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To see if money makes people happier, a Japanese billionaire is giving away $9 million to Twitter followers

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WHAT’S BEING CLAIMED:

  • A Japanese billionaire is giving away more than $9 million to 1,000 randomly-selected Twitter followers in an experiment to see if more money leads to happiness.
  • Online shopping mogul Yusaku Maezawa posted his tweet on Jan. 5 and it had been retweeted about 5 million times.
  •  Maezawa, the 18th richest man in Japan according to Forbes magazine, made the same stunt in January 2019 when he offered 100 million yen (about $914,000) to be shared among 100 of his Twitter followers.

A Japanese billionaire is giving away over $9 million to 1,000 people on Twitter to see if it improves their happiness. All they had to do to get it was retweet him.

Online shopping mogul Yusaku Maezawa will divide 1 billion yen (around $9 million) among 1, 000 of his Twitter followers. The winners will get 1 million yen each (roughly $9,100).
In an announcement on YouTube, Maezawa called the contest a “serious social trial” to see how a million yen could impact a person’s life. The tycoon urged contestants to use the cash prize “as they like” and to answer regular questionnaires about how they’re using it.
Almost anybody was eligible to receive the small piece of Maezawa’s fortune. All they had to do was join Twitter and retweet his post before midnight on January 7.
Nearly 5 million people retweeted his announcement. A lottery will determine the winners, and Maezawa will personally notify them in a direct message within two to three days.
He also said that he would contact the lucky winners afterward to ask about the impact, and called for social scientists to help analyze the results of the experiment.
In January 2019, Maezawa pulled the same stunt by promising 100 million yen, roughly $914,000, to be shared among 100 Twitter users. The winners ended up with a bit more than $9,000 each.
His January 2019 tweet was the most retweeted post ever at the time, with 4.68 million retweets.
Maezawa, who founded Japan’s largest online fashion mall, Zozotown, in 2004, is worth $2.7 billion according to Forbes.
He has made a name for himself as an eclectic billionaire, rock musician, hopeful moon tourist and high-rolling art collector. He reportedly spent $111 million on a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting in 2017 — the highest price ever paid at auction for a work by an American artist.
Maezawa also hopes to become the first space tourist on Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Space X flight to the moon.
Source: CNN

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2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Karla Elliott

    January 13, 2020 at 9:15 am

    I think that was wonderful how Mr. Maezawa helped people who really needed the money to help them. I hope he got the satisfaction that he was looking for. I wish that I knew about this contest, because I would have loved to experience what he tried to do. I needed that amount to pay off bills, and also have enough left over to help my Mother, who has been really sick with her diabetes, and High Blood Pressure. She has been there for me my whole 57 years on this Earth, and I am putting everything into myself to help her now in her time on need. Glad it helped whoever in their time of need. Happy New Year to all.

  2. Thomas Westfield

    January 13, 2020 at 11:04 am

    Is your Mother’s maiden name required

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Science

Minnesota Man Builds World’s First Beer-Powered Motorcycle [Video]

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In a Nutshell:

  • Ky Michaelson, also known as the “Rocketman,” has created what he believes is the world’s first beer-powered motorcycle, replacing a traditional gas engine with a 14-gallon keg that uses superheated beer to create thrust.
  • The unique motorcycle, which hasn’t yet been taken out on the road, has already won first place in a few local car shows. Michaelson believes the vehicle could reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.
  • Michaelson plans to test his beer-powered motorcycle on a drag strip soon, but after a few demonstrations, the invention is likely to end up as a showpiece in his home museum.

As gas prices continue to soar and debates about electric vehicle efficiency heat up, a Minnesota man named Ky Michaelson is barreling down a different road entirely.

Known as the “Rocketman” for his quirky creations, such as a rocket-powered toilet and a jet-powered coffee pot, Michaelson has now whipped up something that’s creating a whole new kind of buzz: the world’s first beer-powered motorcycle.

The idea of substituting petrol with pilsner might seem as crazy as a three-wheeled unicycle, but for Michaelson, it’s just another day in his Bloomington garage. His unconventional motorcycle swaps out the conventional gas engine for a 14-gallon keg equipped with a heating coil.

“It could be any kind of liquid. It could be Red Bull. It could be Caribou Coffee. It could be anything. But beer. Why not,” Ky’s son Buddy chimed in, highlighting the versatility of the invention.

The mechanics behind this high-octane hops machine are as heady as a stout. The beer in the keg is heated to a whopping 300 degrees, turning into superheated steam as it shoots out of the back nozzles. This steam provides enough thrust to propel the bike forward, making this two-wheeler a literal steamer.

And what about the environmental impact, you ask? Well, Michaelson’s not a beer drinker himself, so he sees his sudsy solution as a clever way to use up the brew.

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“The price of gas is getting up there. I don’t drink, so I can’t think of anything better than to use it for fuel.”

While the beer bike hasn’t hit the open road yet, it has already clinched first place at a few local car shows. Michaelson believes his frothy ride could reach speeds up to 150 miles per hour, proving that it’s not just a novelty but a force to be reckoned with.

Michaelson plans to test his beer-powered motorcycle on a drag strip sometime soon. However, after a few demonstrations, it’s likely to end up in the museum in his house. Because what better centerpiece for a living room than a motorcycle that runs on beer?

“We’re right in the early stages, but we got it. We got it built, and I think it looks pretty cool,” Michaelson stated, brimming with pride.

His bike may be more of a boozer than a cruiser, but there’s no denying he’s tapped into something extraordinary. In the world of the Rocketman, horsepower has met hops power, and the result is absolutely intoxicating.


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Goat’s Home Invasion Captured on Doorbell Camera in South Carolina [Video]

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In a Nutshell:

  • Residents of Pendleton, South Carolina, were surprised when a goat roamed the neighborhood and entered a local home. The event was captured by the homeowner’s Ring doorbell camera.
  • The goat, believed to live down the road, was playful and attracted the attention of many neighbors as animal control was called to capture it. Goats are known for their curiosity and intelligence, traits that often lead them to explore their surroundings.
  • A 2014 study confirmed goats’ intelligence and long-term memory skills, where most of the test subjects were able to solve a puzzle for a food reward, and remembered how to do it ten months later. Other instances of goats breaking into homes and hotel rooms have been reported previously.

In a turn of events that gives a whole new meaning to “home invasion,” the town of Pendleton, South Carolina, has had its peace disrupted by a rebellious ruminant.

Yes, folks, we’re talking about a goat that decided to play Goldilocks in a resident’s home. No porridge was harmed, however.

Our bold Billy, who apparently lives down the road, decided to take a little neighborhood stroll. And not just any stroll, oh no, this critter had the audacity to saunter right into a woman named Taylor’s home. Because, you know, why not?

“The goat made a fun memory for us and the neighbors,” Taylor said to Newsweek, possibly while still in mild shock and checking her locks.

“My boyfriend even played with it in the backyard.”

Talk about turning lemons into lemonade, or in this case, turning goat invasions into a neighborhood spectacle.

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As Taylor’s Ring doorbell camera shows, the goat nonchalantly ambled up to her front door, gave a few bleats (probably goat for “Open Sesame”) and wandered right in. Can you blame the guy? Who doesn’t love a spontaneous house tour?

But here’s where it gets interesting, folks. It turns out, our goat friend isn’t just a master of breaking and entering.

A study by Queen Mary University, London, and the Institute of Agricultural Science in Switzerland proves that goats are more than their vacant stares and ravenous appetites. They’re also puzzle-solving aficionados.

In what’s been dubbed the “artificial fruit challenge,” goats were presented with a tricky puzzle box containing a fruity reward. The goats had to pull a rope and activate a lever with their teeth and muzzle to access the food.

Guess what? Nine out of twelve goats were up to the challenge. Three tried to headbutt their way to victory (the goat equivalent of kicking the vending machine when your snack gets stuck, perhaps?).

And when the successful nine were retested ten months later, they all solved the puzzle in less than a minute.

“Take that, primates!” we can imagine them saying.

This isn’t the first time a goat has been caught in the act of a B&E.

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Earlier this year, another goat felt the need to snuggle with its owners in the middle of the night.

And in October 2022, a wild goat with horns that would make a Viking helmet jealous let itself into a couple’s hotel room.

So, what’s the takeaway? Should we start goat-proofing our homes?

Or maybe, just maybe, we should all take a moment to appreciate the underestimated intelligence and audacity of these four-legged trespassers.

And for the residents of Pendleton, don’t be surprised if one day you find a goat at your door selling encyclopedias.

After all, they’re just trying to get our goat.


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Google Maps Unearths Bony Surprise at Texas Cemetery

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In a Nutshell:

  • A woman looking up her parents’ gravesite on Google Maps discovered an unusual sight: a fake skeleton lounging in a gutted-out Jeep at the Katy Magnolia Cemetery in Texas. The bizarre scene was uploaded by a user named Cromarte.
  • The Reddit post about the discovery gained popularity quickly, amassing over 33,000 upvotes and sparking hundreds of comments, with users finding humor in the odd image.
  • Despite the general amusement, one commenter called the image “not funny” and suggested that Google should remove it. Google Maps allows users to upload photos or videos from a location to enhance the platform’s offerings.

the google street view of the cemetery my parents are buried at
by u/_katykakes in Unexpected

Looking up your parents’ gravesite on Google Maps isn’t usually considered a laugh riot.

But when Reddit user u/_katykakes decided to navigate to her parents’ cemetery in Katy, Texas, she unearthed a sight that was equal parts bizarre, hilarious, and…bony?

In her attempt to guide a relative to the cemetery for the one-year anniversary of her mother’s passing, she happened upon a street view image that could have been ripped straight from a Tim Burton movie.

There, lounging in a gutted-out Jeep like a road-weary traveler taking a breather, was a fake skeleton.

Before you start questioning the Google Street View team’s sense of humor (or their current mental state), let’s clear up a few things.

This bone-chilling image wasn’t the handiwork of a Google camera car.

Instead, a user named Cromarte had crafted this spooky 360-degree picture and uploaded it to Google Maps. Talk about a grave sense of humor!

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Despite the initial shock, u/_katykakes took this humorous discovery in stride.

She wrote on Reddit, “Turns out the street view is actually close to their plot, lol [laugh out loud], along with this gem.”

The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 33,000 upvotes and sparking hundreds of comments.

Commenters found the image absolutely humerus.

“I’d do anything to see what your initial reaction was when you came across this,” posted one Reddit user.

Another chimed in, calling the image “bad to the bone.”

One Jeep enthusiast even got in on the action, quipping, “It’s a Jeepers thing.”

This instance is not the first time Google Maps users have stumbled upon something unexpected. The platform invites user-generated content, with users able to add photos or videos up to 30 seconds long from a location.

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From hangover-induced takeaway runs to a man hailed as a “legend” for photobombing the Google Street View car, the internet is full of surprises.

However, not all Redditors found the skeletal surprise funny. One disgruntled commenter wrote, “Not even funny… Google should delete it.”

Well, they say humor is subjective, but one thing’s for sure – Google Maps is more than just directions.

Sometimes, it’s a one-way ticket to the Twilight Zone.


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