We’ve all drank out of red solo cups more times than we’re willing to admit. We’re not here to shame, we’re just here to tell you something that your freshman-year intoxicated self would have benefited from knowing. Did you ever notice that red solo cups come with horizontal lines inside of them? Well, those lines actually serve a purpose.
The lines tell you how much liquid is in the cup. So, the first line at the bottom of the cup equates to one ounce or one shot of hard alcohol. The next line is five ounces, which is the perfect amount for a glass of wine. The line at the top equals 12 ounces, which is the size of one beer. It seems like the red solo cup was on your side all along, and you didn’t even know it.
Tab on Rearview Mirror
You've most likely noticed that the rearview mirror in your car includes a tab at the bottom of it. Even if you know that this black tab is there, this doesn't mean you know its purpose. Well, its purpose is to help you not die. The black little tab allows you to change the position of the mirror so that you can control the glare of lights behind you.
For example, you can tilt the mirror to reduce the brightness of the headlights of the car behind you. The tab allows you to do this manually. It works at deflecting light without preventing you from seeing that there’s a car behind you. It’s a very overlooked safety feature in cars. These types of mirrors were introduced in the 1930s, and by the 1970s, they were standard equipment in most cars and trucks.
Extra Holes in Sneakers
Unless you've been having your shoes tied for you since the time you were born (that's another issue that we won't address here), then you have most definitely noticed the extra hole at the top of your shoes that aren't being used by the laces. Have you ever questioned why they're there? The extra holes are there in case people get blisters on their feet and need to move their feet around inside of their shoes.
They can place their shoelaces in the extra holes but in the opposite direction. This creates a loop on each side, thus allowing you to cross your laces inside each loop. Then you can pull down on the laces to create a much tighter lock before tying your laces normally. This maneuver is called the “lace lock” or “heel lock,” and it helps make sure that your shoes remain tight to your feet.
Flat Takeout Boxes
Who doesn't love ordering some greasy Chinese takeout while binge-watching Netflix? We sure do. But, if you're like most people, then chances are you've been eating your Chinese food wrong all these years. We're talking about how you eat from the takeout boxes. Although there's something satisfying in eating straight out of the container, you shouldn't be doing this unless you're post-breakup.
The boxes can turn flat for a reason. This is because they are meant to be their own plate, and you don't even have to remove the food from the container in order to convert it! Just carefully pull the sides apart and set it flat on the table. If you maneuvered it slowly and carefully enough, then your meal should now be sitting on a flat and convenient surface. So no need to dirty up the dishes!
Black Grating in Microwave
You've most likely noticed that a microwave comes with a type of black grating on its door. This grating is called a Faraday shield, and it serves an important purpose. The shield prevents electromagnetic fields from exiting the microwave and causing harm to people hanging around the microwave waiting for their meal to heat up.
You should be thankful that the shield was there for you that time at 3 am when you were drunk, staring into the microwave waiting for your pizza to warm up. Without the shield, you would be in harm's way and the microwave wouldn't be so effective at cooking your food. It does make you wonder, though, what exactly is happening to that food of ours inside of the microwave if it needs protection from electromagnetic fields?