wishes from Seattle, Bill Gates.

“P.S. I won’t be able to consult with the Sorting Hat but I can tell that you are quite clever – so I got a pair of Ravenclaw slippers from Hot Topic.”

“I would love to send a thank you card or some kind of something to him,” Ms Laurel told The Huffington Post.

“There was a return address, but I’m not sure if it would actually get to him.”

source: The Telegraph

Interesting Facts about Bill Gates

Can yo fill in the gaps in the sentences with a word from the table?

1. Bill’s …… as a child was “Trey” which was given to him by his grandmother.

2. He scored a 1590 out of 1600 on the …… .

3. At first Microsoft had a …… in the name “Micro-soft”. It was a combination of microcomputer and software.

4. When Microsoft first started out, Gates would look at every line of code before a new software product …… .

5. In 2004, Gates predicted that …… spam would be gone by 2006. He was wrong on that one!

6. He was dubbed an honorary knight by Queen Elizabeth. He does not use the title “Sir” because he is not a …… of the United Kingdom.

Key

1. nickname 2. SAT 3. hyphen 4. shipped 5. email 6. citizen

When they are 6 or 7, whenever you see that dawning suspicion that Santa may not be a material being, that means the child is ready.

I take them out “for coffee” at the local wherever. We get a booth, order our drinks, and the following pronouncement is made:

“You sure have grown an awful lot this year. Not only are you taller, but I can see that your heart has grown, too. (I point out 2-3 examples of empathetic behavior — consideration of people’s feelings, good deeds, acts of kindness etc., that the kid has done in the past year.) In fact, your heart has grown so much that I think you are ready to become a Santa Claus.

You probably have noticed that most of the Santas you see are people dressed up like him. Some of your friends might have even told you that there is no Santa. A lot of children think that, because they aren’t ready to BE a Santa yet, but YOU ARE.

Tell me the best things about Santa. What does Santa get for all of his trouble? (I lead the kid from “cookies” to the good feeling of having done something for someone else.) Well, now YOU are ready to do your first job as a Santa!”

Make sure you maintain the proper conspiratorial tone.

We then have the child choose someone they know – a neighbor, usually. The child’s mission is to secretly, deviously, find out something that the person needs, and then provide it, wrap it, deliver it –and never reveal to the target where it came from. Being a Santa isn’t about getting credit, you see. It’s unselfish giving.

My oldest chose the “witch lady” on the corner. She really was horrible – had a fence around the house and would never let the kids go in and get a stray ball or Frisbee. She’d yell at them to play quieter, etc.—a real pill. He noticed when we drove to school that she came out every morning to get her paper in bare feet, so he decided she needed slippers.

So then he had to go spy and decide how big her feet were. He hid in the bushes one Saturday, and decided she was a medium. We went to Kmart and bought warm slippers. He wrapped them up, and tagged it, “Merry Christmas from Santa.” After dinner one evening, he slipped down to her house, and slid the package under her driveway gate. The next morning, we watched her waddle out to get the paper, pick up the present, and go inside. My son was all excited, and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. The next morning, as we drove off, there she was, out getting her paper—wearing the slippers. He was ecstatic. I had to remind him that NO ONE could ever know what he did or he wouldn’t be a Santa.

Over the years, he chose a good number of targets, always coming up with a unique present just for them. One year, he polished up his bike, put a new seat on it, and gave it to one of our friend’s daughters. These people were and are very poor. We did ask the dad if it was ok. The look on her face, when she saw the bike on the patio with a big bow on it, was almost as good as the look on my son’s face.

When it came time for Son #2 to join the ranks, my oldest came along, and helped with the induction speech. They are both excellent gifters, by the way, and never felt that they had been lied to – because they were let in on the Secret of Being a Santa.

source: bradaronson.com

Read the definition and tell the word or expression.

1. An act from which you get no benefit.

2. A person who can just get on everyone’s nerves.

3. To receive acknowledgment or praise for some accomplishment.

4. Departing from the most direct way.

5. A formal statement.

Key

1. good deed/unselfish act

2. a real pill

3. to get credit

4. deviously

5. pronouncement

The 10 most unexpected rules and restrictions are gathered here that the British royal family has to follow.

Nicknames are not allowed.

Despite the fact that the press still refers to the Duchess of Cambridge as Kate Middleton and Princess Diana became known as Princess Di, it is considered to be a big familiarity. Using nicknames and shortened versions of names is a violation of strict protocol.

The Queen gets all the presents.

Every present the royal family receives belongs to the reigning monarch. It’s strictly forbidden to sell them or give them to someone else. However, the Queen can keep the presents for herself or give them away. That’s why we can often spot some of Princess Diana’s jewelry on other members of the royal family.

Everyone follows the Queen.

According to royal etiquette, everyone should follow the Queen’s lead during official gatherings or family events. For example, when she stands, everyone has to do the same. You’re also supposed to stop eating when the Queen stops eating.

Prince Philip always walks a few steps behind the Queen.

The “Everyone follows the Queen” rule is even applied to Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip. He always has to stand or walk a few steps behind his wife.

6 ravens must always inhabit the Tower.

6 ravens must live at the Tower of London at all times. This tradition dates back to the reign of King Charles II, who believed in a legend that said, “If the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall…”

You can’t turn your back on the Queen.

If you ever have a chance to talk to the Queen, make sure that after your conversation is over, she’s the first to walk away: you can’t turn your back on a monarch. It is considered to be a very rude violation of royal protocol.

The chin is always parallel to the ground.

It’s interesting to know that there’s a proper way for women of the royal family to position their chin: they should hold it parallel to the ground. You can’t take a picture of your “good side.”

Wear a hat in the morning and a tiara in the evening.

Headwear takes a special place in the royal dress code. Royal women have to wear a hat for official events during the day. After 6 PM, tiaras and family jewels should be worn. However, this rule applies only to married ladies. So the next time you’re at an evening reception at Buckingham Palace, remember that women without tiaras are searching for a soul mate.

Myrtle appears in every royal wedding bouquet.

According to an old wedding tradition, every bouquet must contain myrtle as a symbol of love and marriage. In fact, every royal bride since Queen Victoria has had this flower in her bouquet. It grows in the Queen’s own 170-year-old garden.

The Queen’s corgis do whatever they want.

It’s no secret that Queen Elizabeth II adores her corgis. They are the only members of the royal family that live a carefree life. The dogs eat gourmet meals created by a royal chef, and guests in the palace are specifically asked not to bother them in any way. The Queen even banned William and Kate’s Cocker Spaniel so it wouldn’t bother her favorites. The corgis are allowed to walk anywhere in the palace, and the staff knows how to clean the antique furniture and priceless carpets.

The Queen and the Armed Forces

The Queen is Head of the Armed Forces. She is also the wife, mother, and grandmother of individuals who are currently serving in the Armed Forces. The Queen is the only person to declare war and peace, and she holds various appointments and honorary ranks in the Armed Forces.

source: brightside.me

Do or don’t? Sort them out.

Key

1. EMPLOYEES WANT YOU TO ASK THEM FOR RECOMMENDATIONS.

“A person will say, ‘I have a really strange question, I’m sorry, but can you recommend a book?’” says Phyllis Cohen, owner of Berkeley Books in Paris. “That is the most normal question. It is my favorite question in the world! Give me some clues. I’ll ask them some pointed questions and then I make a pile for them. When they discover it they’re over the moon—it’s like they have a personal shopper in the bookshop.”

2. BUT BOOKSELLERS ARE NOT MINDREADERS.

They want to help you find your book, but they can’t if you don’t know the book’s name, author, or what it was about. This happens all the time, and it drives them crazy. “Customers will say ‘I don’t remember the name or what it was about but it has a blue cover. I think it had this word in the title,’” explains Katie Orphan, manager at The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles. Sometimes the questions are so vague that no amount of Googling will help, and then the customer leaves unhappy.

Even a botched title is better than no hints at all. “One funny thing that happens with customers is they get the titles totally wrong,” says Marissa Rodriguez, who has worked in a bookstore for two years. “High school kids will say ‘I’m looking for ‘How To Kill a Mockingbird’ (instead of ’To Kill a Mockingbird’ or ‘Angry Grapes’ instead of ’The Grapes of Wrath’.”

3. THEY CAN SPOT THE BOOKWORMS FROM A MILE AWAY.

Just browsing? Bookstore workers can tell. “Cookbooks is one of the sections where that happens the most,” says Orphan. “Art books and cookbooks. The people who are going to buy books, I can tell by the way they look at them, touch them, start carrying them around in a stack. I can always tell when people come up who is going to buy a book and who isn’t.”

4. THEY KNOW WHEN YOU’RE “SHOWROOMING.”

In recent years, some brick-and-mortar stores have fallen victim to online outlets like Amazon which often offer the same books for a lower price. Some customers will browse for books they like, only to buy it later online, and they’re not very sly about it. “They’ll come in and use their phone to take a picture of the cover and barcode and just use the bookstore as the Amazon showroom,” says Keith Edmunds, a former bookstore owner. “It was awful. Seeing people do that was the height of ignorance.”

5. AND WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING THE SYSTEM.

“Some regulars would buy books one or two at a time and then within the two-week return window bring them back and be like, ‘I bought the wrong book,’” said Kat Chin, who worked at The World’s Biggest Bookstore in Toronto for five years. “You’d know they read them because you could see the book was a little bit worn or the spine was cracked.”

6. THE GOAL IS TO GET BOOKS IN YOUR HANDS.

One trick to get customers to commit to a book is to physically put the book in their hands and have them flip through it. “You can direct them to a part of the store, but that’s only half of selling a book,” Rodriguez says. “It’s important to get merchandise in people’s hands so they feel there’s already some ownership happening. They say ‘I like the way it looks and feels in my hands and I like the way it smells.’”

7. YOU HAVE TO HUNT FOR THE COFFEE SHOP.

Many bookstores, particularly the bigger ones like Barnes & Noble, have incorporated cafes into their layout. Alex Lifschutz, a London-based architect, told the Economist that putting the coffee shop at the back of the store or, if there are multiple stories, on the top floor, “draws shoppers upwards floor-by-floor, which is bound to encourage people to linger longer and spend more.”

8. THE KIDS SECTION IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED.

According to Edmunds, the kids books are almost always located at the back of a store. “If the parents want to get a book for the kid they have to go through the whole store,” he says. “They’re hoping the parent will see something they want.”

9. SOMEONE PAID FOR THAT PRIME SHELF REAL ESTATE.

In many big-box stores, publishers pay for good placement on “front tables, end caps and window space, in the same way General Mills and Procter and Gamble buy space for their breakfast cereals and dish detergents in the supermarkets,” Andy Ross, a literary agent, told The Book Deal.

10. AUTHORS, BEWARE THE “SOCIOLOGY” SECTION.

No author wants their book tucked away in the “sociology” section, claims veteran publishing insider Alan Rinzler. It’s “a catchall section for ambiguous titles, and the kiss of death for book sales,” he says.

11. BOOK THIEVES LOVE THE BIBLE.

At The World’s Biggest Bookstore in Toronto, “the Bible was the number one stolen book of all time,” says Chin.

Other frequently stolen books? Japanese comics (called Manga), expensive medical books, and Kurt Vonnegut’s work. Chin also says Haruki Murakami books were so frequently stolen that her bookstore had to take them off the shelves, only bringing them out when they were specifically requested.

12. EMPLOYEES HATE WHEN YOU LEAVE BOOKS WHERE THEY DON’T BELONG.

“Neatening up a bookstore is a daunting process,” says Demi Marshall, a bookseller in Austin, Texas. The next time you pluck a book from its designated shelf slot, put it back when you’re done. Otherwise, “it’s like if you go to a clothing store and unfold all the clothes and then put them back on the shelf but don’t fold them,” Chin says.

13. AND WHEN YOU TREAT THE STORE LIKE YOUR LIBRARY.

“It’s nice to be able to go in and read maybe a chapter to see if you’re gonna like the book,” Chin says. “But then when you sit and read the whole book and put it back on the shelf, it gets grubby.” You’ll know a bookstore is trying to nudge you out the door if multiple employees drop by to ask if you need any help. “We would quietly pester people,” says Caleb Saenz, who used to work at Barnes & Noble. “I was at my peak passive aggressive phase when I was working at a bookstore.”

14. THE INTERNET HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A GOOD THING.

Before the Internet became ubiquitous, the process of looking up a book for a customer was daunting. “We had to look it up in ‘Books In Print’ which is a multi-volume, 4-inch thick, hardcover book,” says Liz Prouty, who owns Second Looks Books in Maryland with her husband, Richard Due. “It was a slow and cumbersome process and if anything was indexed wrong or a customer had the first word of a title wrong, you were out of luck.”

15. IT’S ALSO MADE US LOVE BOOKS MORE.

Some thought the e-book would surely spell the death of the bookstore. But many independent sellers say digitization has actually made people crave physical books more. “I’ve noticed in the last couple of years, so many people come in waxing rhapsodic about the smell of books, the feel of books,” says Prouty. “And they say it more now because the alternatives exist. People are deeply attached to the old-fashioned books.”

16. SOME BOOKSELLERS CAN IDENTIFY BOOKS BY THEIR SMELL.

Especially used booksellers. “These Penguins have their own particular odor,” Cohen says. That odor? Vanilla. Others might smell like almond or coffee.

17. BOOKSELLERS AREN’T IN IT FOR THE MONEY.

In fact, most of them have second jobs or need monetary support from family members. “It is definitely a work of passion for everyone that I know,” Marshall says. “We don’t do it for the money, we don’t do it because we have any power or prestige. It’s genuinely just that we love books and we love getting them into people’s hands.”

source: mentalfloss

Can you match the book genres and their definition?

Key

1. e. 2. d. 3. a. 4. c. 5. b.

A bubble wrap-lined room seems like the sort of idea that would come about after people everywhere had become obsessed with the satisfying sensation of popping the bubbles that keep our fragile items safe in transit. And yet, wallpaper was actually the original intent behind engineer Al Fielding and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes’ invention. Turns out, the market for textured wallpaper was not what they had hoped, and the pair struggled to find an alternate angle. Despite some viability, the plan to pitch the material as an insulator for greenhouses didn’t pan out either. Then, in 1959, IBM had announced their new 1401 variable word length computer, and Fielding and Chavannes had an idea. They pitched bubble wrap as a packaging material for the fragile new technologies, and IBM agreed to give it a try. From there, bubble wrap found new purpose and people were left wishing they had whole rooms lined with the stuff. Probably.

2. KLEENEX

The public was slow to come around on the idea of disposable, publicly marketed sanitary pads that Kimberly-Clark, the producer had a great supply of. While they waited for the tides to turn, Kimberly-Clark found another use for its supply of creped wadding. Scientists created the super thin, soft tissues we know today before they even knew what it would be used for. Initially, marketers promoted it as a replacement for “cold cream towels,” which were used to apply skincare serums. Ads focusing on the cosmetic value—calling it “the new secret of keeping a pretty skin as used by famous movie stars”—sold Kleenex from its inception in 1924 until nose-needs were introduced into the marketing campaign in 1930.

3. VIAGRA

Viagra, or Sildenafil, as it’s officially known, was originally conceived as a treatment for hypertension, angina, and other symptoms of heart disease. But Phase I clinical trials revealed that while the drug wasn’t great at treating what it was supposed to treat, male test subjects were experiencing a rather unexpected side effect: erections. A few years later, in 1998, the drug took U.S. markets by storm as a treatment for penile dysfunction and became an overnight success. It now rakes in an estimated $1.9 billion a year.

4. BRANDY

Brandy, that delightful, caramel-colored after dinner drink, started off as a byproduct of transporting wine. About 900 years ago, merchants would essentially boil the water off of large quantities of wine in order to both transport it more easily, and save on customs taxes, which were levied by volume. After a while, a few of these merchants, bored perhaps after a long day on the road, dipped into their inventory and discovered that the concentrated, or distilled, wine actually tasted pretty darn good. Voila! Brandy was born.

5. COCA-COLA

Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most famous brand names, was originally invented as an alternative to morphine addiction, and to treat headaches and relieve anxiety. Coke’s inventor, John Pemberton—a Confederate veteran of the Civil War who himself suffered from a morphine addiction—first invented a sweet, alcoholic drink infused with coca leaves for an extra kick. He called it Pemberton’s French Wine Coca. It would be another two decades before that recipe was honed, sweetened, carbonated and, eventually, marketed into what it is today: the most popular soda in the world.

6. PLAY-DOH

Play-Doh, that strange, brightly colored, salty clay that all of us grew up molding and poking (and, occasionally, nibbling), was first invented in the 1930s by a soap manufacturer named Cleo McVickers, who thought he’d hit upon a fantastic wallpaper cleaner. It wasn’t for another 20 years that McVicker’s son, Joseph, repurposed the goop as clay for pre-schoolers and called it Play-Doh, a product that remains wildly popular among the under-5 crowd today.

source: mentalfloss

Find the mistakes in the sentences and correct them with the right piece of information from the text.

1. Bubble wrap was intended as insulator for greenhouses first.

2. Kleenex was created with a specific purpose in mind.

3. Viagra’s side effect is curing hypertension, angina and symptoms of heart disease.

4. Brandy is the byproduct of straining wine.

5. Coca-Cola was always carbonated and non-alcoholic.

6. Play-Doh’s name came from its inventor.

Key:

1. Bubble wrap was intended as wallpaper first.

2. Kleenex was created with no specific purpose in mind. Scientists created it before they even knew what it would be used for.

3. Viagra’s side effect is erection in males. It was originally conceived as a treatment for hypertension, angina, and other symptoms of heart disease.

4. Brandy is the byproduct of distilling wine.

5. Coca-Cola was first an alcoholic drink and was carbonated only later.

6. Play-Doh’s name came from the inventor’s son 20 years later.

Dr Pepper’s sweet, unique flavor has helped it gain a devoted following over the years. Here are 10 facts about the fizzy favorite.

Number 10. Its inspiration comes from a scent. Creator Charles Alderton wanted to make a beverage that tasted like a soda fountain smelled. He played around with formulas until he came upon one that was truly magnificent.

Number 9. There used to be a period after doctor. It was included until the 1950s. That’s when the logo and font were changed, and company high ups decided that keeping the punctuation would only cause confusion.

Number 8. It’s been around the longest. It was created in 1885, making it the most enduring major soda brand in America.

Number 7. The company doesn’t take kindly to name-calling. Many years ago David Letterman likened Dr Pepper to ‘liquid manure’ during a show. The soda makers complained and CBS vowed to never air the episode again.

Number 6. Many have tried to copy Dr Pepper. Few, however, have succeeded. The Coca-Cola Company launched Mr. PiBB, and later added a new version, Pibb Extra. We know how that’s been working out. Other attempted dupes include beverages called Dr. Dazzle, Dr. Perky, Dr. Extreme, and just plain Doctor.

Number 5. You can drink it hot. Heating up the soda destroys the bubbles and thickens it, so it’s kind of like drinking a hot cider. A Hot Dr Pepper, however, will give you a nice, caffeinated boost while it warms your insides.

Number 4. While first created in 1885, it took nearly 19 years before the drink took off at the 1904 World’s Fair Exposition.

Number 3. It might be Dr Pepper time! Check your clock, because the daylight hours of 10, 2, and 4 were once declared the ideal moments for a Dr Pepper pick-me-up. The company launched the campaign based on early 20th century research that identified those times as when a person’s blood sugar is lowest.

Number 2. McDonalds kicked Pibb Xtra to the curb for it. In 2009 the fast food chain replaced the Coca-Cola version of Dr Pepper with the real thing.

Number 1. It features 23 flavors. What they actually are has not been disclosed to the general public. Sometime in the 1930s a rumor started that one of them is prune juice. Finally, in 2000, the company assured all drinkers that the beverage was prune juice free. What do you love most about Dr Pepper?

source: geobeats

Dr Pepper vocabulary. Can you match the words from the article with their definitions?

Key: 1-b, 2-g, 3-j, 4-h, 5-d, 6-a, 7-c, 8-i, 9-e, 10-f

When was Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne and why?

Princess Elizabeth, then aged 25, was in Kenya on a royal tour when she learned of her father George VI’s death in 1952.

The King, who was ill with lung cancer and other ailments, had ignored doctors’ advice to see his daughter off from London Airport on January 31.

Elizabeth and her husband Philip planned to travel to Australia after a week in Kenya.

But on the morning of February 6, the King was found dead from a coronary thrombosis in his bed at Sandringham in Norfolk. Philip broke the news to his wife.

The Princess, eldest of the monarch’s two daughters and first in line to the throne, flew back to London as Queen.

She formally proclaimed her accession at a meeting of the Accession Council – a ceremonial body made up of privy councillors, peers and senior officials – at St James’s Palace on February 8.

Queen Elizabeth II said: “By the sudden death of my dear father I am called to assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty.

“My heart is too full for me to say more to you today than I shall always work, as my father did throughout his reign, to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples, spread as they are all the world over.”

How is Accession Day celebrated and what happens in a royal gun salute?

February 6 is celebrated every year with church services and official functions across the country.

Flags are flown and soldiers fire gun salutes in London’s Green Park and the Tower of London, and also at Woolwich, Colchester, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Cardiff, Belfast, York, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Dover Castle.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fires a 41-gun salute in Green Park every year on Accession Day.

The 41-gun royal gun salute in Green Park takes place at midday.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in full dress uniform ride out from Wellington Barracks and parade past Buckingham Palace.

Six First World War era 13-pounder guns are pulled across the park by teams of six horses each.

The guns are detached and soldiers fire blanks a total of 41 times at ten second intervals, sending up puffs of white smoke.

source: The Sun

Events of the Queen’s life. Can you match the events and the dates?

Key

1. d.

2. a.

3. b.

4. e.

5.  c.

THE POLISHED CROWN JEWELS

One of Budapest’s best-known fortune-bringing statues stands on the corner or Szentháromság Street and Úri Street, in the Castle District.

The equestrian statue erected in 1937 portrays Count András Hadik, the Field Marshal of the Habsburg Army famous for capturing Berlin during the Seven Years’ War, under the rule of Maria Theresa. In October 1757, the Hungarian general unexpectedly swung his army of 4,500 hussars around the Prussians, riding at night and hiding during the day for almost a whole week. For taking Berlin, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and awarded the Großkreuz of the Maria Theresa Order.

Since rubbing the crown jewels of Hadik’s horse is said to bring good luck – especially for desperate students of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics during exams – the bronze balls shine polished under the stallion’s belly.

THE FACELESS CHRONICLER

Anonymous depicts the faceless notary and chronicler in the early 13th century, around the time of King Béla.

Little is known about him – he is most famous for his work Gesta Hungarorum (“The Deeds of the Hungarians“), the first extant Hungarian chronicle, which provides the most detailed history of the arrival of the Hungarians to the Carpathian Basin. The two-meter-tall statue standing in the inner courtyard of Vajdahunyad Castle was made by Miklós Ligeti. Originally, the statue was to portray Hungarian poet Miklós Zrínyi, but the figure’s sitting position and lack of facial features didn’t please the jury. However, by the time the newer version with an uncovered face was completed, the first one had become a great success – so the hood stayed on and instead, the name was changed from Zrínyi to Anonymous.

The statue has been bringing good luck and/or inspiration to tourists, fortune hunters and frustrated writers since 1902 – all they have to do is touch his pen.

THE WISH-GRANTING FILM PROP

Reality and fiction mix around the female figure standing in the inner courtyard of a tenement house built by József Hild, located on the corner of Október 6. Street and Arany János Street.

Adorning a small fountain, the statue that once bathed in the spotlight depicts Abigél, the main character of a Hungarian young adult novel of the same name, written by Magda Szabó in 1970. Abigél tells the story of a teenage girl who attends a Calvinist girls’ school in eastern Hungary during World War II. The novel’s success soon resulted in a four-part TV adaptation, in which this very statue was also featured.

According to the story, a miraculous statue standing in the school courtyard grants the wishes of those who write them on paper and place them into its pitcher.

THE KING AND HIS SECRET ADMIRER

The fountain of King Matthias stands in the Castle District, appropriately in Buda Castle’s Hunyadi Courtyard, named after the king himself.

This elevated statue composition depicts the king hunting in the Buda Hills with his escorts and dogs, leaning over a small fountain. Behind the idyllic scene, however, hides a tragic story that Hungarian poet Mihály Vörösmarty described in his ballad Szép Ilonka. The female figure on the right is Ilonka, who fell in love with a handsome young man while taking a stroll in the woods. However, when she discovered that he’s the king and they cannot be together, she fell ill and wilted away. The statues are the work of Alajos Stróbl, who even went as far as recreating the royal hunt with his students.

Allegedly, if you throw a coin into the fountain below, you will come back at some point in the future – a Trevi Fountain kind of deal.

THE LUCKY CAT

The city’s weirdest fortune-bringing statue can be found in the underpass of Kálvin Square.

The red marble monument, made in the 1980s, is entitled the Város születése (“The Birth of the City”) and is somehow meant to symbolize Budapest’s unstoppable expansion. It also features the beloved cat of its creator, Gyula Illés, named Maci. We don’t know what the statues depict exactly – the cat is as capricious as the imagination of its owner.

All the same, stroking the cat’s tail is said to bring good luck.

source: welovebudapest.com

Can you find the English equivalent of the following Hungarian expressions in the text?

1. vörösmárvány szobor

2. biztos, hogy visszajössz

3. uralma alatt

4. keveset tudunk róla

5. a történet szerint

Key

1. red marble monument

2. you’re bound to come back

3. under the rule of

4. little is known about him

5. according to the story

Roughly 150,000 unimaginative Americans made the simple six-digit password their key to unlocking their computer or cell phone — which would make it real easy for hackers to guess.

Also making the Top 10 dumbest passwords this year are “Password,” “12345678,” “qwerty” and — perhaps the favorite of those with limited recall — “12345,” according to a California tech company.

Those with just a little imagination picked a password from pop culture, the company revealed.

As “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” takes cinemas by storm, “starwars” became No. 16 on the company’s Top 100 worst passwords of 2017.

“Unfortunately, while the newest episode may be a fantastic addition to the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, ‘starwars’ is a dangerous password to use,” said Morgan Slain, CEO of SplashData, which compiled the list from the millions of passwords stolen in huge cyberattacks and then released publicly.

“Hackers are using common terms from pop culture and sports to break into accounts online because they know many people are using those easy-to-remember words,” Slain said.

Other notable bad passwords include “letmein” (No. 7), “login” (No. 14) and “trustno1” (No. 25).

On the raunchier side of things, “a–hole” made the list at No. 34, and “f–kyou” was at No. 52.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) notes that we tend to come up with characters that are easily guessed because humans have only a limited ability to memorize complicated strings of characters.

In response, online services often force users to adopt increasingly complex and hard-to-remember passwords. This, however, has not greatly reduced hacking numbers.

In other words, previous guidelines have resulted in passwords that are harder for humans to remember while making them no more difficult for computers to guess.

In May, NIST released new guidelines calling for the elimination of special character requirements, and urged online services to allow for longer passwords that can include spaces. Strings of random words are easier for humans to remember, and harder for computers to guess.

So, if you decide to stick with “starwars” as your password, may the force be with you.

source: New York Post

These phrases are from the text. Can you fill in the missing words?

1. strings of …… words

2. a …… ability to memorize

3. simple six-digit ……

4. takes cinemas by …..

5. are …… guessed

Key

1. random

2. limited

3. password

4. storm

5. easily

One day an angel came. Mary was so surprised and kind of scared.

The angel said: Don’t be scared. You’re going to have a baby.

And then Mary said: How can I have a baby? I’m not married.

And the angel said: It’s all right. The baby will be God’s son Jesus.

Mary was supposed to marry a guy named Joseph.

She said: Look, I’m going to have a baby.

Joseph was pretty surprised, too, because he didn’t know how to be a dad, but ha wanted to take good care of the mum and the baby.

Right before the baby was going to be born Joseph and Mary had to go on a long trip to a town called Bethlehem.

– Got a donkey.

Joseph just made sure that Mary didn’t have to walk by herself.

Keep going.

Almost there.

When they got to Bethlehem it was so full of people that there was no room for them.

They tried one place they went to another place and a third place. The guy started to say no. then he said: Wait. I’ve got a place for you out back. You’ve got to be OK there with the animals.

There weren’t even any beds. There was nice and warm.

Mary had Jesus. They wrapped him in cloth.

They put him in an animal food dish.

Noone else knew about Jesus yet. But there were some shepherds just out of town.

And some angels showed up.

The shepherds were like: Oh, no. What’s happening?

And the angel said: Don’t be scared. I’ve some awesome, some really, really awesome news to tell you. God’s son Jesus has been born. He is in Bethlehem. He is all wrapped up in a blanket.

The shepherds were super excited.

So they got everyone together and went to find Jesus.

They were really glad when they found the right place.

They were like: Is this where Jesus is? – and Mary let them come in.

They even got to hold and cuddle the baby.

Some time later: Some kings were living far away from baby Jesus – but God sent them a special star.

The kings followed the special star for a long way. A really long way. A really really long way.

The star showed the kings right where Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were.

They even brought special presents for baby Jesus.

Then everybody had a big party because they were so glad that God sent baby Jesus.

That night was the best night ever, the best night ever.

The best night ever. That was the best night ever.

Who is this?

1. A young female who was supposed to marry a man whose name is beginning with ’J’.

2. They were taking care of the sheep out of town.

3. They followed a special star God sent them to show the way.

4. A male who wanted to take good care of his family.

5. He was wrapped in cloth and then held and cuddled by shepherds.

Key

1. Mary

2. shepherds

3. kings

4. Joseph

5. baby Jesus

Mary: Just who might that be?

Joseph: …. uh … YOU!

Mary: Better change your status, my love.

Status: Joseph and Mary are pledged to be married.

Elizabeth and Zechariah like this.

Joseph’s news feed: Joseph wrote on Elizabeth’s wall

’Mary and I praise God for your pregnancy. How have you been?’

Elizabeth: Doing well. And laying low.

Mary: We are praying for you.

Joseph joined the group ’Pray for Elizabeth and Zechariah’

Elizabeth likes this.

Mary: An angel has appeared to me.

Mary: I am pregnant. Conceived by the Holy Spirit!

Mary’s friend number 1: What? You aren’t making sense.

Mary: I can’t really explain it, but I have found favor with the Lord.

Mary’s friend number 2: What does Joseph think?

Joseph’s friend number 1 wrote on Joseph’s timeline:

Hey, Joseph, is it true?

Joseph’s news feed: I’m not sure what’s going on. I’m confused.

Mary is traveling to Hill Country of Judea.

Elizabeth: Mary just arrived at our house!

Mary: Surprise!!!

Elizabeth: My baby literally leapt upon your arrival!

Joseph’s news feed: Just had a vivid dream. Mary is indeed with child!

Joseph’s friend number one: Wait, you got Mary pregnant?

Joseph: No,no. Our child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Joseph’s friend number 2: What?!?

Joseph: It sounds crazy…but an angel told me.

Joseph’s friend number 3: Oh, that’s convenient…

23 people unfriended Joseph.

Mary is traveling back to Nazareth.

Elizabeth: Safe travels. Blessed is the child you bear.

Elizabeth and Zechariah have a son.

Neighbors and relatives like this.

Joseph: What have you named him?

Elizabeth: John!

Zechariah: He shall prepare the way for the Lord.

Ceasar Augustus created a new event: Roman Census

Everyone must register!

Joseph: Heading to Bethlehem to register. Long trip ahead… especially for my very pregnant wife.

Mary: The Lord will protect us.

Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem.

Joseph: Can’t find a guest room!

Joseph: The baby is coming!

IT’S A BOY! He is asleep in a manger… it’s all we could find.

Joseph: Mary was amazing. Words can’t describe this.

Joseph created a new album: The Birth.

Joseph: Some shepherds just showed up.

Joseph: They already know the good news!

Shepherd number 1 started a group: A Savior is Born to Us

Joseph likes this.

Shepherd number 2: Telling everyone!

Shepherd number 3: Glory to God!

Mary: I am treasuring the moment. My spirit rejoices.

Mary changed her profile picture.

Zechariah wrote on Joseph’s wall:

What will you call him?

Joseph: His name shall be Jesus.

Find the English equivalent of the following Hungarian sentences in the script.

1. Egy angyal jelent meg nekem.

2. Dicsőség Istennek!

3. Hogy fogjátok hívni?

4. Hosszú út áll előttünk.

5. Értelmetlenséget beszélsz.

6. Megváltó született.

Key

1. An angel has appeared to me.

2. Glory to God!

3. What will you call him?

4. Long trip ahead.

5. You aren’t making sense.

6. A Savior is born.