Launched in 2012, the tool kills houseflies at a distance, without creating a mess. “Insect hunting as sport has entered the 21st Century with Bug-A-Salt. Our insect eradication devices fire ordinary table salt to kill pesky flies.”
“Too Cool to Do Drugs” Pencils
In the 1990’s, TIL A company made pencils with the anti-drug slogan “Too Cool to Do Drugs” but had to recall them because, when sharpened, they read “Do Drugs”
Tucupita Marcano (banned from MLB)
In 2024, Major League Baseball has permanently banned Tucupita Marcano after determining that the infielder placed hundreds of bets on baseball, including wagers on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates when he was with the team in 2023.
Marcano appears to be the first active major leaguer banned under the sport’s gambling provision since New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O’Connell in 1924. Pete Rose, baseball’s active career hits leader, famously agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation concluded he bet on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team.
Marcano, who was a member of the San Diego Padres, was found to have placed 231 MLB-related bets, including 25 that MLB says included wagers on Pirates games while he was on the team’s major league roster. However, he did not appear in any of those games because he was on the injured list following a season-ending knee injury.
LeapFrog’s Fly Pentop Computer
The Fly, released in 2005 and discontinued in 2009, was a customizable pen that is intended to assist children with schoolwork. There are several bundled and add-on applications available, including a notepad, calculator, language and writing assistant, and educational games; many of these require the use of a small cartridge that can be inserted into a port built into the rear of the pen. The Fly only works on its own proprietary digital paper, which is lightly printed with a pattern of dots to provide positioning information to the pen via a tiny infrared camera. The ink tip itself can be retracted into the body of the pen when no physical notes are desired.
Many critics of the computer have pointed out the length of time required for the pen to correctly recognise input from the user. Also, some have criticized the lack of a screen, since audio feedback and lights are the only way to get a response from the devices.
Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat, a plant-based protein alternative, has struggled because their products don’t live up to shoppers’ standards for taste and flavor. The stock peaked at a $15 billion market cap and as of mid-2024 was down to $500 million.
Jazzie, Barbie’s Cousin
Introduced in 1988 and discontinued in 1992, Jazzie was Barbie’s cousin.
Krissy, Barbie’s Baby Sister
Introduced in 1999 and discontinued in 2001, Krissy was Barbie’s baby sister.
Bill Ripken Error Card
During a time period in which manufacturers were rushing to produce as many cards as possible to keep up with demand, Fleer became a bit careless with its Bill Ripken 1989 Fleer baseball card.
Ripken carved the phrase in the bat. Bill noticed that the pile of bats outside his locker at Spring Training was a bit too heavy. But he decided to use them for batting practice. Bill needed to write something on one of his bats to make it easily identifiable.
At Fenway Park later that season, a photographer asked to take Bill’s picture and he agreed, unknowingly holding the bat in question.
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition launched in 1964 while Sports Illustrated launched in 1954l.
Sports Illustrated’s circulation peaked 30 years ago and has been declining ever since. In 2018 it went biweekly and in 2020 it went monthly. Total annual circulation fell off a cliff leading to its demise in 2023.
ESPN and the social web saturated the public with sports and sports commentary, which meant week-old reporting was stale by the time it landed in your mailbox.
Barbie Sports Illustrated
In 2014, Barbie was in Sports Illustrated to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Launched in 1954, Sports Illustrated was one of the few sources of real sports reporting. Its circulation peaked 30 years ago and has been declining ever since. In 2018 it went biweekly and in 2020 it went monthly. Total annual circulation fell off a cliff leading to its demise in 2023.
ESPN and the social web saturated the public with sports and sports commentary, which meant week-old reporting was stale by the time it landed in your mailbox.