Your credit card has a 16-digit number on the front, plus an expiration date, and another three-digit code on the back. We all know in a vague way that the code on the back (also known as the “CVC” or “CVV”) has something to do with making transactions safer or reducing fraud, but other than that we don’t give it much thought — and while we might expect to have to share that number when shopping online, we certainly don’t expect to be asked to read it out loud when making an in-person purchase at a crowded coffee shop. [More]
weird
Today Will Be Extra Long, But Businesses Promise It Won’t Crash Their Computers This Time
By 6.30.15
If today feels like a really long day, that’s because it is. There’s going to be a leap second this evening, making Tuesday 24 hours and one second long. The last time this happened, in 2012, a lot of computers took issue with time going all wonky and systems worldwide crashed as a result. This time around, the big businesses promise they’ve learned their lesson, and we should be able to look forward to business as normal. [More]
Why In-Store Pickup Is Kind Of Weird
By 1.17.13 — Updated: 9.18.14
Jeremy blames the strangeness of his recent electrical cord reel puchase on Sears, but nothing about it was peculiar to that retailer. There was a $20 discrepancy in price for the same item online rather than in the store. Now, few stores price-match online retailers or price-match themselves. What they do offer is in-store pickup for your online order. Jeremy took this to its ridiculous but logical conclusion and purchased his item online, then carried it to the pickup area and out the door. [More]
Troll Dolls Get Sassy Makeover, For Some Reason
By 3.10.11
Retro toy doll sensation “Trolls” are coming back to shelves with a huge makeover. Instead of chubby bodies and hideous faces, the new dolls are basically “Bratz” with giant hairdos. The creatures are called “Trollz” and are tied in with an animated cartoon series. This is actually their redebut; after a lackluster offering in 2006, they are trotting out the dolls and the cartoon for another go-round. Second second time’s the charm? [More]
Professor Gives Up Back-Of-Head Robo-Eye
By 2.11.11
That NYU professor who had a camera installed on the back of his head as part of an art project has given up the cyborg enhancement. His body rejected the implant, which caused immense discomfort that led to a detachment procedure. [More]
NYU Professor Installs Eye In The Back Of His Head
By 12.3.10
In a story that makes you do a triple-take to make sure you’re not reading a parody site, a New York college professor had a camera installed into the back of his head. [More]
Woman Uses Cell Phone In 1928?
By 10.28.10
In what’s either evidence of time travel, an impossibly elaborate hoax or just a clip of an insane woman talking to a shoehorn, an independent filmmaker has sifted through the DVD special features of Charlie Chaplin’s 1928 movie The Circus to find footage of what appears to be a woman talking on a cell phone. [More]
Guitar Center Customer Loses Fight With Elmo
By 9.28.10
Who would punch Elmo in the back of the head? A disgruntled customer at a Guitar Center in Florida, that’s who. The Elmo performer was working a gig at a toy store next door, then wandered over to Guitar Center. That’s when a customer came in, played some drums, behaved aggressively toward other customers and staff, then punched Elmo. [More]
Keep Your Small Dog Info To Yourself; The Person Calling You Doesn't Need To Know
By 9.13.10
Here’s a weird possible scam going around. Our reader Chris writes, “Every day for the past week, I’ve been getting an automated call that asks me, ‘This is Survey 2010. Do you have a small dog?'” [More]
This Condom Warning Label Arouses Confusion
By 8.23.10
A reader bought this box of condoms from her local Safeway, and she says this sticker was underneath the outer packaging. People be freaky, but is there anyone who would want a raw chicken condom that you have to keep frozen until use? (Meh, probably.) [More]
Shoplifter Blames Devil
By 8.10.10
A woman caught shoplifting from a Walmart in Cinnaminson, NJ, assaulted the store’s loss-prevention officer and drove off, but accidentally left her pocketbook–which contained her driver’s license–in the parking lot. She called back later to ask whether they’d found it, and when the police got on the phone she admitted to the shoplifting and assault, but blamed it on the devil. [More]
"Weat Paent Man" Sign At Lowe's Makes Reading Fun Again
By 7.26.10
There is a free thinker at the Lowe’s in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, who has rejected the system’s stifling rules for spelling. Nice penmanship, though. (Thanks to Tim!) [More]
Use Your Shoe To Open A Bottle Of Wine
By 7.13.10
The next time you find yourself somewhere without a corkscrew, try the technique in this video before you buy one. If you’ve got a shoe and a wall, you might be able to tap the cork out with a few carefully controlled smacks. [More]
Gamestop Suddenly Hates Me, But Doesn't Know Why
By 7.8.10
Lu seems to have annual run-ins with stubborn gaming retailers. Last year, a simple GameCrazy purchase racked up illicit fees and an apology from the chain’s district manager. This year, he writes that Gamestop decided to just deny an online purchase with no obvious problems. Why? Apparently Gamestop’s system just doesn’t like Lu. [More]
Crazed Ice Creampreneur Keeps Inventing Horrific Flavors, People Keep Buying Them
By 7.6.10
If you were tricked into volunteering for a Big Brothers Big Sisters-style program, and you live in San Francisco, here’s an easy way to get out of the job. Take your kid to the Humphry Slocombe ice cream shop in San Francisco’s Mission District and order her some Coconut Candy Cap Caramel sorbet–the “candy cap” is mushroom! Or try the Salted Licorice, which Elizabeth Weil in the New York Times says her kids threw on the sidewalk. Or leave the kids at home and try the Secret Breakfast, which contains so much bourbon that “the scoop always runs soft.” [More]
Hallmark Pulls Card With Audio Clip Over Accusations Of Astronomical Racism
By 6.15.10
It’s so hard to understand each other in this life. First there was that unfortunate honey bun mixup, and now Hallmark is trying to prevent a bunch of press conferences from happening (too late!) by pulling a graduation card from shelves. Why? Because either Hoops or Yo-Yo–I don’t know which character is which–spouts shockingly racist insults and threats when you open the card. Well, maybe. [More]
CK Obsession May Not Attract Women, But Guatemalan Jaguars Love It
By 6.8.10
We’re not sure if wearing Calvin Klein’s “Obsession for Men” will get you any ladies, but if you’re looking to attract Guatemalan Jaguars — this is the scent for you. [More]
Verizon Buries Bags Of Rocks In Woman's Yard
By 5.19.10
A woman in Albany, NY was gardening in her front yard and uncovered a white plastic bag filled with rocks. Then she found more, over a dozen in all, which turned out to have been placed there by Verizon workers who had removed an old utility pole last month and had run out of sand. [More]
