(Samantha T.)

Whoever was able to snag cheap tickets from United Airlines last week — in the $0 to $10 area — you’ve got the eyes of a hawk and for that, we commend you. You’re also in luck, because United says it’s going to allow those observant customers to use their super cheap tickets, instead of pulling an apology-but-too-bad-so-sad move.

The error hit United’s site on Thursday afternoon, briefly allowing an untold amount of customers to scoop up fares so cheap, you’d think a departing employee was pranking the airline big time. But nope, it was just a manmade problem while someone was filing fare prices into United’s system.

It took United until Friday to issue the final word on whether or not travelers would have those rock-bottom fares recognized when they turned up at the airport to fly, writing on Twitter Friday afternoon:

We’ve reviewed the error that occurred yesterday and based on these specific circumstances, we will honor the tickets.—
United (@united) September 13, 2013

The airline still isn’t fessing up to exactly how many customers were able to snag one of these low rates, but whoever you are, we salute you. And I want to grow up to be just like you (because have you seen the prices for Thanksgiving flights? AlreadY? Oof).

(Triborough)

For all those mornings when you’re staring into your cup of coffee and sighing over the fact that it’s not, in fact, piping hot soup, well, okay, you’re odd. But also you’re in luck: Campbell’s Soup says it’s going to start offering K-cup soup packs for the Keurig single-serve coffee machines. This brings up the question of noodles for breakfast — and I think I’m onboard with that.

Where are the noodles going to come out of? Can you use the same machine for soup and coffee or will your coffee come out tasting like alphabet soup? Apparently the K-cup pack of broth brews over a packet of dry pasta and veggies.

And your coffee won’t taste like soup because Green Mountain says its machines cleanse themselves during the brewing process. Very intriguing.

“It’s delicious soup at the touch of a button,” Campbell CEO Denise Morrison said in a phone interview, via the Associated Press.

Three varieties are set to launch next year, including Chicken Broth & Noodle. Everyone’s favorite pick-me-up!

Campbell K-cups to make Keurig into soup machine [Associated Press]

(Sean-Franc Strang)

In 2011, two people in Louisiana died from brain infections linked to the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, found in local tap water. Stomach acid kills this pathogen when people drink the water, but neti pot use or swimming in unprocessed water puts the critters inside your head.

What makes the difference, and what has the Food and Drug Administration concerned about neti pot use, is whether people use nice warm water right out of their home tap, tap water that’s boiled or put through a very fine filter, or distilled water.

Not all people get these instructions, though. Maybe they ignore the directions that come with their pot, or maybe they buy one from a ceramic artist who assumes that customers know what they’re doing.

The easiest way to prepare water to squirt up your nose is boiling it and letting it cool. This has the advantage of killing pathogens and heating the water up: let it cool until it’s a comfortable temperature. Commercially available distilled water works, too. A water filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller will also catch critters that you don’t want living in your sinuses.

Other nasal irrigation safety tips include washing and drying your hands before you begin, checking the pot to make sure it’s clean, letting it air-dry or drying with a paper towel between uses, and following any additional instructions from the manufacturer.

Unless those instructions say to use tap water. Ignore them in that case.

Is Rinsing Your Sinuses Safe? [FDA]

(Scoboco)

Unless they’re flea market regulars, modern Americans are not great at haggling. It’s why we hate car shopping so much. Most of us want our prices posted on the wall or on a little sticker, and that’s all. But simple haggling can save a lot of money, and it can be relatively painless. You just have to say seven words.

Take a deep breath, and say it with Michael over at Financial Ramblings…

Is that the best you can do?

It doesn’t hurt. Best-case scenario: the person you’re buying from will make a counter-offer. Worst-case scenario: they will say “no,” but won’t cancel the deal. You didn’t say anything aggressive or unoffensive. It can even work with small online merchants, who may be willing to lower prices if you buy a large quantity.

How to Haggle Even if You Hate Haggling [Financial Ramblings]

Robert T. Gonzalez:

In 2001, researcher Frédéric Brochet invited 54 wine experts to give their opinions on what were ostensibly two glasses of different wine: one red, and one white. In actuality, the two wines were identical, with one exception: the “red” wine had been dyed with food coloring.

The experts described the “red” wine in language typically reserved for characterizing reds. They called it “jammy,” for example, and noted the flavors imparted by its “crushed red fruit.” Not one of the 54 experts surveyed noticed that it was, in fact a white wine.