The Smile School of Budapest

Around 1937, a smile school came into existence as a result of a suicide wave in Budapest, Hungary, that was allegedly connected to “Gloomy Sunday,” a song known as the Hungarian suicide song. "Gloomy Sunday," written in 1933 by Rezső Seress, was a melancholic lament for a lost lover, and it expressed a desire to join them in death. The song became popular in Hungary and abroad, but it also gained a notorious reputation for being linked to many suicides. The song somehow gave hope to all the people who wanted to reunite with their loved ones who had passed on in World War I. According to some reports, people who listened to the song or had references to it in their suicide notes were found dead. Some sources claim that the song was banned in Hungary and other countries because of its association with suicide. Some researchers have argued that the song was merely a reflection of the social and economic hardships that Hungary faced in the 1930s, and that the suicides were not influenced by the song but by other factors. In an effort to put a halt to suicides, the Hungarian government decided to open a smile school. They thought that teaching the people how to smile would make them happier and finally forget the pain. At the school, students could learn the smiles of world-famous people such as Clark Gable, Dick Powell and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They claimed to charge up to $500 for teaching the Roosevelt smile in six weeks. Tuition fees were determined by the difficulty level of the smile chosen. Professor Jenő Sarkady said it was a great opportunity to use the methods used in the school to make Budapest a city of smiles. Needless to say, suicides continued and the school was soon proven to be nothing more than a money-making scheme.

 

 

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Crafted Woodworking Projects That Are Straight-Up Impressive

It boggles the mind to consider how many skilled craftspeople there are in the world. It’s also proof that with enough focus, persistence and discipline, you can learn practically anything. Some people, however, take things a step further, moving outside their comfort zone to hone their skills and push the limits of what’s possible. Here are some photos of the best woodworking projects crafted by amateurs and veterans alike. Scroll down for a big dose of inspiration and another reason to start a new hobby.

 

 

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The Psychology Behind Why We Discuss the Weather as Small Talk

You might be waiting for a bus, waiting in a doctor's office or waiting for the elevator. Maybe you’ve just bumped into a neighbor, or an old colleague with whom you’re struggling to find conversational common ground. No matter where you might need small talk, chances are one of the very first things you end up talking about is the weather. In fact, while a staggering 98% of people apparently admit to engaging in small talk at least once a week, almost two-thirds of them claim that the weather is their go-to conversation starter. Why do we like to talk about the weather so much? With the purpose of small talk not being deep conversation, but rather just a means of conveying social cues, we ultimately don’t want to start talking in small-talk situations about anything too complex, too personal, or too meaningful. The weather fits this conversational gap perfectly for a couple of reasons. First, weather is a shared universal experience. The person you’re talking to in person is going to be experiencing exactly the same weather conditions as you. As a result, it’s a subject over which you can bond right away and begin to make the kind of immediate connection that small talk relies on. Weather is also conversationally neutral. It isn’t personal or prying, and unlike more controversial or variable topics that people tend to have different tastes and differences of opinion over — politics, music, sports — it’s unlikely to lead to any clashing disagreements. So, the next time you find yourself in need of small talk, don’t worry about bringing up weather — it’s likely that's the other person was going to bring up anyway.

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What Is a Frost Quake and Why Does It Sound Like an Explosion?

You’re all settled in for a good night’s sleep when all of a sudden a “boom!” startles you awake. No, it’s not a bomb — it’s a frost quake, a cold-weather quirk that can make the ground sound like it’s exploding. It’s one of the many surprising side effects of the recent winter storms sweeping across the country. What exactly is a frost quake? It’s actually a natural, cold-weather seismic event that can make the ground crack with a loud boom. It all starts when water trapped in the soil freezes fast. Rain, snowmelt, or floodwater soaks the ground and a sudden temperature drop forces that water to expand. Frost quakes are more likely when there’s little to no snow cover, since snow acts like an insulating blanket and slows freezing. That’s also why you’re most likely to hear a frost quake right after a winter storm, when soaked soil freezes quickly. As the ice pushes against the surrounding soil and rock, pressure builds until the ground suddenly splits with a snap. The energy release produces a booming sound and tiny vibrations that can startle anyone nearby. Despite the drama, frost quakes are generally harmless. The real “danger” is just the surprise factor. A sudden boom can startle you, spill your coffee, or make you dash outside expecting an explosion. Beyond that, frost quakes are just a quirky, cold-weather spectacle, leaving cracked soil and rattled nerves in their wake.

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