Descendants of Multi-Millionaire Receive Inheritance — 92 Years After His Death

Wellington R. Burt was a lumber baron from Saginaw, Mich., whose wealth at the time of his death was estimated to be $100 million ($1.88 billion today). In his later years, he was known as “The Lone Pine of Michigan” because he was estranged from his family and social circles, living alone with servants in his mansion. He had prepared for his death by having a massive mahogany casket made, which was stored in his attic. He is famously known for a “spite clause” in his will, which delayed the distribution of his $100 million fortune until 21 years after the death of his last surviving grandchild. Burt died of natural causes in 1919 at the age of 87. His last surviving grandchild died in 1989, and in 2011 12 descendants split the fortune. That’s a lot of spite.

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AMC’s “The Devil Wears Prada” Popcorn Bucket is Literally a Designer Purse

Fashionistas rejoice! The long-awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada arrives in theaters on April 30, and to celebrate AMC wants you to snack in style. They have revealed a collectible purse-shaped popcorn bucket that looks fancy enough for a runway. It’s red, has two handles, and features a keychain with a tag of the film’s name and a gold chain shaped like the film’s iconic pitchfork heel. If you’re a fan of the Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway franchise — which follows an aspiring journalist’s crash course-turned rise into the world of high fashion — you’ll definitely want to get your hands on one of these purse buckets. AMC is also releasing a pair of branded sunglasses with red heels on the temples that resemble the black shades that Streep’s Miranda Priestly plays, and hinted at new flavors of Coca-Cola Freestyle. Priced at $50, the package includes a ticket to the upcoming sequel, along with the handbag popcorn bucket and a limited-edition promotional issue of Runway magazine.

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Sharp-Looking Split Keyboard Rethinks the Classic 75% Layout

Keyboard makers have attempted various ergonomic designs for years, from split keyboards to tented keyboards, all aimed at making long typing sessions a little more comfortable on our wrists and shoulders. Now, a Hong-Kong based JezailFunder Studio has come up with a split ergonomic keyboard that separates the popular 75% compact layout into two halves to help reduce typing strain. It retains the first four function keys, moving them over to the left side of the left half of the keyboard, and keeps the navigation keys in their normal location. The split format means that you can keep each half in line with your shoulders rather than having to angle your wrists inward. If you’re someone who needs to type for long stretches, this could help encourage a more natural, relaxed posture. The gap between the halves means you have extra space, too. This could be for a tablet, a notebook, or a trackpad. The new keyboard is currently raising funds on Kickstarter. Pledge levels currently start at around $200, with an expected retail price of $249. The optional wooden wrist rests will add another $99 to your pledge, but a carry bag is included. If all goes to plan with the rest of the campaign, shipping to anywhere in the world is estimated to start beginning in May.

 

 

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A Hair Out Of Place: Sunglasses Made From Human Strands

Most people are all for reusing and recycling whenever possible, but this is one instance that will really make you stop and think — sunglasses made from human hair. Azusa Murakami and Alexander Groves, creators of Studio Swine, are using the world's abundant supply of human hair to make eyeglass frames. Hair Glasses are made of human hair with bio resin as a binding agent. The frames are 100% biodegradable and no harmful substances are released during production. The glasses come in several styles and have different color lenses. Initially developed as a graduate project at the Royal College of Art in 2011, the project explored human hair as a viable, renewable alternative to depleting natural resources like tropical hardwoods, horn, or tortoiseshell. The designers chose hair because of its incredible strength — a single strand can support up to 100 grams. The finished material has a polished appearance similar to tortoiseshell or exotic wood, depending on the color and density of the hair used. Whether or not you would personally wear them, there's no denying the creativity and thoughtfulness behind their creation. Now for the bad news: Studio Swine's hair glasses are primarily artistic exhibition pieces and are not mass-produced for retail.

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