Whether or not we like it, mascots are here to stay, no matter how stupid or creepy they may be. However, there are actually some cool ones out there. I admit, I had a tough time narrowing down the list to just 9. Here are three that didn’t make the cut, and then the list starts with number 9…

12.) McGruff the Crime Dog

11.) Chester Cheetah

10.) Michelin Man

9.) Tony the Tiger

Why he’s cool:
Tony is such a happy-go-lucky guy, how can he not be cool? Tigers as a whole are cool animals. Tigers that eat cereal are even cooler. Besides, if Tony the Tiger wear a freakin’ ascot that has his own name on it. If that doesn’t scream cool, then what does?

8.) Cool Spot

Why he’s cool:
This late 1980′s mascot for 7 Up just oozes cool. Cool is in his own name! Mr. Spot even had two video games created that starred him. The first game even won an award! Cool Spot seems like that guy at the pool or beach that attracts all the hot girls in bikinis and sips on pina coladas. It’s a shame that he isn’t seen much anymore.

7.) Energizer Bunny

So cool that he has a float!

6.) Cap’n Crunch

Wouldn't you want this guy to be your father?

5.) Taco Bell Chihuahua

Why she’s cool:
Perhaps one of the most beloved fast food icons in recent memory, the Taco Bell Chihuahua radiated cool. The dog, named Gidget, did something not many chihuahuas could do – look important. Just ask anyone who was around during that time and ask them to tell you one thing about Taco Bell. Chances are, they will answer about the dog.

4.) M&M’s – Red and Yellow

Why they’re cool:
These two candies are the perfect compliments to each other. Yellow is always a happy guy while Red is more cynical of things, like Santa. What about them makes them cool? Their conversations with each other, of course. Whenever you get one cynic and one gullible personality together in the same room, hilarity ensues. And as everyone knows, humor is cool.

3.) Toucan Sam

Why he’s cool:
Toucan Sam is probably my favorite mascot out of everyone on this list. Like tigers, toucans are cool animals. They are full of color and vibrance. He’s well-liked by many; it’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t like Toucan Sam. Every time you hear the word “toucan,” you’ll undoubtedly think of Toucan Sam. It’s ingrained in our nature. That’s what makes this bird so damn cool.

2.) GEICO Gecko

Why he’s cool:
Geckos are awesome. British accents are awesome. Geckos that speak in British accents are even more awesome.

1.) Dos Equis Man (The Most Interesting Man in the World)

He lives vicariously...through himself!

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Originally Published June 16, 2009.

There comes a time when a new fad sweeps the nation and sometimes the world. More often than not, these fads disappear as quickly as they came, leaving only the people who came up with the idea swimming in millions of dollars in profit. It makes you think “Why didn’t I think of that?” Well you didn’t – yet. After reading through these ideas, maybe inspiration will come and you’ll become a millionaire.

1.) Pet Rock

Could you take care of this family?

2.) Snuggie/Slanket

Snuggies are one of the newest fads for the new millennium. Also known as Slankets, the Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves to cover your arms. The advertisement for the Snuggie shows a woman so cold and so confused by her current blanket that she has to use a Snuggie. While there has been a show of strong support for the Snuggie, evidenced by fan pages on Facebook, detractors comment that it is just a backwards coat or robe. Sales of the Snuggie and Slanket have reached over 5 million units and counting. Wish you would have thought of it? Check out the Snuggie commercial.

3.) Big Mouth Billy Bass

Remember walking in the store and then all of a sudden you hear someone saying “Don’t Worry, Be Happy?” It’s not someone, it’s…a fish talking, err singing, to you. Big Mouth Billy Bass was the original singing fish that eventually spawned other singing creatures such as the singing deer, the singing great white shark, and the singing lobster in the 90s. There’s no doubt that you knew someone who had this product. Eventually, the singing bass product craze fizzled out, but you can still find them around on eBay and in garage sales everywhere.

4.) Bottled Water

I think I'll just use the tap, thanks

5.) Plastic Fake Wishbones

You know the story. It’s Thanksgiving and you split the wishbone, only to find out you lost. Bummer. Wait til’ next year. Well those days are over now because if you lose, you can whip out a fake plastic wishbone and keep trying until you win (at $3 a bone). Question: does your wish still come true after you’ve lost a couple of times in a row beforehand? Plastic wishbones, coming to a Thanksgiving dinner near you! Get these products before they run out for Thanksgiving.

6.) Doggles

Self-explanatory

Images Sources:

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Originally published June 2, 2009.

The month of May is over, and now June has arrived. It’s incredible how fast the year is flying by. In honor of the new month, here is a short list of major world events that have happened in the month of June (in no particular order):

1.) D.Day – June 6, 1944

The famed invasion of Normandy by the Allied troops. Part of Operation Overlord, D-Day helped the Allied forces push forward into France and establish a new front on their way to liberate Paris. Many historians consider D-Day the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.  It was the largest and most successful amphibious assault in history and to this day, many accounts and depictions are created in film, television, print and art. Definitely an important world event.

2.) Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria – June 28, 1914

Often referred to as “The shot heard ’round the world,” many blame the assassination as the cause of World War I. A Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, was the assassin. In the aftermath, Austria’s demands from Serbia caused Serbia to activate its alliance with Russia, who in turn, had an alliance with the UK and France, known as the Triple Entente. Austria, in retaliation, activated their alliances with Germany and Italy. The Great War was born. The aftermath of WWI also lead indirectly to WWII, as well as the birth of the Soviet Union. This world event changed the world forever.

3.) Henry Ford test drives the Ford Quadricycle – June 4, 1896

Such a small world event leading to big thing. This small vehicle was the predecessor to all vehicles on the road today. Its top speed was 20 mph and used a gasoline engine. This little invention helped propel Ford to early automotive dominance. After he left the Henry Ford Company (later known as Cadillac), Ford established the Ford Motor Company in 1903. His Model T automobile revolutionized traveling, as people started living in the suburbs because of the car. He also made it affordable for the majority of Americans, due to the invention of the assembly line.

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Part 2 of Fake Facebook Status Updates of Historical People is here.

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We’ve all made mistakes in our lives. Sometimes we learn from those mistakes. Other times, we are just doomed to repeat them. There’s one more thing that you can do about your mistakes – accidentally create a popular item that revolutionizes a certain industry or changes the world forever. Here are 5 such things.

1.) Post-it Notes

In 1968, a Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, accidentally invented an adhesive substance that could be reused. Unfortunately, no one at 3M or elsewhere thought much of this adhesive material and it remained without a use until 1974. In that year, Arthur Fry came up with the idea of using that adhesive material to make his bookmarks stick in his hymnbook. In 1977, 3M launched the Post-it, but it failed because no one knew what to do with it exactly. They started giving out free samples, and in 1980, the product was a success and was sold throughout the country.

2.) Slinky

Richard James, a naval engineer, was trying to develop a spring that would stabilize and support very sensitive equipment on ships and cruisers in 1943. When James accidentally knocked one of these springs off a shelf, he watched in amazement as it continued moving. He experimented with different types of steel wires and tensions until he found the one that worked best. His wife Betty called it the “Slinky,” which meant sleek and graceful. They sold their invention at $1 a piece.

3.) Potato Chips

George Crum was an annoyed chef in 1853. One of his customers kept sending back his fried potatoes, claiming they were too thick and soggy. Crum decided to slice the potatoes so thin, that the customer wouldn’t be able to use a fork. He also stir-fried the slices and put some extra salt on it. To his surprise, the customer loved these new “chips.” Crum dubbed them “Saratoga Chips.” They became popular in the Northeastern United States and soon spread like wildfire.

4.) The Sandwich

While the sandwich itself wasn’t invented by John Montagu, it was sure named after him. You see, Montagu was the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He ordered his valet and attendant to bring him meat between two pieces of bread. Since Montagu was an Earl, others in his area wanted the same as him and ordered “the same as Sandwich!” While this is still under debate, it is the most common story told regarding the sandwich.

5.) Popsicles

Frank Epperson was just 11 in 1905 when he accidentally created the popsicle. He left a mixture of of powered soda and water out on his porch, leaving his stirring stick in the mixture too. It just so happened that San Francisco’s weather reached a record low that night. The next morning, Epperson woke up to his mixture frozen on a stick. He called it the Epsicle. 18 years later, he revealed his creation to the public and renamed it the Popsicle, at his children’s request.

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April 1, a day in which everyone jokes around playing pranks. Unfortunately (and hilariously), some people forget that it is April Fools’ Day and believe everything that’s going on. Thanks to Museum of Hoaxes, here are some of the best April Fools’ Pranks that have been pulled off.

1.) Viagra for Hamsters

In 2000, The Independent had revealed that researchers in Florida had developed a Viagra pill for household pets. The article noted that it was widely known that hamsters think to themselves, “I haven’t had sex for months. Am I so unattractive?” In order to get your hamsters to do the down and dirty, owners were advised to grind up the pills and put them in their pet’s food.

2.) Sidd Finch

In 1985, Sports Illustrated published a story about a new rookie pitcher for the New York Mets. It was reported that this young phenom could throw a fastball at 168 mph extremely accurately. It was also reported that Sidd Finch had never even played baseball before, instead learning the art of pitching in a Tibetan Monastery. Sports Illustrated was overwhelmed with requests about this new phenom, and Mets fan were celebrating. Unfortunately for them, Sidd Finch was an invention of the story’s author, George Plimpton.

3.) Spaghetti Harvest

In 1957, a BBC show announced that Swiss Farmers had grown spaghetti crops. To help the illusion, there was video of farmers pulling spaghetti from trees. Thousands of people called in, asking how to grow their own spaghetti crops. BBC replied ,”place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”

4.) Taco Liberty Bell

In 1996, Taco Bell had announced that they purchased the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Citizens in Philadelphia and around the country called the National Historic Park (the home of the Liberty Bell) to express their anger and outrage over the commercialization of America. Hours later, Taco Bell finally revealed that it was a prank.

5.) Flying Penguins

Recently in 2008, the BBC announced that camera crews in Antarctica had captured footage of flying penguins. This “captured footage” was then put on YouTube as proof. The video mentions that the penguins fly south to the South American rainforests. Check out the flying penguins video on YouTube.

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There have been events that have changed the course of history. World War II, September 11, and the discovery of the Americas have all helped shape the world we live in today. But what about specific objects? Here are 4 objects that have been found that could dramatically alter the history of the world if they are proven to be authentic without a shadow of doubt.

1.) Kensington Runestone

The Kensington Runestone is a giant sandstone that was found near Kensington, Minnesota in 1898. The stone is covered in runes, which is a type of Germanic alphabet used by Scandinavians. The discovery of the stone suggests that Scandinavian explorers came to North America and explored the American Midwest almost a century before Columbus discovered the Americas. The authenticity of the Kensington Runestone has been debated since its discovery.

2.) Shroud of Turin

The Shroud of Turin is a piece of cloth that bears an image of a man with injuries consistent in the manner of crucifixion. Photo negatives have shown a face remarkably similar to that of Jesus Christ. Those who believe in the authenticity of the Shroud have suggested that this cloth is the burial shroud of Jesus Christ himself. Opponents of the Shroud’s authenticity have pointed to a radiocarbon dating that occurred in 1988. The results of that test showed the fibers in the linen were from the Middle Ages. The Shroud continues to be one of the most debated objects in history.

3.) Baghdad Battery

The Baghdad Battery is actually comprised of three things: A terracotta jar, an iron rod, and a copper cylinder. It is thought that this artifact was used for electroplating gold onto silver. If the electroplating theory is correct, it would be the first device in history that could generate electricity. It would predate the the invention of the electrochemical cell by over 1,000 years.

4.) Dendera Light

The Dendera Light is a series of stone reliefs in the Hathor Temple in Egypt. The traditional view held by most historians is that the relief depicts a lotus flower and a pillar, with a serpent inside. However, proponents of the “Ancient Astronaut” theory suggest that the reliefs depict a light bulb, not a lotus flower and snake. The theory also implies that the light bulb was given to the early Egyptians by aliens. If the Dendera Light is indeed a light bulb or some early form of it, it would precede even the Baghdad Battery as the first manipulation of electricity.

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Mysteries. We love mysteries and can’t get enough of them! If you have yet to read the original article, read it here. Now, here are 4 more mysteries that have been unsolved for years.

1.) Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper was the name given to a mysterious serial killer who murdered at least five women prostitutes in the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The murders became highly publicized because the bodies were mutilated and missing some internal organs. Police, investigators and scholars have attempted to figure out the identity of the Ripper for decades and have named dozens of suspects, including Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll . Since the killer’s identity has never been solved, several theories came forward. One theory even blamed the murders as part of a Masonic plot. Even modern police techniques have been unable to figure out the killer’s identity and it remains one of the most well-known unsolved mysteries in history.

2.) WOW! Signal

On August 15, 1977, Dr. Jerry Ehman was working on a Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project at Ohio State when he detected a signal at The Big Ear radio telescope. The signal has been thought to be of extraterrestrial origin and Big Ear detected the signal for exactly 72 seconds. All subsequent attempts to find the signal have been unsuccessful, even when using more powerful and more sensitive equipment. Further research suggests the the signal was very unlikely to come from anything related to the Earth.

3.) Black Dahlia

Black Dahlia was the nickname given to Elizabeth Short, a 22-year-old woman who was abducted and murdered in Los Angeles in 1947. After about a week, her body was found on January 15. The body was horribly mutilated and in pieces. Thousands of people were questioned by police and 60 people confessed to be the alleged murderer. However, nothing conclusive was ever found and one of the largest investigations in LA’s history remains unsolved and no killer has ever been found.

4.) Oak Island Money Pit

Off the coast of Nova Scotia, there is an island. The island contains a pit discovered by three boys in 1795. They discovered that around every 10 feet, there was a layer of logs placed across the hole. Later, a company further discovered that the logs continued on their pattern up until 90 feet deep. Supposedly at 90 feet, they discovered a stone inscription that was written in symbols. It was decoded as saying “forty feet below, two million pounds lie buried.” Digging any deeper causes the shaft to flood. There have been many theories as to who built the pit and what is buried there. Some say that the Holy Grail was buried there by Templar Knights, others say that the treasure holds secret documents that could change history, and still others say that Marie Antoinette’s jewels are buried there.

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