Random Friday

The Internet says, Skittles don't have a flavor? If you blindfold someone, make them hold their nose, and feed them Skittles, they wouldn't be able to tell you what flavor you gave them...because they are all the same! Only the color and the fragrance makes your brain think otherwise. Crazy. Skittles says that's not true. Try it for yourself and let me know.

I want to win the lottery and buy 500 Funko Pops! I think I could stop at 500. See? I've set a limit!
Mwahahahaha!

These are the winners of the 2017 NatGeo Photographer of the year contest. Pretty cool!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/photos/winners-of-the-2017-national-geographic-nature-photographer-of-the-year-contest/ss-BBGEHNv?li=BBnbcA1

This article is from a couple weeks ago. Granted, I don't watch the news but I don't think this was big news. It's about Walmart raising their minimum wage to $11 an hour. For as much as the media hates Walmart, wouldn't you think they'd make a big deal about this? Oh wait, I guess I just figured it out....

https://www.wthr.com/article/walmart-raises-starting-wages-handing-out-bonuses-0

And this is a really fun article about what fast food looks like around the world. SO fun!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodculture/heres-what-fast-food-looks-like-around-the-world/ss-AAtoTfT?li=BBnb7Kz#image=1

Last, here's a really great example of how the "news" plays with words. This is from a list of the best managed states in the nation. California is ranked the 14th best managed state. That seems like bullshit right off the bat. But the ensuing word game is so well done, I had to share it...

14. California

> 2016 Unemployment: 5.4% (9th highest)
> Pension funded ratio: 74.0% (25th lowest)
> Credit rating and outlook: Aa3/Stable
> Poverty: 14.3% (20th highest)

The most populous state in the country, California might intuitively seem like the most difficult state to manage. Despite its size, California ranks better than most. Like most of the best run states, California has a solid tax base to draw from. The typical household in the state earns $67,739, about $10,000 more than the median income nationwide. Each year, the state brings in about $3,850 per resident in tax revenue, more than all but eight other states and about $1,000 more than is typical nationwide.

California allocates a relatively large share of its budget to helping its neediest residents. Some 40.4% of state spending goes towards public welfare programs, the largest public welfare allocation in any state.