The Punchline
More from The Punchline
Most Recent
0
13-year-old corrects Byzantine map at the Met
A seventh grader from Connecticut was visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art last year and he noticed an error: A map of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th Century was missing Spain and part of Africa. Benjamin Lerman Coady, of West Hartford, alerted authorities at the front desk who asked him to fill out a form. Turns out the kid was right."The front desk didn't believe me," he said, explaining that he never expected to hear back from the museum. "I'm only a kid." In September, he received a letter from the museum's senior vice president for external affairs. It said that his comments were being forwarded to the museum's medieval art department for further review. A few months later — in January, Evans, the museum's Mary and Michael Jaharis curator for Byzantine art, sent Benjamin an email: "You are, of course, correct about the boundaries of the Byzantine Empire under Justinian," she wrote.Despite his geography skills, the student said he's not looking for a job as a cartographer. He told the Hartford Courant he wants to open an exotic car store in Grenwich Village.
0
The best cities for cheapskates
Friday, May 4, 2012
Where are the best places in the U.S. for cheapskates to live?
0
When Google gets fined
And finally -- speaking of Google -- the Federal Communications Commission has been investigating the company's use of surveillance vehicles for its Street View mapping service. Google admitted the cars it sends out to take images of streets around the globe, were gathering more than pictures. They were also capturing Web-surfing data, passwords and even e-mails from personal wi-fi signals. Now, the FCC says there isn't enough evidence to go after Google for violating government regulations. But the agency is fining the online giant for deliberately impeding the federal investigation. The fine? $25,000 -- which is about 0.000008 percent of the $2.89 billion Google made in just the first three months of this year. Put another way, 25,000 bucks is what Google makes roughly every minute of every day.
0
The biggest tax procrastinators
The company that makes Turbo Tax has come out with a list of the cities that procrastinate on their taxes the most. Portland, Oregon is number 10. Minneapolis is number 7. LA: number 4. Washington D.C. residents are the third biggest procrastinators -- though maybe that's because their taxes don't buy them any representation in Congress. Number one is San Francisco: What's their excuse?
0
Shortening airline routes, reducing frequent flier miles
Know how packages at the grocery keep getting smaller and sold at the same price? It appears one of the airlines is doing that with the planet Earth. The Houston Chronicle says now that United and Continental have merged, some frequent fliers are complaining they're earning a little less mileage on certain routes. One guy noticed Houston to London is 32 miles shorter -- and shorter equals less frequent flier credit. United says there were increases and decreases but they're small. Maybe airlines should go the whole hog and quietly switch from statute to nautical miles. Wait... maybe I shouldn't have said that out loud.
1
A thank you note of epic proportions
And finally, to Austin, Texas, where a weatherman named Albert Ramon stopped by a fourth grade classroom to talk about his job. And his lecture was so riveting that a student wrote him a thank-you note of epic proportions. Here it is:Dear Mr. Ramon, Thank you for coming to our school and teaching us about the weather. Some day when I become supreme Ultra-Lord of the universe, you will live in my 200-story castle where unicorn servants will feed you doughnuts off their horns.He continues:
You're more awesome than a monkey wearing a tuxedo made out of bacon riding a cyborg unicorn. And in case you didn't know, that's pretty dang sweet.In Los Angeles, looking for my doughnut-serving unicorn.
0
Got chocolate milk?
And finally, can you guess what's being marketed as "nature's recovery drink?" Here's a hint: it's a new ad campaign from the dairy industry group behind those "Got Milk?" ads. A long list of athletes will be praising the benefits of chocolate milk. Here's a sample:Ad 1: After I've gone to hell and back, I refuel with chocolate milk. Ad 2: To replenish critical nutrients, and for high-quality protein.The ads cite an industry-sponsored study that found recreational runners who drank fat-free chocolate milk ended up running 23 percent longer, compared to those who drank carbohydrate sports drinks. Some nutrition experts say the industry is really pushing chocolate milk because consumption has been dropping since many school districts have soured on it.
0
Miss Seattle takes back her anti-Seattle comments
To Seattle, where there's a controversy going on involving the woman who just won the Miss Seattle pageant. Apparently back in December, she tweeted: "Ugh, can't stand cold rainy Seattle and the annoying people." Now she says she didn't mean it. Though it might be tough to prove that, because another tweet said, "Ew. I am seriously hating Seattle right now." In fairness to her, she used to be Miss Phoenix -- where they have slightly different weather.
0
Happy 100th Birthday, Oreo
Let me take you back exactly 100 years, to 1912. Back then, the now debt-stricken Ireland was excited about having built the Titanic. Here in this country, today's key super tuesday state of Ohio was carried by Theodore Roosevelt in the Republican primary. And on March 6th, 1912, the National Biscuit Company -- Nabisco -- unveiled the Oreo Cookie. These days, the Oreo accounts for $2 billion in annual sales.
2
Michigander, Michiganians or Michiganites?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
What do people from Michigan prefer to be called?
Most Commented
64
Volkswagen releases the Bulli van concept vehicle
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The 81st Gevena International Motor Show kicks off this week, and motorheads are already buzzing about big news from Volkswagen. The New York Tim...
15
There's new bling bling on the high seas
Thursday, July 21, 2011
You'd think just owning a yacht would be enough of a luxury. But not for UK jeweller and designer Stuart Hughes, whose 98-foot yacht is now the e...
Trending
64
Volkswagen releases the Bulli van concept vehicle
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The 81st Gevena International Motor Show kicks off this week, and motorheads are already buzzing about big news from Volkswagen. The New York Tim...
0
Will Ferrell loves Old Milwaukee
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Will Ferrell recently taped a series of commercials for Old Milwaukee, pro bono.






