Buzz
This week's edition of Brain Buffet explores the curiosity behind cats' obsession with small spaces like boxes, presents a quirky book-dispensing vending machine, suggests some uplifting podcasts to kickstart your day, and much more.
Welcome to Mytour’s Monday Brain Buffet, where we curate a collection of thought-provoking podcasts, enlightening interviews, intriguing articles, and more. These gems will expand your knowledge, spark inspiration, and hopefully set a positive tone for your week ahead.
The Biblio-Mat: A Vending Machine for Random Books
Bookstores often place dollar bins or tables outside their stores to offer discounted books, but many pass them by without a second thought. However, when you place those same books in a vending machine where a few coins get you a surprise book, suddenly it becomes a thrilling game of chance that draws people in and adds an element of excitement. [via YouTube]
Maximizing Your Convention Adventure
With summer in full swing and Comic-Con kicking off this weekend, other massive conventions are on the horizon! Whether you’re attending one of these events or another major gathering, you’ll want to make the most of the experience. We’ve got you covered with some essential tips to survive and stay healthy throughout the event, but this guide from Forces of Geek offers even more advice on how to truly make your time worthwhile. For example, they share the ‘5-2-1 Rule,’ which suggests five hours of sleep per night, two meals per day, and one shower daily—definitely sound advice for keeping your energy up!
They also offer tips to avoid the notorious Concrud, along with solid advice for surviving the Dealer’s Room:
One of the toughest aspects of the dealer's room is sticking to your convention budget. Believe it or not, many dealers are fans themselves and understand the struggle. It’s rare to find a pushy salesperson; most are just excited to meet fellow fans. Speaking as a dealer, even on days when sales are slow, I always notice an uptick in online sales after the event. That’s because I focus on providing quality products without pressuring customers, which builds goodwill. People may not always buy right away, but they remember my booth and come back when they have the budget.
...
When is the best time to buy? It depends. If you’re looking for the best prices, Sunday (or the last day of the event) might be your best bet. As the event nears its end, dealers are more likely to discount items to avoid taking them back or shipping them out. However, there’s an element of risk. If you spot something you want on Saturday, it might be gone by Sunday. And if you purchase something at full price on Friday, only to find it half-price on Sunday, it may seem unfair—but that’s the gamble of waiting until the end.
In any case, if you’re heading to a major convention—whether it’s comic, sci-fi, anime, or any other event this summer or fall, this guide is definitely worth a read to help you prepare. [via Forces of Geek]
The Strangest Exports From Around the World
I don’t usually feature infographics in these roundups, but this one caught my eye—mostly because some of these exports are truly bizarre, while others make perfect sense. For example, the UK sends lemon curd to Kenya (makes sense since Kenya isn’t known for its lemons, and who doesn’t love lemon curd?), and China ships pandas to Canada, which is equally fascinating. Even stranger, the US exports beer (specifically Brooklyn Brewery) to Sweden, and wolf urine to Japan. [via Exporta Global, thanks Mental Floss!]
What Are Your Go-To Podcasts for a Morning Boost?
We’ve shared plenty of recommendations for fantastic podcasts and which ones you should check out, but this Quora thread is packed with even more suggestions if you’re looking to add some flair to your morning drive or want to explore something new and different.
There are over a hundred responses, full of links, and a diverse range of podcasts covering all kinds of topics. Here’s one well-rounded answer that combines a variety of podcasts on different subjects:
BBC’s From Our Own Correspondent
(an in-depth exploration of the stories behind the biggest news headlines worldwide, narrated by BBC journalists, correspondents, and writers in a compelling storytelling style; hosted by Kate Adie)
Optimize with Brian Johnson
(key insights from top books on optimal living, along with mini-classes on applying these ideas in your life; this is where I discover a lot of book recommendations, including the recent one, Seneca’s
On the Shortness of Life
)
Invisibilia
(a show that delves into the invisible forces influencing and shaping human behavior—our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions)
Intelligence Squared
(the world’s premier platform for engaging debates and thoughtful discussions; what I love about this podcast is the wide array of topics, from Brexit and democracy to foreign intervention, capitalism, the art market, contemporary literature, feminism, and Middle Eastern events)
The Memory Palace
(a storytelling podcast that brings past events to life)
Middle East Analysis
(a podcast focusing on events in the Middle East and North Africa; its primary contributor is Dr. Harry Hagopian, an international lawyer and political advisor)
This Is Your Life with Michael Hyatt
(a podcast designed to help you live a life filled with passion, greater focus, and meaningful goals that provide purpose and direction)
Of course, this is just a small selection—there’s so much more out there to explore. Seriously, scroll through the full thread—you might come across a few you don’t like, but I guarantee there are at least a handful you'll recognize and love, or new ones you’ll want to subscribe to. [via Quora]
Why Cats Are Obsessed with Boxes
This is another piece from Mental Floss, but I just couldn’t resist covering it. We all know that cats have an odd fascination with boxes, but why do they love them so much? They’re also drawn to small spaces like sinks and other confined areas, but the reasoning behind this behavior remains largely misunderstood. Still, you may have already guessed the cause:
Cats, according to Wilbourn, find comfort in tight spaces because it makes them feel safe and in control. “I think it connects to their kitten days inside the womb, where they felt secure and comforted. There’s a sense of coziness, the freedom to do whatever they want, and the sensation of being untouchable.”
Science supports this theory. Animal behaviorists have studied
stress levels
in newly arrived shelter cats and discovered that those with access to boxes had lower stress levels and adapted faster than those without [
]. While they might not be as protected as they think (you can still do pretty much anything to a cat in a box like you could to one outside of it), they feel as though they’re shielding themselves from danger.
Another possible explanation is that small spaces help cats conserve body heat, which could explain their love for sinks in summer or cardboard boxes at any other time. [via Mental Floss]
The Bratwurst Bot
You might not expect a robot to handle a task as delicate as perfectly sautéing bratwurst, but you’d be mistaken. Not only does it manage the sausages like a seasoned chef, it flips them to ensure they get that crispy, golden char on every side, keeps them from overcooking (which is more than some humans can manage), and even serves them up, reminding you to enjoy your meal.
Personally, I welcome our new sausage-grilling robot overlords. [via YouTube]
That’s a wrap for this week! If you’ve come across any thought-provoking stories, intriguing podcasts, eye-opening videos, or anything else that would be perfect for Brain Buffet, share it with us! Email me, drop a comment below, or send it over any way you like.
Title GIF by Nick Criscuolo. Additional photos by Mental Floss and yoppy.
