From Sleep Is For Pussies

Colony Collapse Disorder; or Oh Shit, All the Bees Disappeared

Colony Collapse Disorder is a terrifying name for an interesting phenomenon. Over the last few decades, honeybees have been disappearing at an alarming rate. Not dying, disappearing.

As of Spring 2008, nearly a third of commercial bee colonies have disappeared. They fly somewhere and never return.

Another important third fraction: these bees are responsible for pollinating over a third of the United States food crop species. In 2000, the total US crop value that was entirely dependent on honeybee pollination was estimated to be $15 billion. Oh no!

This is also the reason your mother has been telling you about the recent honey shortage. If your mother hasn't told you about it, then perhaps your young, hip friends that are really into food and restaurants have told you. My mother also tells me honey is good for hangovers. Especially in strawberry juice. My mother is never wrong.

Anyways, who knows where all these bees are going. My hypothesis? China North Korea.















Terrifying, isn't it.


The Cliff Notes:

• Bees are disappearing, billions of them
• No one knows to where or why
• Bees are important for crop pollination and honey
• Mom is always right
  

Camo

$

The origin of the dollar sign has had several different theories. Some are certainly wrong, such as the explanation given in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, The overlap of US became the dollar sign. The dollar sign was in use before the creation of the United States.

The most historically supported explanation is that the dollar sign originated from the marking "p^s", which was used to label Spanish / Mexican pesos. Eventually, the p and s overlapped and became the dollar sign.

Get Money, Get Paid

Penny Loafers

Penny loafers, yo. Loafers have been a mainstay since the 1930's, when Esquire magazine featured photos of Norwegian farmers wearing them.

Penny loafers, with their distinctive straps, were invented by GH Bass & Co, who called them Weejuns. Norwegians... Weejuns... get it? They became part of the prep look during the 50's and 60's. During that time, some people actually stuck pennies in the straps. Thus, the term penny loafer was born.

Well, nowadays the Bass Weejuns are of miserable quality. Instead, I'd recommend getting a pair from Alden. Good prices, available in cordovan, and made in the USA, yo.

The Diners' Club

While discussing the virtues of various credit card companies with my friends, it turned out that one of them had a Mastercard. Who uses Mastercard anymore? For that matter, who uses Diners' Club?

Well suprise mofos. Diners' Club should not be forgotten because it was the world's first credit card. So, if you still use a Diner's Club card, now part of the Mastercard network, hold your head up high. You've got one of America's most important innovations in your wallet.