Saturday, February 28, 2009
What does "kemosabe" mean?
Search: kemosabe
Why: I just called someone kemosabe.
Answer: "Trusty scout"...? Fran Striker, who wrote the scripts for "The Lone Ranger," also answered fan mail. He began each reply with "Ta-i ke-mo sah-bee" ("Greetings, trusty scout").
Source: Write 101
The More You Know: I have never seen a single episode of "The Lone Ranger," "Bonanza," or "Little House on the Prairie."
What celebrities went to Vassar?
Search: "vassar alumni"
Why: It's a running joke on "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock." Amy Poehler's character went to Vassar in "Hamlet 2."
Answer: These people, among others:
- Noah Baumbach
- Hope Davis
- Kerri Green
- Anne Hathaway
- Lisa Kudrow
- Stacy London
- Justin Long
- Marguerite Moreau
- Meryl Streep
The More You Know: Kerri Green is in a movie called Complacent coming out this year!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Where does the word "zombie" come from?
Search: "zombie"
Why: My favorite Harry Belafonte song is "Zombie Jamboree."
Answer: Probably: jumbie, the West Indian term for "ghost"
or nzami, the Kikongo word for "spirit of a dead person."
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: In other cultures, a zonbi is a person who has died and been brought back to life, or a nzumbe ghost.
How did the WWF star Miss Elizabeth die?
Search: "miss elizabeth"
Why: Wrestlemania was on in the restaurant we just ate in.
Answer: On May 1, 2003, she stopped breathing. Elizabeth and Lex Luger were taking mixed pills (hydrocodone and Xanax) with vodka.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Luger was eventually arrested after a search of the residence revealed a number of illicit controlled substances, including anabolic steroids, Oxycontin, synthetic growth hormone, and Xanax. He was charged with 14 counts of drug possession, 13 of which were felonies.
What is Psalm 66?
Search: "psalm 66"
Why: Saw a vanity plate that said "PSLM 66,"
Answer: This:
1 Shout with joy to God, all the earth!Et cetera.
2 Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious!
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name."
Selah
5 Come and see what God has done,
how awesome his works in man's behalf!
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot
come, let us rejoice in him.
Source: Bible Gateway
The More You Know: My family is Jewish.
Is Tears for Fears still together?
Search: "tears for fears"
Why: Listening to "Tears Roll Down" in the car.
Answer: Ehh, I dunno. In July 2007, they did on a mini-tour of the western US. One show included an opening performance by Gary Jules. In late 2008, Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal performed together again as Tears for Fears at the 'Night of the Proms' in Germany.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Their highest ranking hit (on the US Hot 100) was "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" at #1 in 1985. Second was "Sowing the Seeds of Love" at #2 in 1989.
Is anyone really named Starla?
Search: "starla white pages"
Why: There was a Starla in "Napoleon Dynamite" and also Hurley's old girlfriend in "Lost" (played by Katie from "Wet Hot American Summer"). I have never met any real-life person named Starla.
Answer: A few. There are 4,814 unique Starla-as-a-first-name listings in the US.
Source: White Pages
The More You Know: Starla is the #2,465 ranked first name in the US.
#2,463 - KrystleTop states for first name Starla:
#2,464 - Raven
#2,465 - Starla
#2,466 - Cal
#2,467 - Jere
1. Texas (541 listings)
2. California (376)
3. Oklahoma (262)
4. Alabama (216)
5. Georgia (201)
What does a sunfish look like?
Search: "sunfish"
Why: Another crossword - this one aquatic-themed.
Answer: Like this:
Source: Takimoto.us
The More You Know: My favorite fish is the cuttlefish, which is not a fish at all. Watch it in action!
What is shoo-fly pie?
Search: "shoofly pie"
Why: I had to find it in a dessert-themed wordsearch I just did.
Answer: It's a lot like a coffee cake with a gooey molasses bottom. Sometimes there is chocolate on top.
Source: What's Cooking America
The More You Know: Shoofly pie was first made by Pennsylvania Dutch settlers using the long-lasting nonperishable staples they brought with them on the long boat trip.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Are postage stamps legal tender?
Search: "are stamps legal tender"
Why: My stamp-to-dollar ratio is like 40:1.
Answer: No. During the Civil War, when coins were scarce, people used postage stamps enclosed in brass frames instead - but it was never made a law. People probably traded other things, too, like shoelaces and kittens.
Source: The Straight Dope
The More You Know: At one time there were limits to how much small change you could legally unload on the people you owed money to - 25 cents woth of "minor coins" (the penny and the nickel) and $10 for "silver coins" (the dime, quarter, and half-dollar).
In 1933, however, while getting the U.S. off the gold standard, Congress offhandedly declared that all U.S. coins and currency were legal tender for all debts, period.
What was Sojourner Truth's real name?
Search: "sojourner truth"
Why: Today I went to a reading by Honor Moore.
Answer: Isabella Baumfree
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: She spoke only Dutch until she was 9 years old, when she was auctioned off with a flock of sheep for $100.
What happens when you go into shock?
Search: "what happens when you go into shock"
Why: John Locke had a compound fracture in his leg and his shin bone was sticking out.
Answer: Blood pressure drops so body parts could not get enough blood flow. Shock requires immediate medical attention lest organs become damaged. Symptoms include:
* Anxiety or agitationSource: MedlinePlus
* Confusion
* Pale, cool, clammy skin
* Low or no urine output
* Bluish lips and fingernails
* Dizziness, light-headedness, or faintness
* Profuse sweating, moist skin
* Rapid but weak pulse
* Shallow breathing
* Chest pain
* Unconsciousness
The More You Know: I went into shock in 11th grade when my hand got slammed in Rachel's trunk and I saw my finger bone.
How high did the song "Walking in LA" get on the US charts?
Search: "walking in la"
Why: We just watched the video in class. Hoo-boy!
Answer: #70 on the Hot 100, #12 on Mainstream Rock.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Missing Persons lead singer Dale Bozzio was a former Playboy bunny. She met drummer (and eventual husband) Terry Bozzio while both worked with Frank Zappa.
What is gabardine?
Search: "gabardine"
Why: The grandmother in The Boys of My Youth is wearing gabardine. It is smooth on one side and patterned diagonally on the the other:
Answer: A form of twill weave made of tough, tightly woven fabric used to make suits, coats, trousers, etc.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: The material was invented in the late 19th century by Thomas Burberry.
What is in a full course dinner?
Search: "courses of a dinner"
Why: I usually start with pudding and work my way backward.
Answer: In formal dining, a full course dinner can have 5, 8, 10, 12, or up to 21 courses, like this:
- Palate cleanser, or amuse bouche
- Second amuse
- Caviar
- Cold appetizer
- Thick soup
- Thin soup
- Shellfish
- Antipasto
- Pasta
- Intermezzo (sorbet)
- Quail
- Wild mushrooms
- Beef
- Green salad
- Puffed pastry filled with herbed mousse
- Cheese
- Pudding
- Ice Cream
- Fruit
- Petit four
- Coffee
The More You Know: Forgive me, but that is just excessive.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
What is Summum?
Search: "summum"
Why: They just got pounded by the Supreme Court.
Answer: A cult/philosophy/"religion" of 250,000 followers that ... Uch. Instead of trying to figure out WTF this is supposed to say:
Summum's philosophy stems from what it considers to be principles of nature that cannot be accredited to any person. These principles flower in different forms and were outlined before in the writings of The Kybalion first published in 1912. But Summum, considering The Kybalion incomplete and antiquated, rewrote the book after it entered the public domain. The new derivative work utilized a more modern language and incorporated the new information that was presented to Ra by the Summa Individuals. ... The basis of the philosophy is the "Grand Principle of Creation" that states, "Nothing and Possibility come in and out of bond infinite times in a finite moment". The principle of creation generates the totality of existence which the Summum philosophy refers to as "SUMMUM", and from this master principle emanate "Seven Summum Principles" known as Psychokinesis, Correspondence, Vibration, Opposition, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Summum practices mummification. Here is a picture of a cat being mummified by some Summummerrerrrsss.
What did Jack Geller do for a living?
Search: "jack geller"
Why: I'm watching "Friends." Jack just said he wished he were in the "sun-dried tomato business," and I remember one time he tried to sell ice on the Internet.
Answer: Unknown. He led his in-laws to believe that he's an attorney, although his line of work is never defined.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: "Friends" premiered Sept. 22, 1994. "Lost" premiered exactly 10 years later on Sept. 22, 2004.
What is the body temperature of a cat?
Search: "body temperature of a cat"
Why: Maddie just fell asleep on my leg and it started sweating.
Answer: Normally 100.5-102.5 degrees.
Source: Vet Info
The More You Know: The first year of a cat's life is metabolically equivalent to about 13-15 "human years." The next year is equivalent to another 10 human years. After that, each year is close to the metabolic equivalent of about 4 years for a human.
Why are PEZ called PEZ?
Search: "pez"
Why: Dave collects PEZ dispensers.
Answer: The name PEZ was derived from the letters from letters of the German word for peppermint, Pfefferminz, the first PEZ flavor.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: The first PEZ were mints marketed as an alternative to smoking. The first dispensers were similar in shape to a cigarette lighters:
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Is it "jury rig" or "jerry rig"?
Search: "jerry rig"
Why: Lindsay told me her dad "jury-rigged" birdcages together. I thought it was "jerry-rigged."
Answer: It's jury-rig! It means: to rig or assemble for temporary emergency use using materials at hand.
Source: Answerbag
The More You Know: There is another, similar term, jerry built which means built shoddily or carelessly, but meant to be permanent.
What are dolphin shorts?
Search: "dolphin shorts"
Why: Richard Simmons wears them.
Answer: Athletic shorts with a main body in one color and binding in a contrasting color. They look like this:
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Simmons describes himself as a devout Catholic. Today on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," he reported live from Mardi Gras.
What is the highest-grossing film after inflation adjustments?
Search: "movie highest adjusted gross"
Why: Most lists don't allow for inflation-adjustment.
Answer: The Top 10 are:
1. "Gone With the Wind"Source: Box Office Mojo
2. "Star Wars"
3. "The Sound of Music
4. "E.T."
5. "The Ten Commandments"
6. "Titanic"
7. "Jaws"
8. "Doctor Zhivago"
9. "The Exorcist"
10. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
The More You Know: Before adjustment, the Top 10 are:
1. "Titanic"
2. "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"
3. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
4. "The Dark Knight"
5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
6. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"
7. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"
8. "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"
9. "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace"
10. "Shrek 2
What is the worst band ever?
Search: "worst band ever"
Why: I think it's Staind, but I might be wrong.
Answer: Insane Clown Posse
Source: Blender
The More You Know: The second worst band ever is Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Did Sanford Clark really go to prison?
Search: "sanford clark"
Why: At the end of "Changeling" [SPOILER ALERT!!], Ybarra tells fake-Walter that Sanford Clark is being sent to prison as an accomplice to the Wineland murders.
Answer: Sorta. The 14 year-old was never tried for the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, but he was sentenced to 5 years at Whittier State School, which is now Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: The film omitted another accomplice in the murders, Gordon's mother Sarah Louise Northcott. She was sentenced to life in prison (spared hanging because she was a woman), but paroled after only 12 years.
Which is correct: "used to" or "use to"?
Search: "used to"
Why: Nichole says it's always "use to." I disagree.
Answer: If talking about repeated actions, events, habits, or states, it is "used to."
My family used to go to the beach every summer.If it follows "did" or "didn't," it is "use to" (no -d).
In college, I used to get hammed 5 nights a week.
Zack used to smoke like a choo-choo.
The cat used to be skinny.
I didn't use to buy fabric softener.If it is in question form (with "did" or "didn't"), it is "use to."
We did use to eat a ton of Pizza Rolls, but we don't anymore.
Didn't you use to have a mustache?Source: Learnenglish.de
Did we use to own a ladle?
How did you use to suppress your rage?
The More You Know: It's easier not to use "use[d] to" in questions or negative forms at all.
Why do Disney movies go "in the Vault"?
Search: "disney movie vault"
Why: I just saw a commercial for "Tinker Bell."
Answer: The Disney Vault is a marketing tool designed to create high demand for old movies newly released on DVD. Each is only made available for a limited time (amidst much publicity), and then it is shelved for a designated period, such as 10 years.
Source: WiseGEEK
The More You Know: We just watched "Peter Pan," "Robin Hood," and "The Black Cauldron." The reason you have never heard of "The Black Cauldron" is because it is terrible.
Can I make chili in a rice cooker?
Search: "difference rice cooker slow cooker"
Why: I don't own a crock pot, and I don't really want to buy one. However, I do have a brand new rice cooker that Dan gave me when he moved. It has been in my trunk since November.
Answer: Probably not. Rice cookers use steam, but slow cookers use radiant heat. One should not cook meat in a rice cooker.
Source: Yahoo! Answers
The More You Know: Maybe I could make vegetarian chili.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Who is the mayor of Memphis?
Search: "memphis"
Why: Memphis is my hometown.
Answer: W. W. "Willie" Herenton
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Willie Herenton has been mayor since I was 9 years old. A few weeks ago, Forbes named Memphis the 2nd Most Miserable City in America.
How many calories are in an egg?
Search: "how many calories in an egg"
Why: Zack just called from the grocery store and asked.
Answer: Based on one fresh egg:
Small - 54
Medium - 63
Large - 72
Extra Large - 80
Jumbo - 90
Source: Thinthin.com
The More You Know: One large egg white (no yolk) contains 17 calories, no fat, and no cholesterol.
What is the best way to store miso paste?
Search: "best way to store miso paste"
Why: It's sold in these un-resealable plastic pouches that are totally clumsy and messy.
Answer: Keep it in the refrigerator, preferably in an air-tight container. It should keep for as long as a year.
Source: Yahoo! Answers
The More You Know: Miso is made of fermented soybeans and a staple of Japanese cuisine. It is rich in protein, B-vitamins, and sodium. It comes in a variety of flavors, each made with rice or barley and aged for months.
I need a picture of Strong Sad
Search: "strong sad"
Why: I saw a weird drawing of a Pepsi-logo guy that looks just like him.
Answer: Here he is!
Source: HRwiki.org
The More You Know: Strong Sad is a character on Homestar Runner. Zack's friend Raffy is basically Strong Sad in real life.
What are wine gums?
Search: "wine gums"
Why: In a short story I'm reading ("Y" by Marjorie Celona), a line says,
Always gummy bears, sometimes wine gums, too, but I thought they had wine in them so I declined.Answer: Chewy, firm candy similar to gumdrops or Jujyfruits, but with more subtle flavor. They popular in the UK, Ireland, and other Commonwealth nations like Canada and New Zealand. They have the names of types of wine or other alcohol on them:
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: I am reading "Y" in The Best American Non-Required Reading 2008, even though Celona is from Canada. Also, I ordered some wine gums online.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Has Jack Nicholson ever been married?
Search: "jack nicholson"
Why: Just thinking about Jack Nicholson.
Answer: He was married to actress Sandra Knight from 1962-1968. They have one daughter, Jennifer.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: He was in a relationship with Angelica Huston from 1973-1989. He has 6 children (the youngest born 1992) with 5 different women.
How did Anthony Minghella die?
Search: "anthony minghella"
Why: He just showed up in the Oscars' memorial tribute. I didn't even know he had died.
Answer: He died of a hemorrhage March 18, 2008, a week after after an operation to remove cancer from his tonsils and neck.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Anthony Minghella directed "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Cold Mountain," and he won the Oscar for directing "The English Patient."
Who is Baby Huey?
Search: "baby huey"
Why: In both "Tommy Boy" and "The Rocker," big fat immature characters are called "Baby Huey."
Answer: Either a portly late-1960s singer who allegedly influenced hip-hop, or a 1950s gigantic naive infant cartoon duckling.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: These are both pretty obscure figures. I still don't know which one these movies are referring to.
What is Turkish Delight made of?
Search: "turkish delight"
Why: Paul said it was made of chocolate, but I think I saw on "How It's Made" that it's just the same stuff that's on the inside of jelly beans.
Answer: Starch and sugar, often flavored with lemon and rosewater. It can also contain pieces of walnuts, pistachio, or hazelnuts. It looks like this:
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: My whole elementary school went to see "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" on stage every year around Christmas time. Edmund had a Turkish Delight habit.
What is the difference between ochre and ocher?
Search: "ochre"
Why: In the In Touch Weekly crossword puzzle, #113 Across, "Yellow pigment," is OCHRE, and #110 Down, "Earthly color," is OCHER.
Answer: Nothing.
Source: Answers.com
The More You Know: The first time I heard of the color ochre was in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in the song "Joseph's Coat."
How did all those women get their Oscars?
Searches: "angelica huston," "tilda swinton," "goldie hawn," "whoopi goldberg"
Why: They just convened on stage to present the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (with another woman, who I didn't recognize).
Answer: They each won Best Supporting Actress for:
Goldie Hawn - "Cactus Flower" (1969)
Angelica Huston - "Prizzi's Honor" (1985)
Whoopi Goldberg - "Ghost" (1990)
Tilda Swinton - "Michael Clayton" (2007)
Source: IMDb - Angelica Huston, Tilda Swinton, Goldie Hawn, Whoopi Goldberg
The More You Know: The 5th woman was Eva Marie Saint. She won for "On the Waterfront" (1954).
Who wrote the songs in "The Rocker"?
Search: "who wrote the songs in the rocker"
Why: We just finished watching that movie.
Answer: Chad Fischer, Chris Link, and Tim Bright wrote most of them! These guys composed the theme music for "Scrubs."
Source: I couldn't find it anywhere on the Internet, so I looked in the credits on the DVD (but it's on IMDb, too).
The More You Know: Other cast members from NBC shows* in this movie include Rainn Wilson ("The Office"); Jane Krakowski, Lonny Ross, and Will Arnett ("30 Rock"); Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen ("Saturday Night Live").
*"Scrubs" was still on NBC when "The Rocker" was in Production.
What is the age of consent in Florida?
Search: "age of consent"
Why: The father of that little girl who got kidnapped a couples weeks ago in Florida (Hayleigh Cummings) is 25, but his live-in girlfriend is 17.
Answer: 18
794.05 Unlawful sexual activity with certain minors.-- (1) A person 24 years of age or older who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years of age commits a felony of the second degreeSource: Wikipedia
The More You Know: That guy should be in jail.
How is Droz the wrestler doing?
Search: "droz"
Why: The epilogue in the documentary "Beyond the Mat" mentioned that Darren "Droz" Drozdov was paralyzed when he injured his neck in a failed stunt in 1999.
Answer: He's still quadriplegic. He contributes articles and essays for the WWE's website and magazine, including predictions before each Pay-Per-View match.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Droz originally wrestled under the name "Puke" because he was able to vomit on command.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
How does Raid kill bugs?
Search: "how does raid spray work"
Why: Zack just sprayed the bejesus out of a spider. It looked like it was having seizures as it rappelled to its death.
Answer: Raid uses Pyrethrins, or naturally extracted compounds (from chrysanthemum flowers), that act on the nervous system, affecting the flow of sodium out of the cells, and causing repeated and extended firings of the nerve cells.
Source: Yahoo! Answers
The More You Know: Spiders are brainless spawn of demons. They want nothing else in life but to murder and destroy.
What does a chifforobe look like?
Search: "chifforobe"
Why: I remembered that in To Kill a Mockingbird, Mayella Ewell kept saying, "...bust up this chifforobe, and I'll give you a nickel."
Answer: It's a closet-like piece of furniture with both a space for hanging and a chest of drawers. looks like this:
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Chifforobe is a portmanteau of "chiffonier" and "wardrobe." Wikipedia is also a portmanteau.
How old is Abe Vigoda?
Search: "abe vigoda"
Why: He was featured in the final episode of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and he looked pretty old and frail.
Answer: 87!
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: The first role I ever saw Abe Vigoda play was Grandpa in "Look Who's Talking."
What is Carrot Top's real name?
Search: "carrot top"
Why: I was watching an old Conan clip of Courtney Thorne-Smith talking about a movie ("Chairman of the Board") with Carrot Top.
Answer: Scott Thompson
Source: IMDb
The More You Know: Carrot Top's father, Lawrence Thompson, was a scientist at NASA in the 1960s.
What's a MacGuffin?
Search: "macguffin"
Why: The main thrust of Watchmen hinges on a macguffin, apparently.
Answer: A plot device that motivates the characters or advances the story, but the details of which are of little or no importance otherwise.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Some examples of MacGuffi include the contents of the briefcase in "Pulp Fiction" and the Green Destiny Sword in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
How old is "Watchmen"?
Search: "the watchmen"
Why: On the back cover (the book is sitting on the table in front of me), USA Today calls it "GROUNDBREAKING..." and there is a quote from Damon Lindelof, co-creator of "Lost," which premiered in 2004.
Answer: The twelve issues were originally published September 1986 – October 1987.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: Writer Alan Moore also created V for Vendetta and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Friday, February 20, 2009
How long has Roger Lodge been the sports guy on KTLA?
Search: "roger lodge"
Why: He just appeared on the news and it surprised me. I didn't know he was so versatile that he could host both "Blind Date" and talk about Charles Barkley.
Answer: No idea, but apparently he has been on all sorts of sports-related programs, including "ESPN Trivial Pursuit," "Jim Rome is Burning," and "The Sports Lodge" on AM 830.
Sources: Wikipedia, IMDb, Roger Lodge Online (none of which gave me the answer)
The More You Know: Ryan Seacrest was a contestant on "Blind Date" one time. I saw it.
How did the legend of Atlantis originate?
Search: "atlantis"
Why: It has been found, finally.
Answer: The island was first mentioned in Plato's theoretical dialogues Timaeus and Critias around 360 BC. Here is some of what he says:
For the ocean there was at that time navigable; for in front of the mouth which you Greeks call, as you say, 'the pillars of Heracles,' there lay an island which was larger than Libya and Asia together; and it was possible for the travelers of that time to cross from it to the other islands, and from the islands to the whole of the continent over against them which encompasses that veritable ocean. For all that we have here, lying within the mouth of which we speak, is evidently a haven having a narrow entrance; but that yonder is a real ocean, and the land surrounding it may most rightly be called, in the fullest and truest sense, a continent. Now in this island of Atlantis there existed a confederation of kings, of great and marvelous power, which held sway over all the island, and over many other islands also and parts of the continent.
Source: Wikipedia
The More You Know: In 1938, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler organized a search to find remnants of a master race of Atlantean-Aryans.
Besides rubies, what are some red stones?
Search: "red stones"
Why: I'm in the market for a ring with a red stone in it, but rubies are superexpensive.
Answer: Ruby (duh), Garnet, Star Ruby, Sponge Coral, and these all come in red: Jasper, Beryl, Spinel, Tourmaline, Alexandrite, Eudialyte, and Dinosaur Bone.
Source: Bernardine.com
The More You Know: Dinosaur Bone is the result of fossilized bone from dinosaurs in which the cellular structure has been replaced with quartz, leaving the bone structure intact. It is illegal to collect this stuff on US or federal lands, so it's pretty valuable. It looks like this:
What is hard water?
Search: "hard water"
Why: Because the faucet in my bathtub looks like this:
Answer: Water is designated as "hard" when it contains a high concentration of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.
Source: Go Ask Alice!
The More You Know: Your body absorbs the calcium in hard water the same way it would from any other food source. Put it on your cereal! (Or don't, because it might give you heart disease.)
What is strabismus?
Search: "strabismus"
Why: Nora Barnacle and her daughter Lucia Joyce both had strabismus.
Answer: More commonly known as cross-eyed or wall-eyed, it is a vision condition in which a person can not align both eyes simultaneously under normal conditions. Examples:
Source: Strabismus.org
The More You Know: These people also have/had strabismus:
- Kristen Bell
- Marty Feldman
- Ryan Gosling
- Paris Hilton
- Heidi Klum
- Abraham Lincoln
- Jean-Paul Sartre
- Barbra Streisand
How many people use Facebook?
Search: "how many users facebook"
Why: In class today, Sue said the number, and that if it were a country, Facebook would be the 6th most populous in the world. I forgot the number.
Answer: More than 175 million active users
Source: Facebook
The More You Know: The Top 6 most populous countries are:
- China - 1,335,962,132
- India - 1,144,680,000
- USA - 305,843,000
- Indonesia - 229,501,000
- Brazil - 190,749,000
- Pakistan - 165,679,000
Thursday, February 19, 2009
What did Nora Barnacle look like?
Search: "nora barnacle"
Why: In last night's "LOST," Ben was reading Ulysses. It's been 8 years since I read that book, so I started reading the summary on Wikipedia. The very first line mentions that the date the novel takes place (June 16, 1904) was the same day that James Joyce "first formally went out with Nora Barnacle." I wondered what she looked like.
Answer:
Source: Apollo Gallery.ie
The More You Know: Nora Barnacle gave birth to Joyce's son Giorgio in 1905 and daughter Lucia in 1907, but the two didn't get married until 1931. They were married for 10 years, until Joyce died of a perforated ulcer in 1941.
What kinds of gum exists?
Search: "gum"
Why: Thinking of puns I can make for the word "Guam."
Answer: Chewing gum, bubble gum, gum tree (eucalyptus), gums in your mouth
Source: Answers.com
The More You Know: Gums in your mouth are also called "gingiva."
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