The Daily Populous

Lego to launch sustainable, plant-based plastic pieces

Authored by cnbc.com

Toy manufacturer Lego has announced it is to make some of its pieces, including leaves, bushes and trees, from sustainable, plant-based plastic.

The material will be sourced from sugarcane and production of the pieces, or "elements," has already started.

"We are proud that the first Lego elements made from sustainably-sourced plastic are in production and will be in Lego boxes this year," Tim Brooks, the Lego Group's vice president for environmental responsibility, said in a statement.

"This is a great first step in our ambitious commitment of making all Lego bricks using sustainable materials.".

The new pieces are to be made from a flexible, soft and durable plastic called polyethylene.

Lego said that despite being based on sugarcane, quality would be maintained.

Lego is targeting zero waste in operations and has committed to use sustainable materials in its core products and packaging by 2030. »

Kevin Smith: I'm "Living on Borrowed Time" After Heart Attack

Authored by hollywoodreporter.com

Kevin Smith says he feels like, after his heart attack, he's "living on borrowed time.".

On Monday, the filmmaker tweeted that he'd suffered a "massive" heart attack, saying his doctor told him he had "100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka 'the Widow-Maker')."

"I felt like, 'Oh, this is my time to leave the party,' and I'd done enough, dude," he said. »

FYI: Can humans get high on catnip?

Authored by popsci.com

In the late 1960s, some researchers reported catnip gave people a marijuana-like high, but it turned out they had simply mixed up the two plants.

As veterinarian Arnold Plotnick of Manhattan Cat Specialists in New York wrote to me in an email, "Think about it… catnip is cheap and legal.

If it had a significant effect on people, everyone would be smoking it.". »

The Life and Crimes of “Old Mother” Mandelbaum

Authored by smithsonianmag.com

The death of Fredericka Mandelbaum—better known as “Old Mother,” “Marm” and the “Queen of Fences”—made international headlines in February 1894.

It wouldn’t have been the first time this laconic, black-eyed, 250-pound, synagogue-going mother of four decided to become someone else.

She spoke English nearly as well as she did German, which made her a valuable associate to adult thieves as well. »

Russia Troll Farm Reportedly Spread Info on r/The

Authored by dailydot.com

Trolls from Russia intent on spreading misinformation during the 2016 election put content on r/The_Donald, a notorious pro-Trump subreddit, and Tumblr, according to a new report.

The leak also showed that the IRA ran 21 Tumblr accounts and listed “American proxies” for Reddit and 9Gag, a meme website.

Last month Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Russia was already attempting to influence the 2018 midterm elections. »