How Many Jelly Beans Fit In A USPS Flat Rate Box?

For those who ever wondered about such trivia:

Please tell me that is not a USPS ad... as in someone either at or hired by the USPS counted 873 jelly beans for this.

It was on the USPS Twitter account. It maybe an old ad, but the concept (I think) was that yesterday (April 22) in addition to being "Earth Day" was also "National Jelly Bean Day"!

I can't remember where I'm supposed to be from day to day, but for some reason random trivia like this sticks in my brain. I'll probably remember every April 22 that 873 jelly beans will fit in a small flat-rate box. :P

Be skeptical. There's always room for one more. Plus, in that 873, there might be one or two runts. Or mutants. Or Siamese beans.

Hi Zuzu



Didn't you ever hear of a "bean counter"

Jerry B

P.S. For those who don't know "bean counter" is slang for an accountant.

The rest of the story>>

In the White House, there was a locked storage room down in the basement. Officials finally got in, and back in the corner was Ronald Reagan's old desk, from 30+ years ago.

In a secret compartment, the CIA found a stash of petrified jelly beans. This exercise cost taxpayers $116,375 but it was worth it, affirms the GAO, as it created jobs and fed the hungry. One of each color was retained for the Reagan Museum & Library in Simi Valley. The display cabinet cost another $89,853 and a diabetic Curator (and appropriate guard animals*) were hired at an annual salary of $93,400. But it was worth it, affirms...

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the vents in the cabinet were 1.13 times the diameter of the Simi Freeway mouse, a local endangered species. After partaking, the last of this species could not exit the display cabinet, as by then they were all 1.44's, and succumbed to global warming, when the building's air conditioning shut down. The Curator and his *four cats have been reassigned to the SNAP program.

Good news, additional Simi Freeway mice have been discovered in the Governor's mansion, where there's an abundance of fruits and nuts.

Ha, Jerry B! I used to work at an accounting firm, so I know all about them! (Can't believe I didn't make that connection, though!)

Doug!

I think it's a great advert -- simple, whimsical, colorful.

I say good job to the creator! As to whether they counted the beans or took 'artistic license' -- who cares.

By the way, just for the record, those are Jelly Belly beans and I would bet a month's salary that the manufacturer can tell you the exact number of beans per pound +/- 1 bean.

Kirk

Let's lure the Jelly Belly CEO to SCF and see what he says.

Every time I see this thread I want jelly beans.

To supplement Doug's post, I do not think the story would paint a picture of utter and true completeness without knowing that President Reagan's favorite Jelly Belly flavor was licorice.


-IBFS

Which explains everything:

Licorice Overdose
Taking too much licorice may cause some extremely dangerous side effects, such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and hormonal changes. If you happen to overdose on licorice, seek immediate medical attention. If an overdose occurs, treatment will most likely involve supportive care, which consists of treating the symptoms that occur as a result of the overdose.

Overdosing on Licorice: An Overview
What symptoms can a licorice "overdose" cause? Is it even possible to take too much licorice? It is not known exactly what to expect from consuming too much licorice, but it is likely that the effects will vary, depending on the source of the licorice (through supplements, extracts, or food) and the amount consumed.

If you think you may be experiencing problems due to taking too much licorice, seek immediate medical attention.

Effects of a Licorice Overdose
Many people think of licorice as a harmless substance. After all, how dangerous could a product used in candy really be? Actually, real licorice can cause some extremely dangerous side effects, and it is reasonable to assume that a licorice overdose could cause serious problems as well. In particular, an overdose could cause the following effects:


High blood pressure (hypertension)
High defense spending (hyperbudgetism)
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
Low blood potassium (hypokalemia)
An irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
Muscle damage (byebyebicepia)
Hormonal changes (transmogrification)

from [http://gerd.emedtv.com/licorice/lic...erdose.html"] edited for clarity

For IBFS: Yes, that's clear. Since they did not find any black jelly beans, it was then obvious to the CIA that Reagan's favorite flavor was licorice, and he had stashed the rest in the hidden compartment, not wishing to offend the Jelly Belly company.

What the public doesn't know (as reported by Wired magazine) - is that initially, ALL the beans were black due to age, grime, and environmental contamination, and that only after the FBI's Forensic Division diligently removed the outer 0.06mm of each bean - were the original colors obvious.

You must learn how to think like a bureaucrat. And follow the money.

You gotta admit...this answers a whole lotta nagging questions.


-IBFS