What began as a day like any other ended with a haunting quest to source a viral video of a man apparently capturing catfish using Coca-Cola brand soda, Mentos, and an ordinary egg.

If all that left you feeling puzzled, you're not alone. Originally posted to YouTube on November 1, the video in question shows an unidentified man adding Coke, Mentos, and an egg yolk to a muddy hole.

The man then reaches into the hole and produces - presto! - not one, not two, but three catfish.

Clips of the video started circulating on both Twitter and Reddit this past Wednesday, spawning questions about where the fish came from and how or why the trick would ever work.

The dominant theory, prematurely endorsed by some blogs, was that the hole must likely be connected to a larger body of water. The fish, according to the theory, was attracted by the egg, and swam into the hole before "suffocating" on the Coke and Mentos solution.

Far more likely, according to a detailed Futurism investigation, is that the video is at least partially a hoax.

Another possibility we considered was that the video was a bizarre viral marketing scheme, so Futurism reached out to both the Coke and Mentos brands to ask.

A spokesperson for the Mentos brand denied involvement and added, "this is not a practice our company or our brands would condone," while the Coca-Cola company has not responded at the time of publication.

The source of the video is a fledgling, vaguely surreal YouTube channel called Technique Tools. According to YouTube, it was created in 2015 and attracted modest attention until its most recent catfish post, which has accrued an impressive 1.8 million views at press time.

Technique Tools doesn't list contact information, but its account offers other clues. One playlist of Technique Tools' videos includes several in which Coke and Mentos are being poured on various animals, sometimes along with other substances such as toothpaste or eggs.

The descriptions of some videos offer puzzling disclaimers.

"The crocodile is our pet. Coca Cola and mentos [sic] react nothing with the crocodile," reads one.

"Action in this video made b [sic] a professional. Do not repeat! It Can [sic] be dangerous," reads another.

The most telling, though, comes from a video similar to the viral post, also uploaded this month. It claims the videos are planned, scripted, and made for fun, as well as disclaimer that the fish in this instance, "come out by pushing behind the video at the left side."

On the reaction of catfish to eggs and Coca-Cola, the science is more exact.

Most catfish have a sharp sense of taste and some, including the Channel Catfish, which appears to be our viral star based on its four sets of whiskers, have taste receptors on their bodies.

Channel Catfish feed primarily on small fishes and aquatic insects but have been known to eat small birds, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The effectiveness of eggs as catfish bait isn't something that appears to have been tested in the lab setting, however.

As for the Coke and Mentos, it's much easier to explain why dumping soda on animals isn't a nice idea.

In humans, our lungs work to exchange oxygen from the air to replenish our blood cells and exhale waste gasses. In fish, gills work similarly. When oxygenated water is passed over specialized tissues, oxygen from the water is exchanged into the fish's bloodstream.

When there isn't enough oxygen in the water fish can indeed suffocate, which is actually a big problem in the ecology of our modern oceans where shifting currents have created pockets of low-oxygen water. Diluting the oxygen concentration in water by adding carbon dioxide from soda makes extracting oxygen much more difficult, which can cause a fish to panic and try to escape.

As a science lesson, this video offers several insights into animal - and human - behavior. However, as a fishing tactic, this method probably isn't likely to net you a whopping catfish.

Still, we can always count on the depths of the internet to inspire the human imagination.

This article was originally published by Futurism. Read the original article.

See the article here:
Here's The Truth About That Bizarre Catfish-Egg-Coke-Mentos Video - ScienceAlert

Many, if not all of us, have some bad habits that we like to change in ourselves. For some, it might be something as simple as biting our fingernails a lot. For others, it might be something as life-changing as losing weight, eating healthier and becoming an overall better person for it. No matter what bad habit we have to change though, recognizing it as one is the first step, and is just as valid as the others.

Unfortunately, most never get past this first step and just end up getting stuck with their bad habits. Thats not to say, however, that you didnt try since human behavior is a complex thing and we know changing a bad habit isnt as simple as it sounds.

Thankfully, world willpower expert Dr. Heather McKee is here to give you some tips to help break down your bad habits and make some good ones from here on forward. Heres how you should do it, according to her:

So this is why it's so hard to break a habit. Charles BERNELAS; CC by 2.0

More here:
Expert Reveals Effective Ways To Break Bad Habits - Medical Daily

Learn more

Subscribe toLe Point: get a digital subscriptionhere, or a print subscriptionhere.

Do you really know how to faire la bise in Marseille? In Lille? Which cheek do you start on? And how many times? This ritual and its name, faire la bise, can be incomprehensible to those who are unfamiliar with this bisou or bcot, so familiar and routine at the same time.

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Its to better explore this phenomenon that I decided to map it in my forthcoming book, Parlez-vous [les] franais? Atlas des expressions de nos rgions (Armand Colin, October 2019). Thanks to an online survey system set up a few years ago, I was able to collect information from internet users about their use of French. This allowed me to clarify the area of extension and vitality of a number of linguistic regionalisms, and to examine, in a new light, the debate of pain au chocolat vs. chocolatine.

The hypotheses on the origins of la bise are numerous, and often unverifiable. Is it the ritualization of ancestral behaviors, such as sniffing each other to recognize each other or reproducing an emotional expression related to childhood? On this point, historians, anthropologists and other specialists in human behavior have not reached a consensus. Its said that faire la bise (or se faire un schmoutz, se biser, or donner une baise) is a habit that many Anglo-Saxons believe is typically French.

But its not: people also kiss each other in the countries in Southern Europe, in the Catholic or Orthodox tradition, in Russia, in some Arab countries and sub-Saharan Africa. Historically, it would seem that the ritual dates back to Antiquity, and that it has had its ups and downs in the history of modern humanity, sometimes prohibited, sometimes valued.

The question becomes even more complex when we try to take into account the context (saying hello, saying goodbye, wishing each other a happy new year, etc.), the family relationship of the people involved (la bise seems to have long been reserved for familial relations), or their gender. La bise between men has long been stigmatized.

What is certain is that this ritual has been regularly stirring the internet for the past fifteen years or so. Part of the discussion is about the number of kisses given. The question first caused a buzz in 2003, following the launch of the combiendebises website.

The ritual also prompted British stand-up comedian and expat Paul Taylor to post a humorous video about it, which quickly won over audiences (more than three million views on YouTube).

The data we collected as part of our surveys conducted between 2016 and 2019 allowed us to provide new insights to continue the debate.

Our first map was created using the responses of more than 18,600 internet users who reported having spent most of their youth in Belgium, France or Switzerland; and to whom the question How many bises do you do to greet someone close to you? Internet users were asked if they made one, two, three, four, or five or more kisses. We calculated the percentage of responses for each area in Belgium, France and Switzerland.

For each of these area, we used the answer that was most frequently the response:

In Belgium, most internet users reported a single kiss (rates are around 100%), as in the northern part of the Finistre department (Morlaix and Brest, where rates are a little lower, 70%). It seems that the demands of the organization demandingla bise be a single kiss, Groupement de rhabilitation de lusage de la bise unique, have been heard!

Mostly, the French give two kisses, except in Languedoc and in the southern part of the former Rhne-Alpes region. Its a behavior that can be found in French-speaking Switzerland. In the northern part of France, the yellow areas indicate where there are still four kisses. However, analysis of the data shows that, in these regions, the four kisses are highly competitive with the two kisses. Kissing four times is a more common habit among older people than younger people. The future will tell us if the four kisses will continue to be reproduced in the years to come, or if they will become a distant memory.

The origin of these differences remains unknown. An internet user pointed out to me that the three kiss-region covered approximately the Protestant area of the 17th century, and that they would have been a sign of recognition of the Holy Trinity. For the four kisses, the idea would seem to be that everyone can kiss each others cheeks.

The second debate concerns the cheek that should be turned first when you faire la bise. Of the just over 11,000 participants we interviewed, 15% of respondents admitted not knowing or replied both could be first. We excluded the responses of these participants, and generated the following map based on the remaining responses:

We can see that the territory is roughly divided into two parts. In southeastern and eastern France, the left cheek is turned first. In the other hemisphere, it is the right. However, it should be noted that there are two islets in each of these large regions: in the blue zone, French-speaking Switzerland stands out. In the brown zone, Haute-Normandie is the one that stands apart.

Again, it is difficult to explain the rationale for such a distribution, as the area drawn on the map does not correspond to any other known area that would explain it.

Finally, it is a less well-known fact, the way we call the act of faire la bise (and sometimes more generally, the act of faire un bisou to say hello or not) varies from one region to another. Our surveys allowed us to accurately map the area of seven regional verbs and expressions.

Most of the words on this map belong to the same family as the contemporary French word bise (of which bisou is a derivative). The verb se biser, for example, has now emerged in conversational usage, but it is found in the writings of many early 20th-century authors (notably Raymond Queneau), and it still appears in some dictionaries (noted as a familiar term). It is still used in west-central France, where it coexists with the se biger variant, probably passed into regional French through the local dialects (Poitou, Angevin and/or Tourangeau) that were still commonly spoken by our ancestors a century ago.

In Belgium, faire une baise quelquun is not sexual: the word baise corresponds to the noun kiss (we find it in the somewhat outdated word baisemain). The baisse variant, which is found in part of Picardy, is also related to the local form of the word for kiss in the dialects of this region.

The verb se boujouter, typical of Normandy, is built on the word boujou, which is the dialectal form of the French word bonjour in this region of France (so its nothing to do with the cheek).

In French-speaking Switzerland, the word bec, which is used in the expression se faire un becquer, is a phrase formed from the verb becquer, which is still used in French, and which essentially means peck with the beak, then take by the beak. We can compare bec to its equivalent in familiar French bcot (which also created the verb bcotter, se faire des embous, sembrasser amoureusement).

As for the word schmoutz, which is found in the phrase se faire un schmoutz, it is of German origin and means bisou in French (or smacker in English). It is exclusively used in the departments of France where Germanic dialects were still spoken for the most part at the beginning of the 20th century.

In a territory as large as that of the French-speaking world of Europe, it is not surprising that, from one region to another, the greetings, politeness or denominations of this or that object or action dont go by the same name. In the past, in the days of our great-grandparents, dialects provided this community function. French has now taken over, but online social networks make it possible to highlight this beautiful diversity, much to the great pleasure of linguists.

This article was published in partnership with Le Point.

Featured image:Stock Photosfrom Iakov Filimonov /Shutterstock

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From "Se Biser" to "Se Boujouter": the Regional Variations on "La Bise" in France - Frenchly

What began as a day like any other ended with a haunting quest to source a viral video of a man apparently capturing catfish using Coca-Cola brand soda, Mentos, and an ordinary egg.

If all that left you feeling puzzled, youre not alone. Originally posted to YouTube on November 1, the video in question shows an unidentified man adding Coke, Mentos, and an egg yolk to a muddy hole. The man then reaches into the hole and produces presto! not one, not two, but three catfish.

Clips of the video started circulating on both Twitter and Reddit this past Wednesday, spawningquestions about where the fish came from and how or why the trick would ever work. The dominant theory, prematurely endorsed by some blogs, was that the hole must likely be connected to a larger body of water. The fish, according to the theory, was attracted by the egg, and swam into the hole before suffocating on the Coke and Mentos solution.

Far more likely, according to a detailed Futurism investigation, is that the video isat least partially a hoax.

Another possibility we considered was that the video was a bizarre viral marketing scheme, so Futurism reached out to both the Coke and Mentos brands to ask. A spokesperson for the Mentos brand denied involvement and added, this is not a practice our company or our brands would condone, while the Coca-Cola company has not responded at the time of publication.

The source of the video is a fledgling, vaguely surreal YouTube channel called Technique Tools.According to YouTube, it was created in 2015 and attracted modest attention until its most recent catfish post, which has accruedan impressive 1.8 million views at press time.

Technique Tools doesnt list contact information, but its account offersother clues. One playlist of Technique Tools videos includes several in which Coke and Mentos are being poured on various animals, sometimes along with other substances such as toothpaste or eggs. The descriptions of some videos offer puzzling disclaimers.

The crocodile is our pet. Coca Cola and mentos [sic] react nothing with the crocodile, reads one. Action in this video made b [sic] a professional. Do not repeat! It Can [sic] be dangerous, reads another.

The most telling,though, comes from avideo similar to the viral post, also uploaded this month. It claims the videos are planned, scripted, and made for fun, as well as disclaimer that the fish in this instance, come out by pushing behind the video at the left side.

On the reaction of catfish to eggs and Coca-Cola, the science is more exact.

Most catfish have a sharp sense of taste and some, including the Channel Catfish, which appears to be our viral star based on its four sets of whiskers, have taste receptors on their bodies.

Channel Catfish feed primarily on small fishes and aquatic insects but have been known to eat small birds, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The effectiveness of eggs as catfish bait isnt something that appears to have been tested in the lab setting, however.

As for the Coke and Mentos, its much easier to explain why dumping soda on animals isnt a nice idea.

In humans, our lungs work to exchange oxygen from the air to replenish our blood cells and exhale waste gasses. In fish, gills work similarly. When oxygenated water is passed over specialized tissues, oxygen from the water is exchanged into the fishs bloodstream.

When there isnt enough oxygen in the water fish can indeed suffocate, which is actually a big problem in the ecology of our modern oceans where shifting currents have created pockets of low-oxygen water. Diluting the oxygen concentration in water by adding carbon dioxide from soda makes extracting oxygen much more difficult, which can cause a fish to panic and try to escape.

As a science lesson, this video offers several insights into animal and human behavior. However, as a fishing tactic, this method probably isnt likely to net you a whopping catfish. Still, we can always count on the depths of the internet to inspire the human imagination.

View original post here:
Is That Viral Catfish/Egg/Coke/Mentos Vid Real? An Investigation - Futurism

Police forces in democratic societies are supposed to safeguard the rights of citizens, and protect their lives and well-being. We think of their role in terms of laws, rules, and regulations but ultimately, so much of what they do is about psychology and human behavior. Its about how people react to threats, what they do when they panic, and how far a person will go when they feel they have nothing left to lose. What does behavioral science say about these situations? Could research help predict peoples behavior, and suggest effective and safe tactics? We take a look at what role behavioral science could play in creating better police forces, from crowd control to foot patrol and adding female officers to departments.

Also heard on this weeks episode:

Read the rest here:
The Science of Policing - WHYY

Most of us are willing to share when we have a little extra.

Few, though, are willing to give something that exists in finite supply, a precious commodity where theres never any extra like our time.

On Friday evening at the Historic Onesto Hotel and Event Center in downtown Canton, this newspaper honored eight individuals and a foundation for Moving Our Community Forward.

Recipients of the awards at our second annual recognition event have demonstrated that giving isnt limited to opening a checkbook and offering a cash donation to sustain the agencies and programs doing meaningful work in our community.

Not that such magnanimity isnt needed, appreciated and welcomed. Of course it is. And those honored Friday have shared financial blessings graciously, some with excess generosity.

More notable, though, is the time each of the individuals has given to our community. Time spent on others rather than on themselves. And while some of the eight might be able to tap into a larger checking account, none has any more minutes in his or her daily bank than the rest of us.

Its how we, and they, choose to use time and how and when we give it to others that stands above all else.

What would impress us more: a millionaire giving $1,000 to a soup kitchen to buy potatoes or a millionaire giving two hours of time peeling those potatoes for the soup kitchen?

Exactly.

Bob and Linda DeHoff and Bob Gessner werent among the six honorees selected to receive a Clayton G. Horn Award of Excellence because they individually or through their family foundations have spearheaded philanthropic efforts throughout Stark County with direct financial contributions. Rather, they were chosen because of the time they contribute to worthy causes and their desire to pass along to future generations a world made better.

Can anyone measure the depth to which Cyndi Morrow has affected kids lives in the nearly 30 years she has been directing Wishes Can Happen? Thirty years! Or how many children heading down a wrong path in life have found a positive redirection after meeting LaMar Sharpe and coming under the influence of his Be A Better Me Foundation? Each was named a Peoples Champion Award winner because they represent living embodiment of the award itself.

Add in the lifelong devotion to this community of Horn Award winners Barb Bennett, Lisa Warburton-Gregory and Kirk Schuring, along with the myriad ways Stark Community Foundation, under the leadership of CEO Mark Samolczyk, has worked with hundreds of donor partners to lift and support others, and its easy to see why we see this years class of honorees as exceedingly special.

In the 500 or so years since theologian Martin Luther said, Show me where a man spends his time and money, and I'll show you his god little has changed in human behavior.

Many people talk about helping others. Some people share their financial good fortune with others. Few people make time for others.

The willingness of Barb Bennett, Bob and Linda DeHoff, Bob Gessner, Lisa Warburton-Gregory, Kirk Schuring, Cyndi Morrow, LaMar Sharpe and the staff at Stark Community Foundation to devote their most precious resource for the good of others serves as a model and inspiration for all of us.

When you see one of them in our community, take a moment of your valuable time simply to say, Thank you.

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Editorial: Giving their precious time distinguishes gala honorees - The-review