The Ice Cream Spoon That Connects to Your Phone and Puts It on Silent Mode

Halo Top is selling a spoon that puts your phone on silent mode. The ice cream company has unveiled the “Silent (à la) Mode Spoon", a golden utensil that aims to put your phone on silent mode, allowing you to peacefully dig into a delicious pint of ice cream without being bugged by pesky calls, texts, or emails. Using Near Field Communication, you can connect the spoon to your device, and send your phone into Do-Not-Disturb mode by tapping the chip located on the end of the spoon to the back of your phone. Thankfully, you only have to connect the spoon to your phone once. The iPhone setup is a 9-step process. Using the “Shortcuts” app, users can scan the chip inside the Halo Top logo fastened to the end of the spoon, name the spoon once detected, and create a shortcut that toggles Do-Not-Disturb when the spoon touches your phone. The 6-step Android setup requires users to download the "NFC Tasks" app and configure permissions to allow the spoon to connect to your phone. Connecting the spoon may take a minute, but it is satisfying when done. On the outside, the spoon is a treat. Its thick, gold-colored exterior makes you feel fancy while using it, and it doesn't feel dated like a traditional silver spoon. The Halo Top logo on the end of the spoon, which contains the NFC chip, is a stylish touch. Whether you connect it to your phone or not, it's a pleasure to use and aesthetically pleasing. The good news is, the spoon won’t break the bank. It’s sold online for $4.90, a nod to the 490-calorie count of a Halo Top pint with Mix-In flavors. Due to its built-in chip, the spoon is not dishwasher safe, so you’ll need to wash it by hand.

 

 

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Why You Should Be Cleaning Your Books

’Tis the season for spring cleaning, which means it’s time to muster up the enthusiasm for a deep cleaning of all the nooks and crannies you neglect the rest of the year. However, the one project everyone seems to ignore is the bookshelf. Whether you have priceless books or those you snagged at a garage sale, books need to be cleaned periodically. The obvious reason for keeping any surface dust free is to keep allergies at bay. However, dusty books have their own perils. For one thing, dust left unchecked can stain covers and pages. Even worse, dust can attract insects that can cause further damage. Silverfish, in particular, have a craving for paper………you might say they’re “bookworms.” At the very least, you should be cleaning your books once a year. First, empty the shelves, which is also a good time to de-clutter books and donate the ones you no longer want. Clean the shelving with whatever cleaning product is appropriate for the type of shelving you have. Make sure you dry them thoroughly before replacing the books. When dusting your books, you’ll want to use soft cleaning tools and an even softer approach. Gently whisk in one direction, not back and forth. Brush down the spine and the back of the book, as well as the top of the book, which is where you’ll likely see the most dust. Lightly ruffle or flip through the pages to check that nothing is stuck. Skip the vacuum, as it’s too easy to scratch or dent a book cover with the machine. When you put the books back on the shelf, remember to give them some breathing room. You don’t want them to be packed too tight, especially with leather-bound books, since leather needs to breathe.

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Graduate Poses For Unconventional Photos

Kat Daley, who recently graduated from McNeese State University, posed for an incredibly unconventional photo. The 22-year-old, who helps run Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas, decided to feature a 14-foot alligator named Big Al in her graduation photos. The photoshoot included one of Daley planting a kiss right on the snout of the water creature. Social media was left in complete shock as the photos circulated, but for Daley, being face-to-face with an alligator isn’t out of the ordinary. She pointed out that she wanted to highlight what she does with the animals every day and what they mean to her. Daley went on to explain that she believes reptiles are demonized in the media, saying that they’re not as aggressive as people like to think. “When people don’t interfere with those wild animals, they aren’t going to interfere with us,” she said. In her photos, Daley showed no fear of the massive reptile, which speaks to her routine of handling them daily on the job. She pointed out that Big Al and Big Tex have been trained for a long time and aren’t just some random alligators. Daley, who began working with wildlife seven years ago with her fiancé Eddie, said that now that she has her degree in natural sciences she’s going to stay at Gator Country and see where it takes her. Gator Country Adventure Park & Sanctuary is the largest alligator adventure park in Southeast Texas, housing over 450 American alligators along with crocodiles, snakes, lizards, tortoises, and other wildlife.

 

 

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Shakira Gets Massive 8-Figure Payout After Acquittal in Tax Fraud Case

Singer Shakira has been acquitted in her tax fraud case after an 8-year ordeal, and she’s receiving a massive payout as a result. Not only is the Grammy winner being reimbursed for the $64 million fine imposed in 2021, she’s getting an additional $6 million to cover fines and interest. Spain’s High Court ruled that authorities didn’t prove Shakira spent more than 183 days in Spain in 2011, the requirement for being considered a taxable resident. At the time, the tax agency had argued that Shakira was linked to Spain through her relationship with former FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique and had her center of ​activities in the Mediterranean country. The 49-year-old singer celebrated the win and insisted that there was never any fraud.

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