30 More Life Hacks Debunked Pt. 4 - mental_floss List Show Ep. 404

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  • Опубліковано 26 січ 2016
  • A weekly show where knowledge junkies get their fix of trivia-tastic information. This week, John looks at 30 more life hacks!
    Subscribe for new episodes of mental_floss every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,9 тис.

  • @erinpeterson3202
    @erinpeterson3202 7 років тому +506

    my favorite parts of these videos is John's incompetence

    • @lucyw993
      @lucyw993 7 років тому +2

      Erin Peterson me too

    • @gryein7223
      @gryein7223 7 років тому +9

      Erin Peterson I pity Meredith sometimes.

    • @cellotag
      @cellotag 7 років тому +2

      It's the reason I watch these videos, tbh. Poor Meredith.

    • @stephanietetenhardesty984
      @stephanietetenhardesty984 4 роки тому +3

      I find myself screaming at the screen, John, why do you suck so hard at this?!

    • @gigdrummer90
      @gigdrummer90 4 роки тому +6

      I love how this man has written amazing books that have been made into movies but he tried to open a mango like it had a bottle cap on. I literally died

  • @lyadmilo
    @lyadmilo 8 років тому +1103

    The whipped cream one is NOT a fail. It's literally what churning is. You just need to shake for MUCH longer (at LEAST a full minute).

    • @Tazallax
      @Tazallax 8 років тому +38

      +lyadmilo Shake it too long though and you'll get butter for that very reason!

    • @ObadiahtheSlim
      @ObadiahtheSlim 8 років тому +48

      +lyadmilo Yeah, I was watching and I was like, it seems like it would work if you just shook it for longer.

    • @samramdebest
      @samramdebest 8 років тому +7

      +lyadmilo make that at least 5 minutes

    • @LizzieQueen18
      @LizzieQueen18 8 років тому +29

      +lyadmilo I was hoping someone mentioned that already down here. It's not a fail, I've made whipped cream that way before. Also butter

    • @AstolfoGayming
      @AstolfoGayming 8 років тому +2

      +samramdebest Depending on your shaking, that'll make butter..

  • @poohpush
    @poohpush 8 років тому +305

    WHAT KIND OF IDIOT SHAKES THE BOTTLE FOR 2 SECONDS AND EXPECTS WHIP CREAM TO COME OUT

    • @ladypug6958
      @ladypug6958 8 років тому +16

      the same person that fails life hacks I've done before

    • @green1480
      @green1480 8 років тому +2

      I know right.
      what an idiot.

    • @kameronpeterson3601
      @kameronpeterson3601 8 років тому +7

      you don't use a mixer for two seconds and expect whipped cream

    • @LegnaB21
      @LegnaB21 7 років тому +16

      There's a much nicer way to say he needs to shake the bottle for longer.

    • @dhalsam
      @dhalsam 7 років тому +1

      triggered

  • @supernautistaken
    @supernautistaken 7 років тому +68

    I love how half the fails are john fails

  • @illfayted
    @illfayted 8 років тому +214

    Alternate title for this video, John Green Fails at Following Basic Instructions, Again.

    • @MathHacker42
      @MathHacker42 8 років тому +18

      +illfayted All too real. life hacks: 1; John Green: 0

    • @addyotgontseren7095
      @addyotgontseren7095 8 років тому +2

      +MathHacker42 No
      Life Hacks:6
      Johny: 0

    • @kaziiqbal7257
      @kaziiqbal7257 4 роки тому

      Instructions unclear, accidentally wrote a teen novel

  • @joelwerner7075
    @joelwerner7075 8 років тому +448

    A lot of these life hacks didn't fail; John failed.

    • @shaiba9422
      @shaiba9422 8 років тому +4

      true dat

    • @voivoed
      @voivoed 8 років тому +10

      I stopped watching halfway. John didn't even put any real effort or thought in a lot of the ones he failed. Plus being inept at doing normal things people do in life doesn't help, I guess? At least that's what it looks like.

    • @Tyler.8046
      @Tyler.8046 8 років тому +6

      +voivoed Please finish the video, at least for the Watermelon hack. I actually cried watching him.

    • @luizabriard
      @luizabriard 8 років тому

      Agreed!

    • @AustinSlack
      @AustinSlack 8 років тому +1

      +Joel Werner That's how all of these "life hack" test videos end up going.

  • @AlexE5250
    @AlexE5250 8 років тому +371

    Everybody is complaining that these hacks should be passed but John makes them fails be uses he does then wrong. But seriously, you know the only reason you watch these is to watch John break his knuckles on a watermelon.

    • @majormana1
      @majormana1 7 років тому +16

      Idk why but I enjoy watching him doing things wrong.

    • @AKayfabe
      @AKayfabe 7 років тому +4

      Alex Edwards he cut the damn mango the wrong way so he couldn't try the hack

    • @LK-hg1fb
      @LK-hg1fb 6 років тому +1

      i was cracking up with the watermelon😂😂😂😂😂

    • @jimvsamuel
      @jimvsamuel 2 роки тому +1

      He is proving how impracticable the supposed "Life Hacks" are.

    • @ShadeSlayer1911
      @ShadeSlayer1911 2 роки тому +2

      Sometimes it's just fun seeing him do things wrong.

  • @ShopTalks
    @ShopTalks 8 років тому +79

    The egg one is a cooking fact. its not wobble you are looking for, its resistance to spin. The liquid yolk inside an uncoooked egg maintains its inertia and resists the spin of the egg. A cooked egg will spin like a top.

    • @SpyrosTzortzis
      @SpyrosTzortzis 5 років тому +1

      Yeap, it was obvious which egg was the correct one, our beloved John just didn't pick the right one.

    • @stoshmuru3321
      @stoshmuru3321 2 роки тому +2

      Thank you i am still mad about this 4 years later which is why I'm back to see if someone else has said it. Lol. I have tested many eggs this way before and it never ever was the wrong one.

  • @jhuger
    @jhuger 8 років тому +113

    As arcade games go, Watermelon Karate Chop isn't much fun, but at least you can play a long time for two quarters.

    • @MysteriumArcanum
      @MysteriumArcanum 8 років тому +1

      +James huber I feel like that's something the Japanese would come up with or something XD

    • @Glacier_Nester
      @Glacier_Nester 8 років тому +2

      brings a whole new meaning to eating your quarters!

    • @joshuahadams
      @joshuahadams 6 років тому

      Crow the mad there is a Japanese game like that, but they use like a bat or wooden sword to split the melon

  • @MateusAntonioBittencourt
    @MateusAntonioBittencourt 8 років тому +169

    The egg one... You are supposed to rotate the egg... them stop it. The boiled egg will remain still, while the raw egg will start to rotate again.

    • @angelcollina
      @angelcollina 8 років тому +1

      +Mateus Bittencourt Thank you!

    • @stheil
      @stheil 8 років тому +3

      +Mateus Bittencourt yep. That's how I do it, never got it wrong so far XD

    • @241wright
      @241wright 8 років тому +9

      +Mateus Bittencourt Or, just spin them quite quickly and the cooked one holds its momentum much better.

    • @nseaberry
      @nseaberry 8 років тому +3

      I always noticed cooked eggs spin more smoothly and longer than raw ones... I must admit, I've tried this. I was inspired by an old Hardy Boys story...

    • @mandywinter8871
      @mandywinter8871 8 років тому +1

      +Mateus Bittencourt or try to spin them on one of the small ends. that's where the wobble comes in.

  • @Elanchana
    @Elanchana 7 років тому +161

    JOHN. THE EGG ONE. THAT IS NOT WHAT THAT MEANS. WOBBLING MEANS THE EGG COULDN'T SPIN EFFECTIVELY. THE SECOND ONE SPUN WAY FASTER THAN THE FIRST WHICH MEANS IT WAS THE COOKED ONE.

    • @TheArtfulPenguin01
      @TheArtfulPenguin01 7 років тому +10

      Was going to say the same thing. Misinterpreting a hack doesn't mean it failed.

    • @pranamd1
      @pranamd1 7 років тому +8

      No, that's not what "wobble" means. "Wobble" means exactly what John thought it meant. That one was the fault of the person writing the instructions.

    • @optwood
      @optwood 7 років тому +5

      John should have spun the egg on its end.

    • @Erik_C_251
      @Erik_C_251 7 років тому +4

      pranamd1 No. The raw egg wobbled because the yolk inside moves unevenly causing the egg to not spin fluidly like the boiled egg does. John misinterpreted what wobbling means.

    • @JBergmansson
      @JBergmansson 6 років тому +4

      Yep, the instructions were unclear, but it still surprises me that did john not figure it out himself...

  • @samsoncrosswood7259
    @samsoncrosswood7259 8 років тому +289

    He writes teen softcore romance but can't tear a pizza box.

    • @Eli-yp9yv
      @Eli-yp9yv 8 років тому +2

      😂😂

    • @kiatasimeoni7036
      @kiatasimeoni7036 7 років тому +1

      XD

    • @khansimeoni5292
      @khansimeoni5292 7 років тому

      when?

    • @joshuahadams
      @joshuahadams 6 років тому +6

      khan simeoni
      Turtles all the Way Down
      The Fault in our Stars
      Paper Towns
      An Abundance of Katharines
      Looking for Alaska

    • @joshuapeterson5593
      @joshuapeterson5593 4 роки тому +2

      The reason he can’t rip pizza boxes is because he writes teen romance novels

  • @MisterSpocktopus
    @MisterSpocktopus 8 років тому +136

    Have you ever wanted to see the guy who wrote The Fault in Our Stars try to karate chop half of a watermelon? Of course you have.

    • @aurorafrost288
      @aurorafrost288 4 роки тому +1

      In Japan, the foot can split wood. HIIIIYA! (crack!)
      But it can't split a watermelon... HIIIIYA! (splut!)

  • @flyboy67109
    @flyboy67109 8 років тому +378

    You need to shake the cream more then 3 seconds to make whipped cream.

    • @flyboy67109
      @flyboy67109 8 років тому +18

      +Lyle Crane replace the sugar with a dash of salt and keep shaking to make butter. You'll need to shake it for several minutes. Not seconds.

    • @robint9968
      @robint9968 8 років тому +3

      +Lyle Crane yea i have shaken my cream like that more than once and it works for sure, its actually pretty fast but not 3-seconds fast. the whipped cream will be less "fluffy" than what you get using a hand mixer (cause theres less air in it) but it will definitely thicken. shake it too long and you will barely get it out of the bottle.

    • @pluckedkiwi
      @pluckedkiwi 8 років тому +2

      +Robin T I suspect you are using too much cream in too small a container. This should be easy with plenty of room for the cream to move around and get air. One ounce of cream shaken in a pint jar is fast and easy (I find it preferable to bothering with getting out the mixer).

    • @RevRaptor898
      @RevRaptor898 8 років тому +1

      +Lyle Crane Indeed, this was how our Gran told us to whip cream when we were kids :)

    • @FrancoDFernando
      @FrancoDFernando 8 років тому +2

      Yup...I've actually made butter just shaking heavy cream in a mason jar for 15 minutes or so

  • @AstroInvasionGaming
    @AstroInvasionGaming 7 років тому +39

    Kiwi life hack: literally just cut it in half and scoop it out

    • @dancingfrogsxb1276
      @dancingfrogsxb1276 4 роки тому +1

      Or just eat it
      with the skin on, I know!@ I'm a builder who dont like sticky fingers lol

  • @SirReelist
    @SirReelist 6 років тому +19

    Two things John did wrong:
    1) The egg needs to spin on the pointy side and the egg that wobbles the most should be the raw one.
    2) It takes like 5 minutes to make whipped cream... not 10 seconds... TRY AGAIN JOHN!

  • @Brakfast
    @Brakfast 8 років тому +189

    He shook the whipped cream for 3 seconds... Thats not how it works dummy

    • @Majin_Souji
      @Majin_Souji 8 років тому

      +Sir Nonagon Indubitably.

    • @lahdeedah87
      @lahdeedah87 8 років тому

      I thought the same thing -_-

    • @Fr8monkey
      @Fr8monkey 8 років тому +1

      +Sir Nonagon Yeah. You'd have to shake it for 3 to 5 minutes.

    • @brandchan
      @brandchan 8 років тому +6

      +Sir Nonagon I feel it is fair if the life hack doesn't state how long you are supposed to shake it. Not everyone is going to know that a head of time and if they do, then then don't really need a "life hack" for it.

    • @JasonHalversonjaydog
      @JasonHalversonjaydog 8 років тому +2

      +Sir Nonagon yeah, even if he took an actual mixer and mixed it for 3 seconds, it aint gonna work then either

  • @McClungMusic
    @McClungMusic 8 років тому +205

    The mango cup hack does work pretty well, but it works better if you actually use the cup

    • @jD304304
      @jD304304 8 років тому +13

      +McClung Music and not a red solo cup, which would break under the amount of pressure needed for the hack to work.
      i use this hack constantly with mini 8 oz cups and it works very well. he just didn't cut the mango properly. there is a huge rind in the middle of the mango and he needs to cut the mango into slabs then run the slabs along the brim of the cup. works like a charm. :)

    • @blairmacp
      @blairmacp 8 років тому +2

      +McClung Music Or you could just use a spoon like a normal person...

    • @jayjohn6572
      @jayjohn6572 6 років тому +1

      Also if you shake the bottle for longer than 5 seconds you can make whipped cream

  • @a_j-mazing9085
    @a_j-mazing9085 7 років тому +82

    "highly trained professional life hacker" doesn't know how to cut a mango 😂

    • @Ainaes-Feline
      @Ainaes-Feline 4 роки тому +1

      One that doesn't peel a mango instead.

    • @marjar.5978
      @marjar.5978 4 роки тому

      It’s a good thing he has his writing thing to fall back on 🙃

  • @Medic-kk3jm
    @Medic-kk3jm 8 років тому +24

    You have to actually shake the cream to make it into whipped cream

  • @newsoupvialt
    @newsoupvialt 8 років тому +222

    The "wobble" on the egg meant that it doesn't spin as smoothly and kinda jerks around. So the raw egg did have more wobble in that sense.

    • @newsoupvialt
      @newsoupvialt 8 років тому +2

      You know, randomly speeding up and slowing down

    • @Tazallax
      @Tazallax 8 років тому +14

      +timmifutz Yeah, they should have explained it better. It's the one that spins more easily that's cooked. So if it spins faster, as the white egg did, it's cooked.

    • @riverfortune1990
      @riverfortune1990 8 років тому +6

      +FreshlyHere You have to spin it on the skinny end. The boiled one will spin like a top but the raw one will fall over.

    • @newsoupvialt
      @newsoupvialt 8 років тому +8

      Katelyn Riggs That's also interesting, although the method they used is perfectly fine for determining that, too. They just didn't really know what they were looking out for when observing it.

    • @SuperAwesomeDakMan42
      @SuperAwesomeDakMan42 8 років тому +14

      +timmifutz if you spin both eggs and lightly tap them on the top the raw egg will still have inertia while the cooked egg will stop easily.

  • @notbobby125
    @notbobby125 8 років тому +144

    If are stranded on a desert island with half a water melon and a quarter, why not just flip the water melon over and eat it without having to use the quarter?

    • @suzanne2
      @suzanne2 8 років тому +35

      If stranded on a desert island, don't bring John along.

    • @friendstastegood
      @friendstastegood 8 років тому +13

      +Suzanne Stoffels I think John would agree with that.

    • @SayaCeline
      @SayaCeline 8 років тому

      +notbobby125 Silence with the logical survivalist thinking!!!!! It'll only slow us down!!

    • @jamesmylercook
      @jamesmylercook 8 років тому +22

      +notbobby125 If you have half a melon you already have a way to cut it.

    • @tlineverc88
      @tlineverc88 8 років тому +2

      +jamesmylercook you my son, will go far in life

  • @SamersonT
    @SamersonT 8 років тому +31

    you wrote a best selling romance novel but can't rip cardboard or have the patience to shake a bottle for 2 minutes

  • @scarletfluerr
    @scarletfluerr 8 років тому +63

    Cream will not whip up with 4 shakes, four minutes of shaking maybe.

    • @danielbricker7204
      @danielbricker7204 8 років тому +3

      ya totally not enough shaking, though how would one get the ccream out once you are done shaking i havnt the foggiest

    • @Justin-ig8cd
      @Justin-ig8cd 8 років тому +2

      +Daniel Bricker I imagine you'd simply squeeze the bottle.

    • @danielbricker7204
      @danielbricker7204 8 років тому

      Justin J Thats good for say like 60-70% of it, but otherwise seems waistfull

  • @CanegmSemse
    @CanegmSemse 8 років тому +15

    As a man who routinely breaks apples in half, there's a key trick - it's not about strength, but about friction and leverage. You're basically rolling your palms together, and the pressure pops the apple in half. It's more like plate tectonics

    • @ChenfengBao
      @ChenfengBao 8 років тому +1

      +CanegmSemse Can't resist laughing at the "plate tectonics" XD true that

  • @Bee3001ArtAndAnimation
    @Bee3001ArtAndAnimation 8 років тому +112

    I love these Life hack videos. I don't care if I think a life hack might've been done wrong (I feel like the Whipped cream one could work if shaken for longer, but I haven't tried it myself), it's just funny watching John Green test them.

    • @sofiv95
      @sofiv95 8 років тому +1

      It definitely works, you're supposed to shake it much longer to incorporate air into the cream

    • @antivanti
      @antivanti 8 років тому +1

      +sofiv95 I'm sure it works... but how do you then get whipped cream out of a bottle with such a narrow opening?
      I mean there are shakers made for whipping cream. They usually have some spokes to make the process a bit faster but more importantly they all have a large opening. I'm sure if you have a shaker for protein drinks or similar it would work very well for whipping cream tho.

    • @sofiv95
      @sofiv95 8 років тому

      You could cut the top of the bottle, lots of people do that where I'm from. Glass jars are way better though. That way you can spoon it out, close it and keep any leftovers in the fridge.

    • @sofiv95
      @sofiv95 8 років тому

      You could cut the top of the bottle, lots of people do that where I'm from. Glass jars are way better though. That way you can spoon it out, close it and keep any leftovers in the fridge.

    • @sofiv95
      @sofiv95 8 років тому

      You could cut the top of the bottle off, lots of people do that where I'm from. Glass jars are way better though. That way you can spoon it out, close it and keep any leftovers in the fridge.

  • @keepsmilingboy
    @keepsmilingboy 8 років тому +69

    i use the phone bag thing to watch netflix while im in the shower

    • @jetnut89
      @jetnut89 8 років тому +1

      Can I watch Netflix with you?

    • @emilycaballero6052
      @emilycaballero6052 8 років тому +5

      Actually, that's how I watched this video.

    • @ronnieradon
      @ronnieradon 7 років тому +1

      Sorry but that's kinda sad

    • @victoriag4568
      @victoriag4568 7 років тому +1

      This is life changing.

    • @rochiesama5363
      @rochiesama5363 7 років тому

      This is so amazing and changed my life just now

  • @KuDastardly
    @KuDastardly 7 років тому +38

    Dude, #7 and #14 didn't fail, you failed at them.

    • @AnnikaOakinnA
      @AnnikaOakinnA 7 років тому +3

      And the egg one is best tested by spinning them on end! The raw egg will lose spin pretty quickly, but the boiled one will keep going for a while as the yolk isn't moving around and changing the balance.

    • @Carsey-lf5my
      @Carsey-lf5my 7 років тому

      Ku Dastardly a

  • @lohphat
    @lohphat 8 років тому +224

    What if you get someone who isn't physically inept?

    • @chopinbloc
      @chopinbloc 8 років тому

      +lohphat Beta male.

    • @BioniclesaurKing4t2
      @BioniclesaurKing4t2 8 років тому +27

      +lohphat
      Life "hacks" should work for anyone regardless of skill, otherwise they're not an effective shortcut and the person should just go at it the normal way.

    • @chopinbloc
      @chopinbloc 8 років тому +2

      +BioniclesaurKing4t2 Something can still be easier for normal people and yet also possible for a moron to bugger.

    • @lolyoutoobe
      @lolyoutoobe 8 років тому

      777787p788p8 ip 8878787 ip 788709878o87

    • @MiniDemonic
      @MiniDemonic 8 років тому +3

      +BioniclesaurKing4t2
      The problem is that he did pretty much all of the life hacks wrong.. Of course the life hacks aren't going to work when you aren't doing what you are supposed to do.
      All of these life hacks would work for anyone regardless of skill, if you just performed them correctly.

  • @KnightRaymund
    @KnightRaymund 8 років тому +50

    Isn't the pizza box thing a specific pizza box that was designed to do that, not just any box? It's obviously not a design that most actually use.

    • @SirBabalon
      @SirBabalon 8 років тому +1

      +KnightRaymund Yep! It was a concept for pizza hut, I think

    • @HotAkPL
      @HotAkPL 8 років тому

      +KnightRaymund Yes, a pizza company here in HK uses that design. The box even have dotted lines on them for easily tearing.

    • @MissNayNay
      @MissNayNay 8 років тому

      +KnightRaymund The funny thing is I remember him doing this life hack in either the first or second video, and it was a pass. I don't know why he's doing it again.

    • @brandonbuchner1771
      @brandonbuchner1771 8 років тому +2

      +MissNayNay I believe that was folding the box to make a smaller box to store the left over pizza in so it doesn't take up so much room in the fridge.

    • @Nightenstaff
      @Nightenstaff 8 років тому +2

      +KnightRaymund When it comes down to it, what is a plate? If you define a plate as a smooth flat surface to use as a protective barrier between food and other surfaces, ripping up any box of large enough size could make plates. In my eyes, the pizza box thing was a college level pass -- as in, I did that sort of thing all the time in college 'cause I wasn't going to waste money on buying paper plates.

  • @hello_akami
    @hello_akami 8 років тому +4

    When John sliced the mango in half, i was like, "you're going to have a bad time"

  • @ericaselby4591
    @ericaselby4591 5 років тому +8

    I was deeply concerned about the intactness of John's fingers with that onion chopping.

  • @Lazerblade95
    @Lazerblade95 8 років тому +117

    A few of the fails were just due to incompetence.

    • @mariewikiwaka3851
      @mariewikiwaka3851 5 років тому

      I’ve for sure made whipped cream by shaking cream in a Tupperware container.

  • @TonyHammitt
    @TonyHammitt 8 років тому +32

    The eggs have to be spun on end, not in their "laying down" position. Either end is fine, cooked eggs will spin for a while, raw eggs fall over immediately

    • @MathHacker42
      @MathHacker42 8 років тому +7

      +Tony Hammitt You can do it on its side too; the cooked one spins faster, but the raw one will continue spinning if you stop it and let go.

    • @rdizzy1
      @rdizzy1 8 років тому +2

      +Tony Hammitt Either way takes longer than just picking them up and shaking them, can tell the solid from the liquid.

    • @jakryk
      @jakryk 8 років тому

      +MathHacker42 Which is exactly what happened in the video.

    • @shmuelhabari8576
      @shmuelhabari8576 8 років тому +17

      +Tony Hammitt
      The way he did it works as well, he just misinterpreted the results.
      The one who spun well is hard boiled, while the one who quickly stops spinning is raw.

    • @mikeholland2799
      @mikeholland2799 8 років тому +3

      +Tony Hammitt If you spin the eggs fast enough on their side, the cooked egg will actually attempt to spin standing up on it's big end. The uncooked egg will stop spinning almost immediately.

  • @oliviabrown842
    @oliviabrown842 8 років тому +14

    The life hack where he tried to pull the apple apart actually does work. You just have to apply pressure in the right place. I did it a few months ago.

    • @k8lynmae
      @k8lynmae 4 роки тому

      Olivia Brown it depends on the kind of Apple

    • @morrigan908
      @morrigan908 4 роки тому

      It doesn't depend on the apple. I broke apples in two for my horses for years. Make a tiny break in the skin on each side of the stem with your thumbnail and it actually requires very little pressure. Large apples are easier than small, but neither requires much pressure.

  • @samanthaquant7411
    @samanthaquant7411 7 років тому +22

    Whenever I watch these life hack videos I feel like some of them are truly stupid and other times I think John Green is not very coordinated

  • @calderhutchins
    @calderhutchins 8 років тому +323

    He does a terrible job at doing those life hacks.......

    • @lisse0099
      @lisse0099 8 років тому +22

      +Prodigy Productions the entire idea of a life hack is that it is simple to do, so if it isn't simple it isn't a life hack

    • @CarolineForest
      @CarolineForest 8 років тому +3

      +Prodigy Productions yeah xD the thing about hacks are that they are gonna make everything easier even for not so good people.. its not ta talent trick xD

    • @UnidentifiedLifeform
      @UnidentifiedLifeform 8 років тому +29

      +lisse0099 Many of them are simple, he just does them wrong. Being easy doesn't mean there isn't a proper method.

    • @cleanartcollective
      @cleanartcollective 8 років тому +15

      +Caroline “Kiramuruchan” Forest when you approach everything with the grace of an irritated gorilla, they aren't going to work. most of these life hacks take some amount of finesse and he's just trying to hulk smash everything.

    • @SaviorSix
      @SaviorSix 8 років тому +8

      +Prodigy Productions - He's approaching it as if he was just told something could work, without it being explained. If it's a lifehack and is easy to perform, he should be able to do it with just the description and not the explanation.

  • @lieutenantbears
    @lieutenantbears 8 років тому +32

    Well maybe if you were a martial arts master, you could chop a watermelon without the quarter

    • @JenfurJordan
      @JenfurJordan 8 років тому +16

      +lieutenantbears But that was fantastic to watch.

    • @3pleYT
      @3pleYT 8 років тому

      Maybe Bruce Lee?
      Does Bruce Lee like watermelon?

    • @BrookMonroe
      @BrookMonroe 8 років тому +1

      +lieutenantbears Or you could just turn the watermelon over.

    • @gearsandsteam1
      @gearsandsteam1 8 років тому +1

      +lieutenantbears As an actual martial artist, I do believe this is possible (although still ridiculous). When you are trying to break things with your fists or your elbows or your feet, the trick is to punch through it. Aim for the thing behind it, not the thing you are trying to break. It is very effective and somehow overcomes the mental block of "I can't do it! It will hurt!". If you watch carefully you can see John Green slow down right before he hits the watermelon.

  • @jenniferreid372
    @jenniferreid372 8 років тому +10

    these are the only videos I watch from mental floss

  • @WinteryRay
    @WinteryRay 7 років тому +3

    Watching John struggle with fruit just made my day

  • @mastersirus1985
    @mastersirus1985 8 років тому +98

    11:56 You'll thank me later

    • @PhilZeGerman
      @PhilZeGerman 8 років тому +3

      +Corey Watford Thank you! :)

    • @Nightenstaff
      @Nightenstaff 8 років тому +5

      +Corey Watford Oh, man. That was worth all the other questionable material. I typically don't like to see people in pain, but I tearing up over here from all the laughter.

    • @fadelpw511
      @fadelpw511 8 років тому

      +Corey Watford Thank you! :)

    • @wtfsnacks
      @wtfsnacks 8 років тому

      No I won't.

    • @trevorbatesanimation1883
      @trevorbatesanimation1883 8 років тому

      I watched it 10 times.

  • @Naked_Snake
    @Naked_Snake 8 років тому +42

    To open a jar all you do is hold the jar sideways and tap the lid on to a hard surface. I figured this out on my own as a kid and am very proud of it. I didn't really achieve anything significant in life after that though :/

    • @Snakeye808
      @Snakeye808 8 років тому +6

      +Big Boss Tapping on a jar to open it could only work if you're a sorcerer. Any normal human being will at least have to twist the top to open a jar.

    • @Naked_Snake
      @Naked_Snake 8 років тому

      +Snakeye808 LOL. I meant tap it to get it loose :P

    • @brandonwithnell612
      @brandonwithnell612 8 років тому +6

      +Snakeye808 if you tap it hard enough you wont have to twist, just be careful of the broken glass

    • @alexfrazier1202
      @alexfrazier1202 8 років тому +1

      "I didn't really achieve anything significant in life after that though" 😂😂😂

    • @busessuck1
      @busessuck1 8 років тому +1

      +Big Boss I'm gonna steal that achievement and use it at my next job interview

  • @OptimusPhillip
    @OptimusPhillip 6 років тому +8

    You know, most cereal boxes these days have the flaps at the top cut and/or perforated such that you can actually tuck them into one another. No life hack needed.

  • @PurpleAmharicCoffee
    @PurpleAmharicCoffee 7 років тому +22

    In New Zealand, we've been scooping kiwifruit flesh out with a teaspoon for years.

    • @GraceShh2
      @GraceShh2 7 років тому +10

      Yeah and he definitely did it wrong. Don't cut off the top and the bottom! Cut the damn thing in half and scoop out of each half!

    • @alexaliona
      @alexaliona 7 років тому

      I do that in California too

    • @PinguPhD
      @PinguPhD 7 років тому

      PurpleAmharicCoffee I just eat the flesh too

    • @CurlyMcNulty
      @CurlyMcNulty 7 років тому +3

      I just eat the skin

    • @MrsAlexisAgnew2019
      @MrsAlexisAgnew2019 5 років тому

      Heh. Kiwis eat kiwis 🥝😏

  • @theQiwiMan
    @theQiwiMan 8 років тому +6

    John would be an excellent actor for infomercials where people struggle to do simple tasks.

  • @Nukle0n
    @Nukle0n 8 років тому +11

    A cooked egg will spin better because the insides are stable and aren't bouncing around.

  • @Tomyb15
    @Tomyb15 8 років тому +21

    A better way to tell boiled and raw eggs appart is to spin them, then stop them and quickly let go of them. A raw egg will continue to spin a bit after being stopped since the contents inside keep spinning.

  • @abbigailkey15
    @abbigailkey15 8 років тому

    John's just utter contempt for life hacks is amazing.

  • @Liutgard
    @Liutgard 8 років тому +14

    John, it might not work for fabric, but I can tell you that peanut butter is sovereign for getting gum out of hair. Used it on my own kids, and have used it on the grandkids too. If you don't have peanut butter around, WD-40 also works.

    • @carriel3054
      @carriel3054 8 років тому +3

      +Laura Minnick I bet coconut or olive oil would work well too - and less stinky than WD-40

    • @thorbjoernmaadhengis9644
      @thorbjoernmaadhengis9644 8 років тому

      +Laura Minnick In my experience even a bit of warmed up chocolate works very well. and is easier to wash out afterwards.

    • @Pit_Wizard
      @Pit_Wizard 8 років тому +8

      Yeah, but clearly freezing your kids would be a lot more effective. That's just science.

    • @theldraspneumonoultramicro405
      @theldraspneumonoultramicro405 8 років тому +1

      +Laura Minnick ever tried to put their heads in the freezer for a while? (this is not a serious suggestion! just a cruel joke)

    • @MetFanMac
      @MetFanMac 8 років тому +1

      +Laura Minnick Now you've got me curious, what is "sovereign" slang for in this case?

  • @Anamnesia
    @Anamnesia 8 років тому +15

    Episode 404, eh?
    Life Hack: If you're feeling tired, take the biggest breath you can & hold that breath for as long as you can - until you almost pass out!
    It's supposed to trigger a reflex-like response & cause adrenaline to be released into your bloodstream & wakes you up...

    • @justinjustin7224
      @justinjustin7224 8 років тому +17

      Which is why auto-erotic-asphyxiation is a thing!

    • @Anamnesia
      @Anamnesia 8 років тому +3

      Justin Jones Aaaaah, that makes sense then! :)

    • @Anamnesia
      @Anamnesia 8 років тому

      malcolmthebear Jumping Jacks aren't always a viable option... :)

    • @malcolmthebear
      @malcolmthebear 8 років тому

      Jumping jacks certainly seem safer than holding your breath until you nearly pass out. Let's not forget the number of people who have died trying to do something like that (including actor David Carradine).

    • @Anamnesia
      @Anamnesia 8 років тому +1

      malcolmthebear I hate to break this to you, but David Carradine didn't die from holding his breath; he died from auto asphyxia errotica.

  • @ethann5410
    @ethann5410 7 років тому +8

    "This one's the cooked egg" *smashes egg on table

  • @DarkEagle-vx9hd
    @DarkEagle-vx9hd 4 роки тому +1

    John is so nice and unassuming. Especially for a rich, successful author. Don't ever change.

  • @aacsmiles
    @aacsmiles 8 років тому +27

    The real question is, unless you have braces, why would you cut the corn off of the cob when cobbed corn is vastly superior?

    • @barbarossacamporee5089
      @barbarossacamporee5089 8 років тому +3

      To use it in recipes.

    • @aturninthegameof...4584
      @aturninthegameof...4584 8 років тому +1

      If you have braces...

    • @chewchewpark4786
      @chewchewpark4786 8 років тому

      Cornbread using freshly made creamed corn made from fresh corn from your garden of those trucks on the corner selling sweet corn cheap as hell.

    • @KatelynDombach
      @KatelynDombach 8 років тому +1

      To freeze for when corn isn't in season. Even after its frozen it tastes better then store bought frozen or canned

  • @Nol1994
    @Nol1994 8 років тому +9

    If you cut the kiwi in half, it will be even better.

  • @josephthomas2226
    @josephthomas2226 5 років тому +1

    I just discovered this guy 2 days ago and I can't stop watching his videos.

  • @ryancalkins4367
    @ryancalkins4367 8 років тому +1

    I love the ones where John is legitimately surprised at the success of. True surprise is often very visible XD

  • @littleplaythroughs
    @littleplaythroughs 8 років тому +12

    The whipped cream one would work if you would shake it for more than a second

    • @bensjammin9
      @bensjammin9 8 років тому +8

      His lack of shaking made me cringe so bad. I thought it was common sense that shaking homemade whipped cream is a couple minute ordeal, not a couple little shakes and assuming it magically gets thick and fluffy. -_-

    • @AnnekeOosterink
      @AnnekeOosterink 8 років тому +2

      +Whovian_BenK Yeah even if you do use a mixer you still need to mix it for maybe half a minute or so, possibly longer. Most of these hacks work, John just doesn't understand or execute them properly.

  • @SimonMarchand2015
    @SimonMarchand2015 6 років тому +5

    Fail for the pizza thing?! i went through college with 50% less dishes to do thanks to that trick!

  • @AsifAli-mz5jl
    @AsifAli-mz5jl 6 років тому +1

    Cameras across your channel whilst looking for facts about tea, ended up asking myself how I missed this channel the whole time? You sir, have gained a subscriber!!!!!

  • @busessuck1
    @busessuck1 8 років тому +1

    John struggling with the apple is a perfect simile for how my life is going right now

  • @doesntmatter2744
    @doesntmatter2744 8 років тому +3

    love when John hosts

  • @euphan123
    @euphan123 8 років тому +7

    You can recharge your iPhone 5s battery in 40 seconds by placing it inside a microwave and pressing "popcorn mode"

    • @justinjustin7224
      @justinjustin7224 8 років тому +2

      Can confirm, but has the side-effect of leaving your iPhone buttery. Better to take the extra time to just use the oven. If you have an android, or any other device that uses micro-usb, any flames will work for the same effect.

    • @CoDCloudOfficial
      @CoDCloudOfficial 8 років тому

      I can actually vouch for this. It charged mine pretty quick. You just have to make sure it is set right

    • @ExaltedDuck
      @ExaltedDuck 8 років тому

      And you know how people get fat by eating too much sugar? Add a few cups to your car's gas tanks for more power and better fuel economy!

  • @iagozabibha
    @iagozabibha 7 років тому +2

    "Meredith, where did you get this knife? ...Did you get it from the, like, knives that only 4 year olds can use, section of the grocery store?"

  • @bentoth9555
    @bentoth9555 7 років тому +2

    As someone who deals with stuck glue bottles a lot (Warhammer 40k) I can say that needlenose pliers work just as well and you probably own at least one pair already.

    • @jac10460
      @jac10460 5 років тому

      Patriot act amazon

  • @nolanthiessen1073
    @nolanthiessen1073 8 років тому +7

    I used the phone in the bag trick a lot when working for a road construction crew. Nothing wrecks a phone faster than concrete dust.

    • @gordonlawrence3537
      @gordonlawrence3537 8 років тому

      +Nolan Thiessen yep that stuff is nasty corrosive and eats metal.

    • @N3rdfightermom
      @N3rdfightermom 8 років тому

      +Nolan Thiessen There are only 2 problems with the phone in a bag. First, the thumb print open won't work, and second, they can overheat.

    • @Dr7More
      @Dr7More 8 років тому

      +Alissa Frederick Not if you use a decent phone...

    • @gordonlawrence3537
      @gordonlawrence3537 8 років тому

      They only overheat if you use them for ages. If you use the phone for phone calls then you should be ok.

  • @mattjohnston2
    @mattjohnston2 8 років тому +17

    Why are at least half of these "life hacks" in the first place? Making whipped cream? Peeling fruit? Testing a hard boiled egg? How exactly are these "life hacks"?? One method over another doesn't make it a hack. I swear, people are getting dumber by the day...

    • @DustinBKerensky97
      @DustinBKerensky97 8 років тому +2

      +Matt Johnston People on the internet will try to make a lifehack for anything. usually making the process harder along the way.

    • @JukaDominator
      @JukaDominator 8 років тому +4

      +Matt Johnston A lifehack is a more catching title and good for clickbait.

    • @mattjohnston2
      @mattjohnston2 8 років тому

      JukaDominator clickbait for sure, haha

    • @nobodyimportant2470
      @nobodyimportant2470 8 років тому +3

      +Matt Johnston "Life Hack" is the new term for the helpful hints and easy tricks that have existed for centuries. It has never had anything to do with hacking life.
      Admittedly most of the videos showing off these tips and tricks make things pointlessly harder than the normal or many alternate ways but will work in a pinch.
      For example opening the watermelon with the quarter when smacking it with a stick would have been faster/easier.

    • @mattjohnston2
      @mattjohnston2 8 років тому

      NobodyImportant So would using a knife. Or hell, even dropping it.

  • @purpleviolet72
    @purpleviolet72 8 років тому +4

    For the whipped cream you need to shake for at least 5 minutes, not 30 seconds as demonstrated in the video. I've made it that way in the past.
    The pyramid folding for the cereal box does not work on boxes, but it will work on stuff in bags like chips.

  • @MrLinguist88
    @MrLinguist88 8 років тому +7

    WTF??? It is the other way around with the eggs!!! The raw eggs will not spin fast!

  • @chronicler3429
    @chronicler3429 8 років тому +12

    This is a comment made before I watch the video, 'cause why not.

    • @chronicler3429
      @chronicler3429 8 років тому +7

      That was a nice video.

    • @thenerdempire
      @thenerdempire 8 років тому +4

      +iChronicler I thoroughly enjoyed both comments. Thank you.

  • @Nightcoffee365
    @Nightcoffee365 8 років тому +4

    Correction: 14 was a pass. John actually conflated two different egg spinning tests. The wobble test he was trying to do needs to be done with the egg on end, not on its side. The test he actually executed was the momentum test. If the egg spins like crazy on its side, it's cooked because there's no liquid to counter its momentum. That's exactly what happened.

  • @rapavao
    @rapavao 8 років тому +41

    The problem with these videos is that a lot of the "fails" would be "passes" if John weren't such an uncoordinated dork.

  • @Falak2
    @Falak2 8 років тому +3

    watching you destroy your hand on that melon was well worth the other failed atempts you had at life hacks that do infact work.

  • @chopinbloc
    @chopinbloc 8 років тому +6

    9:10 Dude, you shook it for like two fucking seconds. Several of these hacks would work better if you understood *why* they work, or even *how*.

  • @chaosof99
    @chaosof99 8 років тому +5

    That part with the Kiwi confuses me. I thought everybody ate Kiwis by cutting them in half, then eating them with a spoon (e.g. a coffee spoon) because you now basically have two "cups" of kiwi.

    • @debbylou5729
      @debbylou5729 2 роки тому

      That would make a fruit salad really awkward

  • @joshpifer768
    @joshpifer768 8 років тому +2

    Unreal incompetence and ignorance, but that's what makes this video so entertaining.

  • @shawnlizeleatherdale4052
    @shawnlizeleatherdale4052 2 роки тому

    Lol, I am dying of laughter at him and splitting the apple. I have been doing it since I was a kid - you don't use your fingers, but rather the palms.

  • @limegreenelevator
    @limegreenelevator 8 років тому +7

    For the egg one, spin it on its end.

  • @NekoiNemo
    @NekoiNemo 8 років тому +5

    With kiwi you only need to cut out one part, not both. Otherwise everything will be covered in kiwi juice...

  • @metehangulec255
    @metehangulec255 8 років тому

    This Is My Favourite Series Of Mental Floss !!!

  • @Dymistikeys
    @Dymistikeys 8 років тому

    I laughed more in this video than I do when I watch videos of comedians

  • @DustinBKerensky97
    @DustinBKerensky97 8 років тому +4

    The cool thing about mason jars....
    THEY ALREADY HAVE SEALABLE LIDS!!!!

  • @BOLL7708
    @BOLL7708 8 років тому +3

    I guess hundreds of people have said this already, but for the egg, the one that spun slower is raw because the center did not start rotating as much and as such slowed down the final rotation as the in- and outside evens out. You can also check if spinning it and then stopping it and letting go will have it still rotate, then it's raw without a comparison :P

  • @sarayusarayu832
    @sarayusarayu832 4 роки тому

    These are the best! My daughter loves watching these! Thank you!

  • @flipppbook
    @flipppbook 8 років тому

    I love how astonished he looked when the car worked.

  • @perbrethil
    @perbrethil 8 років тому +9

    Why are american onions so freakishly huge? Here they count as pretty big when they're the size of a tennisball

    • @AnnekeOosterink
      @AnnekeOosterink 8 років тому

      +perbrethil Yeah thought the same. It's the size of a melon!

    • @Prismatic_Rain
      @Prismatic_Rain 8 років тому +7

      +perbrethil Everything is bigger in America. Why do you think everyone drives those huge SUVs? It's the only way to get our onions home from the grocery store.

    • @perbrethil
      @perbrethil 8 років тому

      +Anneke Oosterink zal wel aan nederland liggen dan :P

    • @natedaviz9178
      @natedaviz9178 8 років тому +2

      wtf why are your onions so small??

    • @AnnekeOosterink
      @AnnekeOosterink 8 років тому

      perbrethil Haha, nee want in de rest van Europa hebben ze ook niet van die reuze dingen. :)

  • @charliebrittable
    @charliebrittable 7 років тому +5

    the whipped cream one is a pass, just takes a very very very long time

  • @Not_Ciel
    @Not_Ciel 7 років тому

    I'm glad John karate chops Watermelon so that I don't have to 😂

  • @cancerrific
    @cancerrific 5 років тому

    Peanut butter and jelly sound affects are pure gold.

  • @ellieennes
    @ellieennes 8 років тому +3

    Love the lifehack episodes!

  • @megsandbacon5702
    @megsandbacon5702 8 років тому +54

    For those saying that he's not doing them right, aren't life hacks for people like Jon?

    • @lynnesmith6519
      @lynnesmith6519 4 роки тому +1

      It's called "comedy" Karen... look it up

  • @meganshaffer9220
    @meganshaffer9220 8 років тому +1

    This was incredibly entertaining to watch. I learned nothing but it was funny so 10/10.

  • @michaelandbrytanyjordan7573
    @michaelandbrytanyjordan7573 4 роки тому

    I am so glad that you tried your hardest to chop the melon. Hilarious.

  • @jonnomonodesu
    @jonnomonodesu 8 років тому +9

    America does pizza boxes less than 16" o.0
    No way.

    • @PeterFrikadelle
      @PeterFrikadelle 8 років тому +34

      +Nathan Baxter Yep, and every pizza in America has freedom baked right into the dough.

    • @justinjustin7224
      @justinjustin7224 8 років тому +2

      +Peter Hamburger but sadly that freedom flavor has some weird slavery aftertaste.

    • @laneborunda9460
      @laneborunda9460 8 років тому +1

      +Justin Jones only from older pre 1900s Southern pizza restaurants.

    • @justinjustin7224
      @justinjustin7224 8 років тому

      Lane Borunda
      Nah, The aftertaste is still around today, just much more subtle. Hopefully it'll become unnoticeable at some point.

    • @laneborunda9460
      @laneborunda9460 8 років тому

      Justin Jones a lot of us don't notice, the ones that do make sure you know they do, they even dedicated a month in honor of the aftertaste

  • @NNTorious
    @NNTorious 8 років тому +5

    But the cereal has a closing tab :S ?

  • @spensersky7642
    @spensersky7642 8 років тому

    I really enjoy these videos and I hope you make more of them

  • @updownstate
    @updownstate 4 роки тому +1

    Best way to husk corn is to cut off the end that attached to stalk, squeeze the tassel end and the ear will slide right out, leaving the corn and silk behind. If you like to cook in the husk this still works; just cut off growing end before heating.

  • @lahdeedah87
    @lahdeedah87 8 років тому +3

    Oh John. The mango and the whip cream may have been a pass but I'm afraid you failed those so badly. X-D

  • @Darkbirdy
    @Darkbirdy 8 років тому +11

    Before testing a technique, it is necessary to understand the basic principle behind it. You don't whip cream in four seconds. You don't split an apple by digging your thumbs into it. You don't spin eggs without learning how to spin eggs.

  • @emmetcameron1026
    @emmetcameron1026 7 років тому +1

    The whipped cream thing works really well in a cylindrical container with an airtight lid like a big yogurt tub. A bottle seems like you'd have to cut it open to get it out after churning anyway. & yes, you have to shake it for much longer than John did. But it's much easier on the wrists than beating by hand.

  • @estrellacasias
    @estrellacasias 6 років тому

    John has such a dad personality. Always has been