Rental Car Company Accuses Man of Driving 18,000 Miles in 7 Days

When Yuehao Huang (inset) returned his rental car to Avis after completing his tour of eastern Canada, he didn’t think much about the bill. He had driven about 870 miles over the course of a week, but nothing excessive. Avis, however, thought differently. The rental car company claimed Huang had driven over 18,000 miles more than the prepaid mileage allowance in his contract and billed him an additional $4,300. That claim is a bit of a stretch, since simple math puts the distance at 2,571 miles per day. That means he had driven the equivalent of a transcontinental U.S. road trip EACH DAY. As if that wasn’t impossible enough, he would have had to drive 107 mph non-stop for the entirety of the trip, never stopping for gas, food, or sleep. Huang disputed the charges with Avis. Having tracked his week of travel on his phone, he submitted that as evidence to the company, but was met with silence. Weeks later, he submitted his dispute again, as advised by an Avis representative. Once again, there was no response from Avis and no refund. That led Huang to dispute the charge through American Express, which told him the charge was valid. Huang finally turned to the media to call attention to the billing issue and the impossibility of what Avis was claiming. That seems to get the attention of Avis, as they quickly issued a statement: "Following a thorough review, we confirmed that a data entry error resulted in the customer being incorrectly charged for excess mileage. We sincerely apologize to the customer for the frustration and delay in resolving the matter. We are processing a refund for the mileage charges. We are also reinforcing our procedures with our teams to help prevent similar issues in the future.” This is not the first time Avis has been wrong. In 2022, the rental car company charged a customer an extra $6,000 for driving more than 23,000 miles in 3 days. That would have meant an average continuous speed of more than 319 mph, which is about 50% faster than a Formula-1 driver averages when they’re on the track. Perhaps instead of reinforcing their procedures, Avis should send their representatives to a math class.

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Why We’re Afraid of Clowns

If you’re scared of clowns, you’re not alone. Coulrophobia — the fear of clowns — is a widespread acknowledged phenomenon. It’s not well understood due to a lack of focused research, which is why Scientific American recently conducted a survey to find out why people are afraid of clowns. The survey was completed by an international sample of 987 people ages 18 to 77. A whopping 53.5% said they were scared of clowns, while 5% said they were “extremely afraid” of them. This percentage is higher than those reported for other phobias like animals, needles, heights, flying, closed spaces, and severe weather. The survey found that women are more afraid of clowns than they are of men. Researchers also found that coulrophobia decreases with age. The survey yielded 8 possible reasons for a fear of clowns.

• 1. The makeup clowns wear make them look not quite human. 
• 2. The exaggerated facial features of clowns convey a direct sense of threat.
• 3. Clown makeup hides emotional signals and creates uncertainty.
• 4. The color of clown makeup reminds people of death, infection, or bloody injury, evoking disgust and avoidance.
• 5. The unpredictable behavior of clowns makes people uncomfortable.
• 6. The fear of clowns has been learned from family members.
• 7. Negative portrayals of clowns in popular culture.
• 8. A frightening experience with a clown.

This research has provided some new insights into why people are afraid of clowns, but more questions remain. For instance, if makeup that masks emotions causes fear, do people who have their faces painted like animals also create the same kind of effect, or is there something more particular about the makeup of clowns that drives this fear? This is now the focus of Scientific American's continued research.

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The Airplane Armrest Trick Flight Attendants Swear By

If there’s one truth about flying in the modern era, it’s this: The space is never enough. That’s especially true if you’re stuck in the dreaded middle seat. There's a sneaky little trick that just might come to your rescue when you find yourself in the middle seat: a secret button buried beneath the armrests that can magically lift them out of the way. Even seasoned travelers often fly without knowing it exists. Just slide your finger underneath and press or pull to release the lock. Once you engage it, the armrest lifts and stays flush with the seat, which in turn frees up valuable space. It’s one of those small details that, when you find it, makes a big difference on a cramped flight. However, just because you can lift the armrest doesn’t mean you always should. Aisle armrests need to be down for takeoff and landing, and when they’re up, it allows the aisle passenger to spill into the aisle even more during service, which can cause elbows, knees, and feet to get knocked by the cart. So while the trick can make your ride more comfortable, it’s best reserved for cruising altitude — and it’s best executed with a healthy dose of awareness and common sense. 

 

 

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4-Ingredient Cauliflower Alfredo Bake

This creamy, savory 4-ingredient cauliflower Alfredo bake can be a meal or a side dish. Just add protein to make it a complete meal, or use it as an easy side dish that will go very well with almost any entree. The beauty of the dish is that it only takes 20 minutes to bake.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• • 1 pound cauliflower florets
• • 1 15-oz jar Alfredo sauce
• • ¼ cup fresh peas
• • 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

Directions:

• • Preheat oven to 425º F
• • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• • Add cauliflower florets and cook 3 minutes.
• • Drain and transfer cauliflower to a greased 8X8 casserole dish.
• • Pour Alfredo sauce over cauliflower.
• • Sprinkle with peas and chopped bacon and stir to combine.
• • Bake uncovered until cauliflower is tender and sauce is bubbly, 25-30 minutes.
• • Serve immediately.

 

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