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Steve Wright - Lists at Ranker

Let's face it: People are gross. The world is gross. Life is gross. Ugh, go wash your hands.

That's Disgusting!

Pop Culture

One would assume a ball pit provides a safe, enclosed space for kids to jump around and have a blast throwing, crawling, and burning all their energy in a sea full of balls. The reality, however, is that there are more germs in ball pits than there are on a toilet seat. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dangerous-games-that-kids-play/mike-rothschild">While there are more dangerous ways for kids to have fun</a>, ball pits are filthy health hazards that should come with&nbsp;a serious health warning attached.&nbsp;When it comes to gross ball pits, location is everything. With ball pits set up at home or those newly fashionable adult ball pits, it is much easier to keep things sanitary. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-fast-food-brands?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Fast food chains</a> and places where kid&nbsp;birthday parties take place, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/chuck-e-cheese-facts/robert-desalvo">like Chuck E. Cheese</a>, are a completely different story, however. In public ball pits, you can expect that your kids will encounter&nbsp;everything from squashed cheeseburgers to used condoms in the ball pit.If you ever had questions about what lurks at the bottom of a ball pit, then get ready to dive in to these disgusting facts about kids ball pits. Once you learn about why ball pits are gross, you may just find yourself building one in your own backyard.&nbsp;

7 Disgusting Facts About Ball Pits That Will Ruin Your Childhood

General

Steve Wright

Weird

There's a world record for just about everything, and your name doesn't have to be Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt to break one. There are some easy world records that anyone can beat which don't take both natural talent and countless hours of training to achieve.&nbsp;These are the kinds of records that take little skill, can be learned quickly, and often are just plain dumb. These are the records that might exist just because they can -- that are so crazy or over-the-top, someone is willing to attempt to try them to have their name in history books.&nbsp;These are the unsung heroes: the ice cream stackers, the mattress divers, the cup musicians.&nbsp;And while these records seem silly, don't laugh. Regardless of what they achieved, they are on top of their game. Think you can beat one of them? Take a look at these records and see for yourself.&nbsp;

15 Easy World Records You Could Probably Beat

What's even going on right now? How's everybody holding up?

School Daze

School

Have you ever wondered what school lunch in other countries looks like?

You sometimes hear that America has school lunches low in nutrition and flavor that&nbsp;promote bad eating habits to children. International school lunches, however, are certainly a mixed bag when it comes to providing everything a growing child needs&nbsp;while not costing the various governments&nbsp;millions of dollars.

Some countries, like Finland, have figured out a way to provide excellent school lunches that are free. Public school lunches in other countries, however, can get very expensive, with some schools in France charging the equivalent of a restaurant meal for food in their school cafeterias.

If you have ever wondered what school lunch around the world looks like, then this is the list for you. Keep reading to find out what kids around the world have at school lunch.

What School Lunch Is Like in Different Countries Around the World

Country

What School Lunch Is Like Around the World

Products

Buying groceries today can be expensive. Prices seem to be continually going up with no end in sight and shopping for a family has become a major strain on the budget. That's why it is more important than ever before to shop for generic brands that are just as good as name brands.Stores brands used to be a major step down in quality from their brand name rivals. Today the best generic brand&nbsp;in a category is often just as good as the name brand is. There is no longer a sacrifice to be made in terms of nutrition, quality, and taste, when picking a leading generic brand over a name brand. This has been <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/conspiracy-theories-that-turned-out-to-be-true/mike-rothschild?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">proven to be true</a> in a number of taste tests where the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crappy-product-knock-offs/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">generic products</a> often perform&nbsp;just as well as the product that is twice as expensive.This list is the place to vote up your favorite generic brands so that your fellow shoppers know where to turn to find good&nbsp;generic products that are great substitutes for the real thing.

Private Selections LLC

25+ Generic Brands That Are Just as Good as the Real Thing

The 25+ Best Generic Brands You Can't Go Wrong With

Ranking the best board games and card games for fun interactive competition with family,  friends, and future frenemies.

Game Night

Monopoly

If you've ever played Monopoly, chances are you have a favorite piece. For some, the best Monopoly tokens are&nbsp;original classics such as the iron, the top hat, and the car. Other will tell you the best Monopoly playing pieces are in the wave introduced in the 1950s, such as the wheelbarrow or the dog. Every now and again, you'll even get someone who likes the bag of money.One thing that's certain: all Monopoly game pieces are iconic. The best Monopoly pieces have a piece of history, as true symbols of Americana. This list features all the current Monopoly game pieces (as of 2016), along with retired classics like the cannon and horse &amp; rider.It's time to show you passion for that pewter token that took you to victory the last time you played Monopoly. Vote to have your voice heard on the best Monopoly pieces of all time.

Every Monopoly Game Piece, Ranked

Ranking Every Monopoly Game Piece Best to Worst

The stars at night are big and bright. Everything's bigger. All your exes live there. It's America's second largest state!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Graveyard Shift

If reports are to believed, then there are plenty of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-texas-urban-legends/jacobybancroft">Texas ghosts</a>. Everyone loves a good ghost tale and Texas ghost stories are among the creepiest and most bizarre&nbsp;out there. From terrifying children&nbsp;to weeping women&nbsp;to escaped circus monkeys, there are ghost stories for everyone in the Lone Star State.The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-haunted-texas-places/steve-wright?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most haunted Texas</a> city is hard to name&nbsp;because there are so many sightings in the state. It is not just old city buildings that are associated with ghosts, either. There are many sightings in the Texas hill country, in West Texas, and other equally rural places where incidents&nbsp;in the past have resulted in otherworldly spirits and paranormal happenings.Whether you believe in ghosts, or are just curious to see what kind of ghost stories Texas has to offer, then this is a list you won't forget.Looking for even more creepy ghost stories from Texas? Check out <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-scary-stories-from-texas/jenniferlennon">this list</a>.

Unexplained Sightings and Phenomena in Texas

Lists of fascinating and bizarre real cases that continue to stump detectives and amateur sleuths.

Unsolved Mysteries

Death

Something about unexplained mysteries demands attention. The number of unsolved crimes in Texas is higher than in most states, due both to the sheer size of the Lone Star State and&nbsp;the amount of empty, desolate space where dastardly deeds can be committed without discovery. Even as the populations of cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin grow into the millions, there are still areas near each urban center where it's possible to be entirely off the grid.That is why this Texas list features crimes from both the past and modern day. With improvements in evidence collection, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/golden-state-killer-facts/natalie-hazen" target="_blank">DNA testing</a>, and investigative tools, Texas law enforcement and families alike hope these <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-unsolved-murders/ranker-crime" target="_blank">cold cases</a> will eventually be solved. For now, this list illustrates unexplained crimes that took place in the great <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/texas-serial-killers/ranker-crime" target="_blank">state of Texas</a>.

The Servant Girl Annihilator

Creepy Unsolved Mysteries From Texas

Creepy Unsolved Mysteries from Texas

There are some weird Texas places out there. The Lone Star State may be best known for football, cowboys, and super-sized everything, but creepy Texas should definitely be in the conversation, too,&nbsp;as this list shows.

Texas checks all the boxes when it comes to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunted-texas-towns/t-l-perez" target="_blank">creepy locations</a>. Hospitals, lakes, ships, mental hospitals -&nbsp;the major cities in Texas have countless locations that are haunted or just give off <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-scary-stories-from-texas/jenniferlennon" target="_blank">strange and creepy</a> vibes. Outside the cities - in <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/devils-backbone-texas-history/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">hill country</a>, for example - things can get creepier still. And that&#39;s&nbsp;without even looking into the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-most-haunted-episodes/reference" target="_blank">most haunted</a> Texas hotel, for which there are dozens of candidates.&nbsp;

If you are an aspiring ghost hunter, or if you just want something a little different to do on your next visit to Texas, then this is the list for you. Some of these spots offer guided tours, while others leave you to discover the ghosts on your own - if you dare.

The Weirdest And Most Haunted Places In Texas

The Weirdest and Most Haunted Places in Texas

The Travel Bug

Culture

Finding the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/movie-themed-hotel-rooms/anncasano">craziest resorts</a> on earth is not always easy. Anyone can go to a luxury hotel, or a high-end, all-inclusive resort, but most of those tend to offer the same sort of perks and experiences. There are times when a vacation calls for as much beer as you can drink and stuffing your face for days, but there are other times when you want something different. Like staying at one of the weirdest resorts in the world.Maybe you want to stay in a room made completely out of ice. Maybe your thing is having wild animals poke their head in your window while you are eating dinner. Maybe you just want to relax in a giant champagne glass. Whatever your thing is, chances are, you'll be able to find a place that suits your adventurous needs on this list of crazy resorts. Vote up the most insane resorts you'd totally visit.

Resorts That Are Completely Out of Control

Location

15 Weird But Cool Resorts to Add to Your Bucket List

Everything you didn't know about the so-called leaders of the free world, from their favorite foods to their pets' names.

U.S. Presidents

History

You may not realize it, but&nbsp;there are official portraits of <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-the-ailments-of-every-us-president/melissa-sartore?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">every US president</a>. This tradition started with George Washington and has continued into modern times, even with the advent of photography. These official paintings of US presidents have not always been the most attractive or dynamic images you will ever see, but all of the US president portraits were commissioned from the best artists of their day and provide a unique insight into each leader.When you look&nbsp;through this list of portraits of American presidents, some trends become immediately obvious. In the early paintings, with the ironic exception&nbsp;of&nbsp;Washington himself, the presidents are often painted from the bust up in the classic European portrait style. As the years have gone on, however, all the US president portraits have developed and turned more into works of art than straight depictions.The best US presidential portraits capture the president as you remember them. Some are iconic, like John F. Kennedy's portrait, while others are seriously weird (is that really what Andrew Jackson looked like? Yikes.)&nbsp;Take a look through this official US president portraits gallery and vote on your favorites.

John F. Kennedy

All the Presidential Portraits, Ranked

US President

Lists about airplanes, the best and worst parts of flying, and how to spend hours trapped in an aluminum tube.

Fly the Friendly Skies

Travel

Not all first class airline cabins are made the same. There are many cool first class cabins out there, but the airlines with the best first class features and benefits are always trying to up their games. When it comes to luxury travel, airlines can't afford to sleep on the newest, most innovative features. After all, first-class customers can easily patronize a different airline with better amenities.The best first class cabins on airlines offer a range of services. You need a cabin that offers a seat, or suite, that will allow you to either relax or be productive depending on your needs at any given time. With that in mind, a seat that lays fully horizontal, or nearly horizontal, is almost a necessity for long haul flights. It is also important to have a wide variety of entertainment options and the ability to plug in and work as if you were in an office as opposed to being in the sky.The other big sell here is the food that these high-end airlines offer. The days of the standard (and awful) airline meal are gone forever in the first class cabins at least. Most airlines worth your time have specially crafted menus and you will often find that pictures of first class on different airlines focus on the food as much as the seating.With so many options of which airline to fly with, it is important to know some of the cooler features out there. So if you want to know what first class looks like on different airlines, keep reading and vote up the first class cabins you'd most want to travel in.

Qatar Airways

What First Class Looks Like on Different Airlines

Airline

Gross

Ever wondered, &quot;What are the worst things about eating at a buffet?&quot; The answer seems fairly straightforward: germs, food safety and the fact that most buffets seem frozen in time in terms of decor and design.&nbsp;

The buffet seems like a no-lose situation in concept. It provides <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-buffet-foods/ranker-food" target="_blank">lots of food</a>, both in variety and quantity, for a cheap price. Even better, you can refill your plate as many times as you like. But when you go out into the world and visit some of these restaurants,&nbsp;you realize exactly why buffets are gross.&nbsp;

This list of gross things about buffets may be enough to help you avoid the all-you-can-eat option for good. Your stomach may flip&nbsp;like a pancake when you realize just how many gross facts about buffets exist.

The Grossest Things About Eating at a Buffet

Fun facts, news stories, and pics from McDonald's, the world's largest burger chain.

I'm Lovin' It

Each and every year McDonald's rolls out its McDonald's Monopoly game. The promotion always comes with a heavy advertising blitz telling people Monopoly at McDonald's is back and better than ever. As a result, millions of Americans hit the fast food chain hoping to be the lucky winner of the $1 million grand prize.The question is, though, can you really win the McDonald's Monopoly game? After all, they say that anything that seems too good to be true usually is, and the ability to take home cash, vacations, or a new car simply by eating a Big Mac or a McRib seems way too good to be true. That's why this list looks a little deeper and uncovers that the most famous McDonald's promotion out there is nearly impossible to win.So, is McDonald's Monopoly a scam? How is it a scam? Are you going to be a millionaire? Read on and find out!

9 Reasons You'll Never Win McDonald's Monopoly

Monopoly is <a href="http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/photos/article/Top-20-most-popular-board-games-901648.php" target="_blank">one of the most loved board games in the world</a>. By way of proof, look at how many versions of the game there are - more than 1200 <a href="http://monopoly.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Monopoly_Games_(Board)" target="_blank">editions of Monopoly exist</a>, and it has been printed in dozens of languages, because the core mechanics of collecting, trading, and money management are universal.&nbsp;This list is focused on the original version of Monopoly, set in Atlantic City, NJ, and contains all the properties.&nbsp;Everyone has their own strategy for Monopoly. Some buy any and everything early, others wait and buy only what they consider the best spaces. What makes the game fun is the perception and strategy of each player. The more you learn, the better at the game you become; familiarizing yourself with all the Monopoly properties, and understanding which are the best properties in Monopoly, is the place to start.&nbsp;Let this list of all Monopoly properties be your guide, and may you learn to own the board.This list considers not just the cost of a property, but also the <a href="http://www.tkcs-collins.com/truman/monopoly/monopoly.shtml" target="_blank">frequency with which players land on them</a> and expected<a href="http://www.math.yorku.ca/~zabrocki/math2042/Monopoly/prices.html" target="_blank"> return on investment</a>. For extremely detailed information on the actual value of all Monopoly properties, check out <a href="http://www.centives.net/S/extras/monopoly-property-value-calculators/" target="_blank">this calculator.</a>&nbsp;NOTE: Frequency ranks are <a href="http://www.tkcs-collins.com/truman/monopoly/monopoly.shtml" target="_blank">based on long-term game play</a>, not a single run through the board, and differ depending on whether a player visits, or gets sent to, jail while moving around the board. The term &quot;short&quot; refers to visiting jail; &quot;long&quot; refers to being stuck in jail.&nbsp;

All The Monopoly Properties, Ranked

All the Monopoly Properties, Ranked

Beer knurds: What are your favorite brews? Vote on these lists to rank everything from the tastiest IPAs to the best brands to bring to a party to the greatest bartenders in film & TV.

Here's to Beer!

A deep look at the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

Alcohol Through the Ages

Beer

There are so many ways beer changed history, you have to wonder&nbsp;what kind of world we would live in if the vital, hoppy nectar had never been invented. From the earliest civilizations to&nbsp;modern society, beer has had a major impact on the trajectory of history. Read on for a deeper understanding of how and why the carbonated delight changed the world.&nbsp;

If you&#39;re ever asked how beer shaped the world, mention the Egyptians, the Pilgrims, or the Founding Fathers. Or look all the way back, to the dawn of civilization, to see just how much impact the amber nectar has had on human history.

Beer&#39;s been around for a long, long time, and has helped countless people make decisions with impact levels ranging from personal to international. The power of a beer (or seven) should be of no shock to anyone, but the sheer amount of history beer has shaped is stunning. Check out this list to see exactly how beer changed the world, and learn new trivia to impress your friends.&nbsp;

Times Beer Changed History

Donald Trump is a business mogul and one of the most entertaining people in modern media. In 2020, he's also one of the most polarizing—and potentially dangerous—figures in world history. 

Trump's America

Donald Trump

Have you ever wondered what was Donald Trump's childhood like? If so, then this is the list for you. Donald Trump childhood facts are not all that easy to find. For a man so often in the public spotlight, and with so many books written about him, there are aspects of Donald Trump as a kid that we just don't know all that much about.What we do know is that Donald Trump's childhood was better than many kids' who were born in the 1940s and 1950s. His father was a wealthy man who took Donald under his wing and taught him how to be <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/dubious-donald-trump-businesses/mike-rothschild">successful in life</a>. His mother, though quiet and reserved in public, was also a source of inspiration during Trump's formative years.While there were certainly <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/donald-trump-stories/jacob-shelton">some hi-jinks</a> and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/donald-trump-business-failures-bankruptcy-fails/mel-judson?ref=nodelyrel&amp;pos=7&amp;a=0&amp;ltype=n&amp;l=2191502&amp;g=2">missteps</a> along the way, it is easy to see from these facts how Trump became the man he is today.

Strange Facts About Donald Trump's Childhood

Fun and horrifying facts many weird, gross, and excruciatingly painful things that can happen to you & your body in your final moments.

Terrible Ways to Go

Human Body

&nbsp;

Dying from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is not a fun <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/death-by-poison-list-of-famous-poison-victims/notable-famous-deaths" target="_blank">way to go</a>, especially if it happens over time. Like any good <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/what-is-alcohol-poisoning-like/juliet-bennett-rylah" target="_blank">poison</a>, CO kills slowly and agonizingly in small doses and quickly in high doses.&nbsp;Unlike most poisons, carbon monoxide usually strikes&nbsp;unexpectedly and accidentally.

This is not textbook <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/jealous-killers/elle-tharp" target="_blank">jilted lover-style</a>&nbsp;poisoning. Victims typically have no idea what CO poisoning is like&nbsp;and often confuse it for sicknesses like&nbsp;the flu. Even in extreme cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, there&#39;s usually a logical and simple, but incorrect,&nbsp;diagnosis for symptoms.&nbsp;

If you&#39;ve ever wondered what carbon monoxide&nbsp;poisoning is like&nbsp;or if you&#39;d like to know how to prevent it from happening to you, this list of creepy things will provide answers.

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Creepy Things You Didn't Know About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Ever wonder what it would be like to live another life? Take a glimpse.

A Day in the Life

United States Postal Service

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a mailman? The job certainly has its attractions. The daily life of a mailman is a mixture of the routine and the unexpected. It is a great job for a person who likes to be off work fairly early and who doesn't mind, or even enjoys, being up at the crack of dawn. Perhaps the lure of working outside is appealing when sitting at a desk has been your life for the last decade. If so these mailman facts will be of particular interest.The mailman goes by many different names in different countries. Historically the postie or mail carrier has been an approachable person who is always willing to stop for a quick chat. A mailman is as much a part of the community as the local store owners or your neighbors. Most can complete their route blindfolded and all are trained in a number of ways you probably wouldn't expect.Mailmen have seen their jobs move much more towards package delivery in the electronic age. The amount of correspondence done by e-mail and text message means handwritten letters are becoming rarer even than delivering chickens. Even so the mailman still has a hugely important role to play in delivering items that can cross the country in less than 24 hours.Enjoy these facts about mailmen and next time someone you know wonders, &quot;what is being a postal worker like?&quot; you'll have all the answers.

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