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This year’s Uproxx Gift Guides are brought to you by Sirius XM. Check out their site to find all the holiday music and content you need to get into the giving spirit.

It’s that time of year again, you’re juggling a million things, you’re planning holiday weekend activities, and figuring out the best way to spend the end of the year. It’s cold, you’re stressed out, and everything everywhere is crowded. Breathe friend, we feel that holiday anxiety too… and we’re here to help. We want you to spend the end of the year as relaxed and carefree as possible, which is why we’ve been dropping holiday gift guides for every type of person in your life.

Looking for boozy gifts for your favorite drinking buddies? Bam, we’ve got you. Looking for some home goods for that friend who just moved into a new place? Easy. But what do you get for that streetwear fanatic in your life? That’s a tougher question.

Why? Well, the world of streetwear is always shifting, trends that seem cool yesterday might already be outdated. Luckily for you, we make a point of keeping our ears to the ground regarding all things streetwear. From the hottest brands and newest drops to the sort of accessories streetwear fanatics geek out on, we’ve collected it all for our ultimate streetwear gift guide.

For this gift guide, we’re focusing on a mix of specific items and brands that are operating at the top of their respective games right now. Let’s shop!

le FLEUR* — For The Sunseekers Collection

Price: Varies

As Tyler the Creator has progressed in his career, his output has become more and more elevated and we’re not just talking about his music. Tyler has always been on the cutting edge of fashion, his label Golf Wang has been filtering modern streetwear through his distinct lens for years, but our favorite fashion collection from the multi-hyphenate is his le FLEUR* label.

Le FLEUR’s vibe leans more toward high fashion but still has that distinct pastel tone that has become Tyler’s MO. The label is just about to drop its second season, dubbed “For The Sunseekers,” a collection of warm-toned blazers, trousers, puffer jackets, varsity wear, knitwear, vests, and button-ups. Shop the new collection in-store in Malibu on December 9th or online on December 13th.

BUY IT FOR:

That streetwear-obsessed fashion-forward friend who has graduated from simple graphic t-shirts.

Buy Here

Aimé Leon Dore x Drake — Winter Collection

Price: Varies

Right now one of the hottest brands in men’s fashion is Teddy Santis’ Aimé Leon Dore. For some context, Teddy Santis is the reason everyone is now obsessed with New Balance thanks to a few collaborations with ALD that helped elevate the brand. For the winter season, the NYC-based brand has teamed up with London menswear label Drake’s for a preppy collection of puffer jackets, scarves, tracksuits, outerwear, and other layerable pieces.

Imagine British style filtered through a New York streetwear lens and you’ll land in the ballpark of what this Winter 2023 collection is offering.

BUY IT FOR:

People with a more sophisticated aesthetic who appreciate high-quality construction, and ultra-modern fits.

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Palace x CP Company — Funnel Neck Knit (Olive)

Price: $336

If you’re not up on skatewear you might not be aware that Supreme is out and in its place is Palace, a UK-based brand that picks up where Supreme left off but with a distinct London aesthetic that sets it apart from the box label brand.

For the brand’s latest collection, it has teamed up with Italian sportswear brand CP Company for a collection of winter-ready streetwear silhouettes. A piece we’re digging on is the Funnel Neck Knit in Olive. The piece is made from lambswool and nylon with hidden zippers, elasticated cuffs, and Palace embroidered branding in a relaxed fit. –

BUY IT FOR:

The skater in your life who cares about their fit just as much as the design of their deck.

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NOAH x The Cure — Crewneck Sweatshirt

Price: $178

Lately, the New York brand NOAH has been putting its unique NYC streetwear spin on concert merch, and this team-up with The Cure is the best merch collection the brand has put out yet.

The Collection consists of jackets, button-ups, sweaters, cardigans, hoodies, graphic t-shirts, all the general streetwear staple stuff, but our favorite piece is this crewneck sweater, which features graphics from The Cure’s best album, 1989’s Disintegration.

The crewneck is a 100% cotton piece with brushed-back fleece and embroidered details on the sleeve.

BUY IT FOR:

A skate or streetwear fanatic who adores the Cure and leans a bit goth.

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Heaven By Marc Jacobs

Price: Varies

Right now the dominating influence in women’s fashion is the Y2K aesthetic, and no other brand is capturing that look and translating it through a modern lens like Heaven by Marc Jacobs.

Currently, the full collection features just about every wardrobe staple you can think of, from long sleeves, to sweaters, baby tees, tops, zip-ups, skirts, and footwear all with a retro-futuristic aesthetic that is equal parts colorful and gritty.

BUY IT FOR:

The 2000s-obsessed fashionista in your life.

Buy Here

Peachy Den — Current Collection

Price: Varies

Peachy Den’s strength is in its versatility. The London-based brand produces great eye-catching looks no matter the occasion, whether you’re hitting the club, the streets, meeting up for coffee or a museum date, or looking for something cute and loungey.

Right now the brand’s current collection features dresses, midi-skirts, velvet tops, hooded cardigans, and asymmetrical zip-ups that are as cute as they are functional.

BUY IT FOR:

That person in your life who never fails to use every occasion as an opportunity to look adorable.

Buy Here

Levi’s x Barbie Ferreira Long Dress Coat

Price: $295

Levi’s has teamed up with Barbie Ferreira for a capsule collection that brings Ferreira’s gritty ‘90s style to Levi’s iconic silhouettes. The full collection features graphic printed jeans, skirts, t-shirts, flared jeans, and corsets, but a standout for us is this Long Dress Coat.

The coat features an oversized fit with green button detailing, neon doodles, and quality non-stretch Levi denim in a slightly faded black colorway.

BUY IT FOR:

A person whose sense of fashion leans more on the edgy side.

Buy Here

Ford x Sydney Sweeney Jacket

Price: $99.99

Ford, Dickies, and Sydney Sweeney have teamed up for a special workwear collection that features coveralls, jackets, t-shirts, and hats. Sweeney’s love for automobiles is well-documented on her Instagram so this was the perfect team-up that is true to her personality.

Our pick from the collection is the Sweeney Jacket. It features a cropped cut with a form-fitting design with a tan colorway and faded blue racing stripes adding a bit of contrast.

BUY IT FOR:

Perfect for people who love the look of workwear but feel like the fits aren’t flattering enough.

Buy Here

Canada Goose x CONCEPTS — Crofton Puffer

Price: $1,295

Everyone needs a good quality puffer jacket, and this one made by Canada Goose in collaboration with streetwear brand CONCEPTS is equal parts warm and tech-forward. Plus, it’s fashionable.

This puffer uses Canada Goose’s signature Crofton silhouette with a duck-down filling and an iridescent all-over paisley print in three colors. Our favorite is easily the Flint, but the blue-toned Polar Sky also looks great.

BUY IT FOR:

Anyone who can use a quality puffer that’ll keep them warm and looking great.

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Hiro Yanagimachi — Room Slippers

Price: $525

It’s the sort of gift not everyone knows they want: a great pair of house slippers. And we’re not talking about the sort of slippers you slip on when you go out to throw the trash, we’re talking about a pair that turns heads and inspires people to utter words you’ve never thought you’d be so happy to hear: “goddamn those are some nice slippers!”

When it comes to a good pair of house slippers we can’t think of a better pair than those made by Hiro Yanagimachi. These slippers are handmade, come in six rich colors, are available in whole sizes. For $50 extra, they can be outfitted with a monogram.

BUY IT FOR:

That person in your life who cares about fashion even when they’re just lounging around at the house.

Buy Here

Sony — WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones

Price: $328

What separates people with style from people who merely get dressed, is knowing how to accessorize, and nothing completes a great streetwear fit like a dope pair of headphones.

These Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless headphones check a few boxes: they’re stylish, offer fantastic sound quality, and sport some of the best noise-canceling technology out right now. The headphones are completely wireless and Bluetooth-enabled with a 30-hour battery life, a lightweight design, and a frequency span of 20-40,000hz, offering the full spectrum of audible sound, from deep rumbling bass to shimmering highs.

BUY IT FOR:

Someone who is equal parts music and fashion-obsessed.

Buy Here

Bottega Veneta — Turn Cat-Eye Sunglasses

Price: $540

It might be winter now but before we know it spring will be upon us, the clouds will clear, and the sun will be in our eyes. That’s why it’s a great time to update someone’s wardrobe with a great pair of sunglasses. Bottega Veneta’s Turn Cat-Eye Sunglasses feature a flattering shape that looks great on just about every face type.

The frames are made in Italy and feature a metal construction and drop in three colorways, grey, green, and gold.

BUY IT FOR:

Someone who needs a new pair of luxury sunglasses.

Buy Here

EDITOR’S PICK: Taylor Stich — The Carnegie Pant

Price: $168

Every skate movie on earth — from Kids to Mid-90s to Gleaming the Cube — has at least one kid wearing pants that looked like they were pulled out of his grandpa’s war chest or were part of the uniform for 1950s train porters. And every time I see those pants, I burn with envy. They always look so cool!

These are those pants. They feel like they will last for 200 years, they wear well and I always get compliments on them — whether I am pairing them with Adidas Sambas or something more formal. (Style hack of the day: By some sturdy, built-to-last “trousers” like these — you will get so many comments.)

I love the look of these, I love how they can look sharp or be super casual, and I especially love that they feel like they will last forever.

BUY THEM FOR:

The friend who likes to keep some classics on hand to combine with their edgier streetwear looks.

Buy Here

EDITOR’S PICK: Helm — The Xander

Price: $99

I’m going to make it simple for you — everyone needs some of these. They are just too handy. They can be deck shoes or paired with a tuxedo. They match everything. You can’t mess these up — I wore mine to the beach and a charity event on the same dang day.

Look, style is not always simple. Streetwear lovers know that. Giving them a few classic freebies is vital. And considering I’ve had my Helm Xanders for a while, I can tell you with authority — these hold up. The rubber doesn’t chip, the leather is thick and solid, and the silhouette isn’t weird in any unexpected way (sometimes sneakers like this are too thin and cling to your feet giving a “clown shoe” effect).

BUY THEM FOR:

Me! Or anyone in your life who maybe anguishes over looking cool sometimes and just needs a great all-rounder that can do double duty as a “knock-around kick” and as something more formal.

Buy Here

EDITOR’S PICK: Dandy Del Mar — The Cusco Sherpa Pullover (Vintage Ivory)

Price: $189

This is the coziest coat on earth. I feel like a sheep. Not the kind of sheep that does what other people do; the kind of sheep that is shrouded in wool and warm all the time.

The zipper is metal, the jacket is thick, and the look is super clean. Rather than some “performance fleece” that has weird pieces of reflective fabric, this is uniform and isn’t made for anything more demanding than a hike with a good book.

I do have an issue with this pullover though — I legit wear it too much. It has enough of a vibe to be a statement piece and people clock it when you turn it into your day-to-day fleece. No retreat though — I’m keeping this through the winter as my every day — I need a lot of hygge and this jacket from normally tropics-focused brand Dandy Del Mar hits it out of the park.

Durability-wise, I’ve had to get this dry-cleaned twice and it’s not showing signs of wear. The coffee stains are out and the fleece remains as fluffy as ever.

BUY IT FOR:

Anyone who wants to be cozy and look cool at the same time.

Buy Here

EDITOR’S PICK: Roark — Outbound Jumpsuit

Price: $139

Not to get all male-gazy but Roark really seems to have taken aim at the “Can a jumpsuit be sexy?” question with this one. That long zipper in the front is pretty evocative while the thick material is super durable. This is like what the cool farmer who lives in your town wears while longboarding to work.

Easily swayed by a good photo, I bought this for my lady and can report that she loves it. It’s form-fitting while definitely maintaining the dense, workwear quality. The mustard color goes with so much this time of year and the short sleeves are perfect for pairing with a sweatshirt that you can peel off indoors.

BUY IT FOR:

Someone who unrepentantly mixes built-to-last workwear with sexiness. (Also, that’s the sort of person we should all have in our lives!)

Buy Here

EDITOR’S PICK: Culture Kings — Bridges To Babylon ’97 T-shirt

Price: $44

You don’t need me to wax overly philosophical on this one… we all need a Stones shirt. Gotta have one. It’s a “must” for the tee lineup. And if you’re not going to have a shirt from a tour you actually went to, Bridges to Babylon — which spawned a historic concert DVD — is a great pick.

I own this shirt and can attest to the fact that it’s thick enough to not feel cheap but also drapes naturally, how a cotton tee should. The slightly faded logo on the front is iconic and when people ask about the tour poster on the back you can share that none other than Dave Matthews supported the band on this run (boy, that guy seems mellow but he’s had some fun in his day!).

BUY IT FOR:

Anyone who likes streetwear and the Rolling Stones. And if you don’t have that person, maybe you need to start playing the Rolling Stones for some friends.

Buy Here

We know your relationship with your parents can affect a lot about who you are as you grow up. But is it possible that the good and bad of that relationship could actually show up in your saliva?

That’s the bizarre-but-important question a team of researchers recently asked, the results of which were published in Developmental Science.

Led by Elizabeth Shirtcliff, an associate professor from Iowa State University who studies early childhood adversity, the study gathered 300 8th-grade kids and used a simple survey to determine some basic facts about their parents. The kids were asked things like whether they were close with their parents and how often positive reinforcement was used in their household.

The team was looking for signs of what they called “positive parenting, attachment, and bonding.”

Six years later, the kids — now adults — were brought back in for a strange follow-up. The researchers collected a dozen different samples of their saliva.

It sounds a little gross, but they were looking for something important: the presence of a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is crucial to our overall well-being. Lower levels of cortisol are correlated with fatigue, mood swings, and muscle loss, for example. Higher levels of cortisol correlate with healthy blood pressure levels and better immune system function (though extremely high levels are a health risk).

For this study, cortisol was particularly important because it plays a big role in how we process and react to stress. When we’re faced with extreme stress or danger, cortisol floods our bodies, resulting in the “fight or flight,” response.

The study’s authors observed that people who are generally more stressed over longer periods of time, however, often show lower cortisol levels — almost like they get accustomed to all that stress over time and have a lesser reaction to it. While this might sound like a good thing, as far as your health goes, it’s definitely not.

The results of the study were clear: The more signs the kids showed of a positive bond with their parents when they were young, the better their cortisol functioned in adulthood.

That’s a good thing, the researchers suggest, because it helps keep kids alert and sensitive to all of the stimuli and information swirling around them from day to day, rather than having a blunted response to stressors and life in general.

So having great parents who use positive parenting methods is a good thing. Yay!

But the study had an important twist when it came to looking at racial demographics.

When race differences were accounted for — about half the kids were black and half were white — the cortisol correlation didn’t hold up.

On average, the study found, white and black parents were equally likely to have a positive bond with their kids. But parenting styles aren’t the only thing that can affect stress levels and kids’ response to it.

Many of the white students in the study may have benefited from “low stress, resource-rich contexts which unfortunately may be less common for black youth,” the researchers explained.

It’s also worth noting that many groups — including black people of people Jewish descent — carry biological markers of trauma from previous generations (i.e., slavery, the Holocaust), which can also affect cortisol response.

In other words, growing up with various socioeconomic and other hardships does indeed have a lifelong impact, and now we’ve got the beakers full of saliva (so to speak) to prove it.

This is important work. It proves that, in many cases, being a great parent can actually physically manifest itself in kids growing up to be well-adjusted and adaptable.

Being a loving parent can actually have a biological impact on your kids years and years later. That’s amazing!

Perhaps most importantly, however, it shows a glaring need for kids — particularly those belonging to marginalized or disadvantaged groups — to get better support in the form of solid education, safe communities to grow up in, and more opportunities to learn and grow.

Having great parents isn’t always enough to overcome a world that seems to be stacked against you, but it certainly helps.

This article originally appeared on 12.18.17

Everyone seems to have a theory on the best time to purchase airfare to save the most money. Some say it’s right before take-off. Others will swear that prices are lowest six months before the flight. Well, now we have the truth. A scientific study was conducted by Expedia and the Airlines Reporting Commission that found the best times to buy flight tickets to get the best deal possible.

When we actually buy…

DOMESTIC: 32 DAYS IN ADVANCE

INTERNATIONAL: 59 DAYS IN ADVANCE

When we should buy…

DOMESTIC: 57 DAYS IN ADVANCE

The ideal advance-purchase time for domestic flight to snag the lowest average airfare is 57 with prices climbing most rapidly in the 20 days leading up to the flight. On a flight that averages $496, it will cost $401 57 days before the flight and around $650 the day of departure.

INTERNATIONAL: 171 DAYS IN ADVANCE
For a ticket that averages $1,368, the lowest average of $1,004 happens around 171 days before take-off. On the day of, the price will be around $1875. Ticket prices begin to dramatically escalate 75 days leading up to departure.

(H/T Conde Nast Traveler)

This article originally appeared on 10.14.15

Heading into the final days of the SAG-AFTRA strike, reports were flying in that studios were already prepping to get their biggest properties in front of cameras as soon as possible. Case in point, Deadpool 3 is already back in production. Stranger Things 5 is another one of those aforementioned properties, and Netflix is definitely not messing around in getting things up and running.

According to a new report from Deadline, Stranger Things 5 will resume filming on January 8, 2024 if not sooner. Given the approaching holidays, that’s an extremely fast turnaround time, which confirms reports that Netflix is eager to get the fifth and final season in front of viewers quickly and rack up a buttload of views, of course.

While not much is known about the last season, David Harbour has teased that that it will be an emotional roller-coaster that gives the show’s sprawling cast the sendoffs they deserve.

“I’m excited to go back. I’m excited to wrap it up in a bold, amazing way,” Harbour told Variety. “I’m excited to really swing with this character, because you know they’re going to pay off these OG characters: Eleven, Hopper, Joyce, Will, Mike. They’re going to pay them off in big ways because they’ve lived with you for the past eight years.”

(Via Deadline)

You’re probably familiar with the literary classic “Moby-Dick.”

But in case you’re not, here’s the gist: Moby Dick is the name of a huge albino sperm whale.

(Get your mind outta the gutter.)

There’s this dude named Captain Ahab who really really hates the whale, and he goes absolutely bonkers in his quest to hunt and kill it, and then everything is awful and we all die unsatisfied with our shared sad existence and — oops, spoilers!

OK, technically, the narrator Ishmael survives. So it’s actually a happy ending (kind of)!

Basically, it’s a famous book about revenge and obsession that was published back in 1851, and it’s really, really long.

It’s chock-full of beautiful passages and dense symbolism and deep thematic resonance and all those good things that earned it a top spot in the musty canon of important literature.

There’s also a lot of mundane descriptions about the whaling trade as well (like, a lot). That’s because it came out back when commercial whaling was still a thing we did.

In fact, humans used to hunt more than 50,000 whales each year to use for oil, meat, baleen, and oil. (Yes, I wrote oil twice.) Then, in 1946, the International Whaling Commission stepped in and said “Hey, wait a minute, guys. There’s only a few handful of these majestic creatures left in the entire world, so maybe we should try to not kill them anymore?”

And even then, commercial whaling was still legal in some parts of the world until as recently as 1986.

And yet by some miracle, there are whales who were born before “Moby-Dick” was published that are still alive today.

What are the odds of that? Honestly it’s hard to calculate since we can’t exactly swim up to a bowhead and say, “Hey, how old are you?” and expect a response. (Also that’s a rude question — jeez.)

Thanks to some thoughtful collaboration between researchers and traditional Inupiat whalers (who are still allowed to hunt for survival), scientists have used amino acids in the eyes of whales and harpoon fragments lodged in their carcasses to determine the age of these enormous animals — and they found at least three bowhead whales who were living prior to 1850.

Granted those are bowheads, not sperm whales like the fictional Moby Dick, (and none of them are albino, I think), but still. Pretty amazing, huh?

This is a particularly remarkable feat considering that the entire species was dwindling near extinction.

Barring these few centenarian leviathans, most of the whales still kickin’ it today are between 20 and 70 years old. That’s because most whale populations were reduced to 10% or less of their numbers between the 18th and 20th centuries, thanks to a few over-eager hunters (and by a few, I mean all of them).

Today, sperm whales are considered one of the most populous species of massive marine mammals; bowheads, on the other hand, are still in trouble, despite a 20% increase in population since the mid-1980s. Makes those few elderly bowheads that much more impressive, huh?

Unfortunately, just as things are looking up, these wonderful whales are in trouble once again.

We might not need to worry our real-life Captain Ahabs anymore, but our big aquatic buddies are still being threatened by industrialization — namely, from oil drilling in the Arctic and the Great Australian Bight.

In the off-chance that companies like Shell and BP manage not to spill millions of gallons of harmful crude oil into the water, the act of drilling alone is likely to maim or kill millions of animals, and the supposedly-safer sonic blasting will blow out their eardrums or worse.

This influx of industrialization also affects their migratory patterns — threatening not only the humans who depend on them, but also the entire marine ecosystem.

And I mean, c’mon — who would want to hurt this adorable face?

Whales might be large and long-living. But they still need our help to survive.

If you want another whale to make it to his two-hundred-and-eleventy-first birthday (which you should because I hear they throw great parties), then sign this petition to protect the waters from Big Oil and other industrial threats.

I guarantee Moby Dick will appreciate it.

This article originally appeared on 11.04.15

What can we learn from letting seventh graders take the SAT?

In the 1960s, psychologist Julian Stanley realized that if you took the best-testing seventh graders from around the country and gave them standard college entry exams, those kids would score, on average, about as well as the typical college-bound high school senior.

However, the seventh graders who scored as well or better than high schoolers, Stanley found, had off-the-charts aptitude in quantitative, logical, and spatial reasoning.

In other words, they were gifted.

In the 1970s, Stanley and his team launched a full-scale study, identifying many of America’s gifted kids and tracking them throughout their lives.

The study, called the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth never ended and is now nearly 45 years in the making. It has followed countless kids from middle school into their careers as some of America’s top politicians, scientists, CEOs, engineers, and military leaders.

Stanley passed away in the mid-2000s, but psychologist David Lubinski helped bring the study to Vanderbilt University in the 1990s, where he now co-directs it with Camilla P. Benhow.

It’s not a stretch to call this the biggest and most in-depth study on intellectual “precociousness.” The results of the study thus far are equal parts fascinating and genuinely surprising — a deeply insightful look into the minds and lives of brilliant children.

1. Some of what we used to think about gifted kids turned out to be wrong.

Ever heard the saying “early to ripe, early to rot”? It basically means doing “too much” to foster a kid’s special talents and abilities at too young an age could actually cause harm in the long term.

That’s not even remotely true, at least not according to Lubinski.

That might be an outdated example. But Lubinksi says there are plenty of other misconceptions still alive today, like the idea that gifted kids are so smart that they’ll “find a way” to excel even if those smarts aren’t nurtured and developed.

Not so fast. “They’re kids,” he explains. “They need guidance. We all need guidance.”

2. Intelligence is not the same as passion.

Quick, what’s the “smartest” career you can think of. Doctor? Scientist?

While you do have to be pretty brilliant to work in medicine or science, those are far from the only career paths gifted kids choose later in life.

“Quantitatively, gifted people vary widely in their passions,” Lubinski says. Many of the students in the study did end up pursuing medicine, but others went into fields like economics or engineering. Others still were more gifted in areas like logical or verbal reasoning, making them excellent lawyers and writers.

“There are all kinds of ways to express intellectual talent,” Lubinski explains.

When it comes to doing what’s best for a gifted student, it’s just as important for parents and educators to know what the student is passionate about rather than pigeonholing them in traditionally “smart” fields and registering them in a bunch of STEM courses.

3. Hard work definitely still matters.

Measuring a student’s aptitude, their natural abilities, is only one part of the equation when it comes to determining how successful they’ll be in life. Aptitude scores can identify a particularly strong natural skill set but tell us very little about how hard that person might work to excel in that field.

Effort, Lubinski says, is a critical factor in determining how far someone’s going to go in life. “If you look at exceptional performers in politics, science, music, and literature, they’re working many, many hours,” he says.

(And for the record, there are a lot more important things in life than just career achievement, like family, friends, and overall happiness.)

4. Regardless of aptitude, every kid deserves to be treated as though they were gifted.

The study’s focus is specifically on kids within a certain range of intellectual ability, but Lubinski is careful to note that many of its findings can and should be applied to all students.

For example, the kids in the study who were given an opportunity to take more challenging courses that aligned with their skills and interests ultimately went on to accomplish more than the students who were not afforded the same opportunity.

“You have to find out where your child’s development is, how fast they learn, what are their strengths and relative weaknesses and tailor the curriculum accordingly,” Lubinski says. “It’s what you would want for all kids.”

It may sound a bit like a pipe dream, but it’s a great starting point for how we should be thinking about the future of education in America.

If you’d like to learn more about the Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth, check out this short film on the project created by Vanderbilt University:

Quick Learners; High Achievers: Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth

This article originally appeared on 09.22.17

Certain people have an innate ability to remember random facts. They are great at trivia but can also be insufferable know-it-alls.

So why are some people better at recalling random facts than others? Researchers in Europe believe that it’s because their brains are more efficiently wired than other people’s.

“We assume that more efficient networking of the brain contributes to better integration of pieces of information and thus leads to better results in a general knowledge test,” biopsychologist Erhan Genc, from Ruhr University Bochum, said according to Science Alert.

Brittany Packnett Cunningham, an MSNBC contributor, activist, and co-host of Crooked Media’s “Pod Save The People,” wanted to harvest the mind hive on Twitter and find the most random fact that anyone knows.

“I mean RANDOM random,” she wrote.

The answers ranged from the utterly pointless to the truly amazing. There was also a generous helping of utterly disgusting answers thrown in the mix.

Almost every answer deserved the follow-up question: “Why in the world do you know that?”

Here are some of the most random responses to Brittany Packnett Cunningham’s question: “What’s the most random fact you know?”

Whatu2019s the most random fact you know?nnI mean RANDOM random.

— brittany packnett cunningham. (@brittany packnett cunningham.)
1580180672

Most were utterly useless, but somehow still fascinating.

Snails can sleep for up to three years when the weather doesnu2019t suit them.

— ud835udc9fud835udcb6ud835udcc3ud835udcbeud835udc52ud835udcc1ud835udcc1ud835udc52 (@ud835udc9fud835udcb6ud835udcc3ud835udcbeud835udc52ud835udcc1ud835udcc1ud835udc52)
1580180829

pic.twitter.com/IhCEcPpVJN

— ud83cuddfaud83cuddf8All AmErican New Year (@ud83cuddfaud83cuddf8All AmErican New Year)
1580499864

most mammals have twice as many nipples as their species’ average litter size (e.g. humans mostly have 1 kid at a time, but 2 nipples), this is colloquially referred to as the ‘half nipple rule’nnexcept opossums, which for some reason have an odd number of nipples

— Several Irate Bobcats (@Several Irate Bobcats)
1580184771

Muhammad is statistically the most common first name on the planet while Wang is the most common last name on the planet. But I still haven’t met anyone named Muhammad Wang.

Muhammad is statistically the most common first name on the planet while Wang is the most common last name on the planet. But I still havenu2019t met anyone named Muhammad Wang.

— So There I Was… (@So There I Was…)
1580183727

The only word in the English language with all vowels+Y in alpha order is “facetiously”

The only word in the English language with all vowels+Y in alpha order is u201cfacetiouslyu201d

— christy mcguire (FinishEdD!) (@christy mcguire (FinishEdD!))
1580181277

Queen Elizabeth is one of the only people in the world who doesn’t need a passport to travel.
Everyone else in the royal family does.

Queen Elizabeth is one of the only people in the world who doesnu2019t need a passport to travel.nEveryone else in the royal family does.

— Connie B ud83dudc3b (@Connie B ud83dudc3b)
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NYE goes hard

NYE goes hard

— Mud83dudd4a (@Mud83dudd4a)
1580184004

In DNA, mushrooms are more similar to animals than they are to plants.

In DNA, mushrooms are more similar to animals than they are to plants.

— u2728 No More Mayors u2728 (@u2728 No More Mayors u2728)
1580181372

Some were pretty darn cool.

London Tube platforms have different tilings because when the Tube was originally built, a lot of people who used it were illiterate, and the different tilings helped them know what station they were at.pic.twitter.com/Yw8e04zCJA

London Tube platforms have different tilings because when the Tube was originally built, a lot of people who used it were illiterate, and the different tilings helped them know what station they were at.pic.twitter.com/Yw8e04zCJA

— Sahil (@Sahil)
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Some were thought-provoking.

You’ve never seen your own face. You’ve seen a reflection, and you’ve seen pictures, but you’ve never actually seen your own face!

You’ve never seen your own face. You’ve seen a reflection, and you’ve seen pictures, but you’ve never actually seen your own face!

— Ruby’s Granddaughter (@Ruby’s Granddaughter)
1580226748

When you look at a flower, some of the photons that entered your eye just ended a 100,000-year journey from the center of the sun.

Nobody else sees them.

Just you.

10% of THOSE will give up their energy to cause a chemical reaction that—literally—makes them a part of you.https://twitter.com/MsPackyetti/status/1221992423905202176 …

When you look at a flower, some of the photons that entered your eye just ended a 100,000-year journey from the center of the sun.nnNobody else sees them.nnJust you.nn10% of THOSE will give up their energy to cause a chemical reaction thatu2014literallyu2014makes them a part of you.https://twitter.com/MsPackyetti/status/1221992423905202176u00a0u2026

— u2796Dustin Milleru2796 (@u2796Dustin Milleru2796)
1580187100

Elephants are the only animals other than humans who have something like funerals. They cover the dead elephant gently with leaves and branches, then stand around in a circle for hours making sad noises.

Elephants are the only animals other than humans who have something like funerals. They cover the dead elephant gently with leaves and branches, then stand around in a circle for hours making sad noises.

— ud83cudf39Saffi u2721ufe0f (@ud83cudf39Saffi u2721ufe0f)
1580182116

There was a day when your parents put you down and never picked you up again.

There was a day when your parents put you down and never picked you up again.

— Bradley King (@Bradley King)
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Others were disturbing.

Humans have a coccyx (aka a tailbone) which is the remnant of, you guessed it, a vestigial tail. One of our several vestigial features.

Humans have a coccyx (aka a tailbone) which is the remnant of, you guessed it, a vestigial tail. One of our several vestigial features.

— Cat Noone (@Cat Noone)
1580181773

The act of touching glasses to cheers comes from medieval suspicions of poisoning each other, so youd slam mugs together to spill each others drinks into your own to show trust you werent trying to kill them. Europeans man…

The act of touching glasses to cheers comes from medieval suspicions of poisoning each other, so youd slam mugs together to spill each others drinks into your own to show trust you werent trying to kill them. Europeans man…

— james beard (@james beard)
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Male dolphins can ejaculate as far as 10′ and with such force it can kill a human if that human was foolish enough to attempt zoophilic relations with dolphin.

Male dolphins can ejaculate as far as 10′ and with such force it can kill a human if that human was foolish enough to attempt zoophilic relations with dolphin.

— dr. k still loves Richard (@dr. k still loves Richard)
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Artificial raspberry and strawberry flavoring comes from the anal glands of a beaver.

Artificial raspberry and strawberry flavoring comes from the anal glands of a beaver.

— u2744ufe0fu2744ufe0f Stephanie Nelson u2744ufe0fu2744ufe0f (@u2744ufe0fu2744ufe0f Stephanie Nelson u2744ufe0fu2744ufe0f)
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And some could be helpful down the road. You just never know.

If you are attacked by a gator and your arm is in its jaws, push, don’t pull. If you can push the flap open at the back of its throat, water rushes in and it starts to drown and will open jaws, hopefully releasing you.

If you are attacked by a gator and your arm is in its jaws, push, don’t pull. If you can push the flap open at the back of its throat, water rushes in and it starts to drown and will open jaws, hopefully releasing you.

— Anika Noni Rose (@Anika Noni Rose)
1580220908

The Phenomena: “The Doorway Effect”
When you forget the reason you enter a different room.
To retrieve the reason, walk backwards w/o turning around.
It can trigger the memory.

The Phenomena: “The Doorway Effect”nWhen you forget the reason you enter a different room.nTo retrieve the reason, walk backwards w/o turning around.nIt can trigger the memory.

— CK (@CK)
1580185439

This article originally appeared on 02.06.20

A common criticism gun rights activists levy toward gun legislation advocates is that many people who push for stricter gun laws don’t know a lot about guns themselves. That’s not wholly accurate—there are plenty of gun enthusiasts who support reasonable gun laws—but it’s true that many people who are horrified by our nation’s gun culture are not well-versed on the specifications of our nation’s 393 million guns.

Not every American is an active part of American “gun culture.” Some of us have never shot a firearm, for fun or otherwise. Some of us really are ignorant about guns themselves.

That can’t be said for anyone in the military, however. And it definitely can’t be said for a former Major General of the U.S. Army.

That’s why an explanation of the difference between an AR-15 and military-style firearms from retired Major General Paul Eaton has gone viral. Major General Eaton was the commander in charge of training Iraqi soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom, so he definitely knows what he’s talking about when it comes to weaponry.

He wrote:

“As the former Commanding General of the Infantry Center at Fort Benning and Chief of Infantry, I know a bit about weapons. Let me state unequivocally — For all intents and purposes, the AR-15 and rifles like it are weapons of war. A thread:

u201cThose opposed to assault weapon bans continue to play games with AR-15 semantics, pretending thereu2019s some meaningful differences between it and the M4 carbine that the military carries. There really arenu2019t. 2/u201d

— Major General (ret) Paul Eaton (@Major General (ret) Paul Eaton)
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Those opposed to assault weapon bans continue to play games with AR-15 semantics, pretending there’s some meaningful differences between it and the M4 carbine that the military carries. There really aren’t.

The military began a transition from the M16 to the M4, an improved M16, some years ago. The AR-15 is essentially the civilian version of the M16. The M4 is really close to the M16, and the AR-15.

So what’s the difference between the military’s M4 and the original AR-15? Barrel length and the ability to shoot three round bursts. M4s can shoot in three round bursts. AR-15s can only shoot a single shot.

But even now, you can buy AR-15s in variable barrel lengths with Weaver or Picatinny rails for better sights and aiming assists like lasers. Like the military, but w/o the bayonet.

But our troops usually use single shot, not burst fire. You’re able to fire a much more accurate (deadly) shot, that way. Note: you can buy our Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight on Amazon. So troops usually select the same fire option available on AR-15.

That is why the AR-15 is ACCURATELY CALLED a ‘weapon of war.’ It is a very deadly weapon with the same basic functionality that our troops use to kill the enemy. Don’t take the bait when anti-gun-safety folks argue about it. They know it’s true. Now you do too.”

Eaton is not the only former military leader who has spoken out in support of gun legislation. In 2019, a group of 13 influential retired military leaders wrote a letter to Congress, pushing it to pass the Bipartisan Background Check Act.

“Each of us has, at some point in our lives, made the choice to risk our lives for our fellow citizens and place ourselves in harm’s way,” they wrote. “We were trained, we were coached, and we were prepared for the dangers that we chose to face. This is not the case for most Americans, yet they continue to face danger on the sidewalk, in their homes, at school, and at work. It is in the same spirit that led us to serve in the armed forces that we ask you, our elected leaders, to help protect the American people from gun violence here at home. We urge you to support this legislation.”

Police leaders have also voiced strong support for gun legislation, which makes sense considering how much harder and more dangerous our free-for-all gun culture makes their jobs. The International Association of Chiefs of Police, the largest professional association of police leaders in the world, has a position paper that outlines the gun safety laws it supports, including firearm offender registration, waiting periods, closing the gun show loophole, banning semiautomatic assault weapons, armor-piercing ammunition, bulletproof body armor and more. The IACP states that these are “common sense policies that would assist in reducing gun violence, while upholding the second amendment.”

Yep, the largest police leader association supports banning semiautomatic assault weapons like the AR-15. Here’s what it has to say about that:

“First passed in 1994, the assault weapons ban required domestic gun manufacturers to stop production of semi-automatic assault weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than ten rounds except for military or police use. While the ban was in place, it was remarkably effective in reducing the number of crimes involving assault weapons. In the period of the ban, (1994-2004) the proportion of assault weapons traced to crimes fell by a dramatic 66 percent.”

If those who oppose gun legislation don’t want to listen to people who don’t know enough about guns to speak authoritatively on them, that’s fine. Perhaps they should listen to these military and police leaders who not only know guns inside and out, but who also have the firsthand experience on both sides of the barrel to speak authoritatively on what can help minimize America’s gun violence.

This article originally appeared on 06.04.22

While a catchy hook might make a song go viral, very few songs create such a unifying impact that they achieve timeless resonance. Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” is one of those songs.

So much courage and raw honesty is packed into the lyrics, only to be elevated by Chapman’s signature androgynous and soulful voice. Imagine being in the crowd and seeing her as a relatively unknown talent and hearing that song for the first time. Would you instantly recognize that you were witnessing a pivotal moment in musical history?

For concert goers at Wembley Stadium in the late 80s, this was the scenario.

The year was 1988. Seventy-two thousand people gathered—along with 600 million more watching along on their televisions—to see headliner Stevie Wonder as part of Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday tribute concert.

However, technical difficulties (or perhaps some divine timing) rendered Wonder unable to perform his act. Chapman had already played a three-song set earlier in the afternoon, and yet she agreed to step up to the microphone.

Armed with nothing but herself and a guitar, the shy and stoic Chapman captivated everyone to silence. And the rest is history.

Watch:

Using just a simple story, “Fast Car” conveyed a million different themes—the challenges of class and poverty, seeking escape from a small town and yearning for freedom and new opportunity. It’s easy to see why some find the song heartbreaking, while others find it hopeful.

After the Mandela gig, the song became a worldwide hit, earning Chapman Grammy awards and shooting her to stardom. What’s more, she introduced a new wave of socially-conscious music filled with gentle, yet brutally truthful introspection. Since that fateful day, her name is forever synonymous with a quiet revolution. We are quite lucky to get to experience it so many years later.

This article originally appeared on 2.2.23

It seems everyone needs subtitles nowadays in order to “hear” the television. This is something that has become more common over the past decade and it’s caused people to question if their hearing is going bad or if perhaps actors have gotten lazy with enunciation.

So if you’ve been wondering if it’s just you who needs subtitles in order to watch the latest marathon-worthy show, worry no more. Vox video producer Edward Vega interviewed dialogue editor Austin Olivia Kendrick to get to the bottom of why we can’t seem to make out what the actors are saying anymore. It turns out it’s technology’s fault, and to get to how we got here, Vega and Kendrick took us back in time.

They first explained that way back when movies were first moving from silent film to spoken dialogue, actors had to enunciate and project loudly while speaking directly into a large microphone. If they spoke and moved like actors do today, it would sound almost as if someone were giving a drive-by soliloquy while circling the block. You’d only hear every other sentence or two.

But with today’s technology, microphones are so small they can be strapped just about anywhere on an actor. This allows the actor to move about the set freely and speak at a normal volume without worrying that their words won’t be picked up. So then why can’t we hear them? Turns out it’s super complicated…and also not.

“A lot of people will ask, ‘Why don’t you just turn the dialogue up?’ Like, ‘Just turn it up.’ And…if only it were that simple,” Kendrick said before explaining, “If you have your dialogue that’s going to be at the same volume as an explosion that immediately follows it, the explosion is not going to feel as big. You need that contrast in volume in order to give your ear a sense of scale.”

Sure, you may be thinking, well that kinda explains it, but why do the music and other cinematic noises sound like they’re beating on your eardrum while the dialogue sounds like the actors are whispering every line? That doesn’t seem very balanced. There’s more to it, and again, it falls back onto technology.

In the video, they explain how our televisions are too thin to hold large speakers facing in the correct direction, and until this video, it didn’t dawn on me that the speakers to my television are indeed in the back. No wonder we can’t hear. The actors are quite literally talking to our walls.

And there’s more. Check out the full explanation in the video:

This article originally appeared on 2.1.23