Honk Back: The Subtle Art of Returning a Honk

I honk back at everything. It doesn’t matter who the horn was for. It doesn’t matter if I can even see the car that produced it. If I’m behind the wheel and a horn goes off anywhere in the vicinity, I honk. Once, firmly, with purpose. Then I continue my drive like nothing happened. I’d been doing this for years before I ever thought to question it. Then one afternoon, somewhere in stop-and-go traffic with a horn going off three or four cars ahead — aimed at someone I couldn’t see, about something I’d never know — my hand went reflexively to the center of my steering wheel. Afterward I asked myself: why do I do that? Why am I joining an argument I was not invited to? ...

February 8, 2025 · 7 min · 1478 words · Newsroom

Slurpee vs. Slushie: The Science of the Superior Brain Freeze

You might think that “Slurpee” and “Slushie” are just two different words for the same icy treat. If so, you’d be wrong. In the world of frozen beverages, there is a massive divide between an engineered masterpiece and a cup of flavored ice. If you want the best, you want a Slurpee. Here is exactly why they aren’t created equal. The Slurpee: The Champagne of Frozen Drinks A Slurpee isn’t just a drink; it’s a Frozen Carbonated Beverage (FCB). This is why it’s exclusively found at 7-Eleven—it requires a heavy-duty machine that injects CO2 into the mix under high pressure. ...

April 21, 2014 · 3 min · 435 words · Newsroom