Stuff I've Googled, what I Googled a few minutes ago, what I'm Googling now, why I'm Googling, and other fascinating information.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

What is the origin of the word "ombudsman"?


Search
: ombudsman

Why: Doing some awesome student loan exit counseling!
An ombudsman resolves disputes from a neutral or impartial viewpoint. If you have a problem with your student loan that can't be solved by going through the usual procedures, you can contact the Department of Education's ombudsman at www.ombudsman.ed.gov
Answer: It comes from the Old Swedish term umbuðsmann and the word umbuds man, meaning "representative." The first preserved use is in Swedish.
  • In 1241 in the Danish Law of Jutland, the term was umbozman and referred to a royal civil in a hundred.
  • Since 1552, it is also used in the other Scandinavian languages: in Icelandic, umboðsmaður, in Norwegian, ombudsmann, and in Danish, ombudsmand.

The modern use of the term began with the Swedish Parliamentary Ombudsman instituted in 1809 to safeguard the rights of citizens by establishing a supervisory agency independent of the executive branch.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: A hundred was a geographic subdivision used in many places in Europe and Australia. In the 17th Century US, counties in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were divided into hundreds. They still exist in Delaware and were used as voting districts until the 1960s. Martin's Hundred was an old plantation in Virginia. The term does not mean 100 acres or anything like that, but perhaps "a hundred men under arms."

Where have I seen Dina Meyer before?


Search
: dina meyer

Why: She plays Joey's bitchy co-star in that play with the spaceship. I saw her name in the credits and I recognize it!

Answer: OMG she was that annoying girl in my favorite movie Starship Troopers!! How did I never notice that before? Her character's name was Dizzy. Gag me. Of course she showed her hooters. Multiple times.


(WTF is that picture [besides hilarious]?)

Source: IMDb

The More You Know: Lol, the director of that episode was Peter Bonerz.

Sorry this whole post was PG-13 :(

Why do we call our animal friends "pets"?


Search
: pet etymology

Why: JMo has been hanging out with Pinot and thinking about things. She posits: "Is it because we pet them?"

Answer: It comes from the Scottish Gaelic word peata, "tamed animal," though nobody knows why or when. It was recorded to mean "indulged child" in 1508 and as "animal kept as favorite" in 1539, though the latter may have been the primary/original meaning. The word is probably related to petty, which comes from petit, duh, "small."

Source: EtymOnline

The More You Know: Other recorded uses:
  • 1629 - as a verb: to treat as a pet
  • 1818 - to stroke
  • 1914 - teacher's pet
  • 1920 - to kiss and caress (as in heavy petting)

What color are Forget-me-nots?


Search
: forget me nots

Why: In the movie Little Women, one of those society girls says something like, "Meg, I do like that color on you. It's just the color of... forget-me-nots!"

Answer: This color:


Source
: Google Images

The More You Know: The name "forget-me-not" comes from French: ne m'oubliez pas. A few legends of the origin of the name:
  • God was naming all the plants. A little one cried out, "Forget me not!" And God said, "That shall be your name." Bing!
  • Young Jesus sat in Mary's lap and said he wished that future generations could see the color of her eyes. He touched her eyes and then waved his hand over the ground. Little flowers appeared in the same shade of blue. Bing again!
  • In medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but because of the weight of his armor, he fell into the river. As he was drowning, he threw the posy to his gal and shouted, "Forget-me-not!"

Monday, June 29, 2009

How much was 7,000 Deutsche Marks worth in 1988?


Search
: deutsche marks exchange converter 1988

Why: In The Reader, Hanna leaves that 7,000 DEM for that chick.
Answer: Something like $3,854.63. That's about $6,968.18 today! (So 7,000 DEM in 1988 = $7,000 in 2009.)

Source: Oanda.com

The More You Know: The DM had a reputation as one of the world's most stable currencies, but now Germany uses the Euro. 1 DM =[ed] 100 Pfennig.

What is Givoogle?


Search
: givoogle

Why: At the top of GivesMeHope.com:
Hey GMHers, we just launched a new site! Givoogle.com - raise money for charity every time you use Google!
Answer: "Givoogle was launched June 16, 2009 by Gaby Montero and Emerson Spartz, founders of GivesMeHope.com.

100% of the proceeds from Givoogle, less operating costs, are donated to the American Cancer Society, an institution whose goals are aligned with our mission of spreading hope to those most in need.


Source: Givoogle.com

The More You Know: Carly Givoogles? Maybe when I can make an iGivoogle homepage.

Who is Tim Carvell?


Search
: tim carvell

Why: I've been reading his Twit-twits (because Mindy Kaling reads them, too). I just L-ed so L at this that it caused an uproar in my cubicle pod and I had to read it aloud:
When it comes to "burying the lede in a pop song", it's hard to outdo Gloria Gaynor's offhand mention that her ex is "back from outer space"
Answer: A writer for "The Daily Show"! He has won 3 Emmys.

Source: IMDb

The More You Know: He also writes the Mad Magazine column "Planet Tad," in case you know what that is.

Who wrote about the character Augie March?



Search
: augie march

Why
: This morning I listened to the album Strange Bird by Augie March (the band). That is some sort of literary reference.

Answer: Saul Bellow, aka the only writer who ever won the National Book Award THREE times! The Adventures of Augie March is a picaresque novel about a fellow who grows up during the Great Depression. I'mma read it.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: This is my favorite song on that album. I don't have speakers at my cubicle and haven't actually heard this version, so I hope it doesn't suck:

Update: it doesn't. It's still awesome. The last 30 seconds are the best.


Not a Google


But fascinating nonetheless:

My blog and my car hit 20,000 on the same day!






What is the origin of the word "hoopla"?


Search
: hoopla

Why: I just typed it.

Answer: It's for sure French, from around 1870. Maybe from houp-là! - a command (as to a child) to move, take a step; or like "upsy-daisy," also a cry to dogs, horses, etc.

Source
: Dictionary.com, EtymOnline

The More You Know: Sometimes it sounds like Alvin wants a "hoopla hoop."

How old are Jon & Kate?


Search
: kate gosselin

Why: "Jon & Kate: Separate Lives" is on E!

Answer: Kate is 34 (b. March 1975) and Jon is 32 (b. April 1977).

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Did you see all this hoopla about Kate spanking one of the 6ers? Ridiculous. Look how hilarious the poll results are:


Sunday, June 28, 2009

What are "the trots"?


Search
: trots

Why: "Tea gives Phoebe the trots." I thought that was like having to pee all the time, but now I'm not so sure.

Answer: Diarrhea. I don't really like to talk about ... waste.

Source: TheFreeDictionary

The More You Know: Another definition (that I'm pretty sure is an accident) says:
jargon, lingo, patois, argot, vernacular, slang, cant - a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves); "they don't speak our lingo"

I want to watch a video of the X2 at Six Flags


Search
: x2 ride youtube

Why: We went on it last night at like 11:15 after 2 hours of waiting in line. It was so crazy worth it.

Answer: Hoo boy:


Source: YouTube

The More You Know: It was night (obv) so the part at 0:55 - 1:05 was all starry and awesome. Then the right after it made me shriek like a little girl. Then I laughed the rest of the time. 2 thumbs way up.
PS: Don't go on the Tatsu. Terror ≠ fun.

I wanna see the original video for "Gotham City" by R. Kelly


Search
: gotham city original r kelly video

Why: It is so ridiculous. Lindsay & co. have never heard this dynamite song, much less seen the amazing video.

Answer: LOL:



Source: DailyMotion

The More You Know: It was actually really difficult to find. Seems that someone has systematically gone through the Internet erasing evidence that this video ever existed. This one has some weird Spanish on the page. Apparently there is some sort of "remix" that R. Kelly likes to pretend is the real song/video, but don't be fooled.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Where is the carotid artery?


Search
: carotid artery

Why: Dexter is all "carotid artery this and carotid artery that."

Answer: "The carotid arteries are two large blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the large, front part of the brain. This is where thinking, speech, personality, and sensory and motor functions reside. You can feel your pulse in the carotid arteries on each side of your neck, right below the angle of the jaw line."

Source: WebMD

The More You Know: Here are the arteries in your head!!


What is a loquat?


Search
: loquat

Why: In The Shadow of the Wind, p. 197:
"I've heard [Joseph Stalin]'s been troubling badly from prostate trouble ever since he swallowed the pip of loquat, and now he can only pee if someone hums 'The Internationale' for him."
Answer: A small evergreen tree (Eriobotrya japonica) native to China and Japan, having fragrant white flowers and pear-shaped yellow fruit with large seeds, or the fruit of this plant.


Source: Answers.com

The More You Know: Learn Cantonese! From lo, "kind of tree" + kwêt, "an orange"

Thursday, June 25, 2009

What does "otiose" mean?


Search
: otiose

Why: Just got this mass e-mail from one co-worker I don't know to another co-worker I don't know (who I will probably never meet because today is her last day):
Good luck on all all of your future ventures, weather they lead you to otiose bliss or well earned sweat, headaches and toil!!!!
She used a word I have never heard before, but also "weather" instead of "whether." I'm so confused.

Answer
: adj. 1. being at leisure; idle; indolent. 2. ineffective or futile. 3 superfluous or useless.

Source: Dictionary.com

The More You Know: 1794, "unfruitful, futile," from L. otiosus "having leisure or ease, not busy" (cf. Fr. oiseux, Sp. ocioso, It. otioso), from otium "leisure," of unknown origin. Meaning "at leisure, idle" is recorded from 1850.

How tall is Hasheem Thabeet?


Search
: hasheem thabeet

Why: He may be going to the Grizzlies. He looks like this:


Answer: 7'3. He was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Source: ESPN

The More You Know: This poor 13 year-old kid in Washington is also 7'3.

Where is Vidal Sassoon from?


Search
: vidal sassoon

Why: On LA Times "Pop Culture Hairstyles":
Stylist Vidal Sassoon created her trademark streamlined bob to go with her clothing — which is why Twiggy (who frequently worked with Quant) is modeling both the outfit and the hairstyle in this photo.
I wasn't even sure he was a real person.

Answer
: He was born in London in 1928. His parents were both Jewish - his father was Greek and his mother was from Kiev. Sassoon was a member of the 43 Group, an organization set up by Jewish ex-servicemen that broke up Fascist meetings in East London after the end of WWII.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: At some point, Sassoon moved to Israel. He served in the IDF during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Why do people say "Heavens to Betsy"?


Search
: heavens to betsy

Why: I just said it to Joel. Last night I said it to Zack. I say it all the time... but who is Betsy?

Answer: "This American phrase has been in circulation since the latter part of the 19th century, although its use faded throughout the 20th century and it is now something of an anachronism." The first example is from Rose Terry Cooke's book of short stories Huckleberries Gathered from New England Hills, 1891:
"Heavens to Betsy!" gasped Josiah.

But who was Betsy? Various theories have been put forth, but it is unlikely that she will be identified, if she was even a real person at all.

Etymologist Charles Earle Funk published Heavens to Betsy!: & Other Curious Sayings in 1955 and ventured that the origin of Heavens to Betsy! were "completely unsolvable."

Source: Phrases.org.uk

The More You Know: "Heavens to murgatroid!" came from the anthropomorphic mountain lion/cougar/puma/panther Snagglepuss, but no one seems to know the true origin of that, either. Harumph.

What are the 8 schools in the Ivy League?


Search
: ivy league

Why: Joe posted a link to the late-1960s out-of-print Japanese photo book Take Ivy. I can't ID all the crests:


Answer: These:
  1. Brown
  2. Columbia
  3. Cornell
  4. Dartmouth
  5. Harvard
  6. Princeton
  7. Penn
  8. Yale
Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: I thought the one with the B was Brown, but I see now it's Dartmouth. The other one without useful words on it is from Princeton.

I want to see a video of Buster Keaton


Search
: buster keaton

Why: It's mime night at kickball.

Answer: Here's one:


Source: YouTube

The More You Know: His real name was Joseph Frank Keaton and he died in 1966. He was known as "The Great Stone Face" and rarely smiled or laughed. Don't forget his connection to porkpie hats.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Who played the Bings' houseboy on "Friends"?


Search
: the one with the thanksgiving flashbacks

Why: He looks familiar.

Answer: Alec Mapa, aka OMG it's "Ugly Betty"'s Suzuki St. Pierre!


Source: IMDb

The More You Know: More turkey, Mr. Chandler?

What are the lyrics to the Bucky O'Hare theme song?


Search: bucky o'hare theme

Why: We watched the opening credits the other day and heard something about "righteous indignation."

Answer: These:

In another dimension, another time and space
A parallel universe was fallin' on its face
When out of the chaos, who else could it be
Bucky Animal-Adventurers is on S.P.A.C.E.

Bucky! Captain Bucky O'Hare!
Mutants and aliens and Toads beware!
You're looking for Adventure? Well, this is it,
With Jenny, Deadeye, Blinky, and Willy DuWitt

I said Bucky! Captain Bucky O'Hare!
"And now, an update on Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars!"

In the Battle of the Aniverse, you don't know what's next
You only know Amphibians have made it KOMPLEX!
When you check out your scanner and the evil that it shows
There's only one course of action: Let's croak us some Toads!

Bucky! Captain Bucky O'Hare!
He goes where no ordinary rabbit would dare!
If your righteous indignation has suffered a hit
And your Photon Accelerator is broken a bit
And you're losing your mind, and you're having a fit
Get the funky fresh rabbit who can take care of it!

Bucky! Captain Bucky O'Hare!
You say Bucky? I said Bucky!
Bucky O'Hare!
Let's croak us some Toads!

Source: 80sCartoons.co.uk

The More You Know: Beware, it's funky fresh:


Are Puffalumps still being made?


Search
: puffalump

Why: I had a bunch, maybe a bear and a rhinoceros and some others. Lisa still has a mouse with a candy cane. I think she calls it Puffy.


Answer: No! They were manufactured from 1986-1999.

Source: ThisOldToy

The More You Know: In addition to animals, did you know they also made these terrifying babies? Yipes.


Where did the word "Fuchsia" come from?


Search
: fuchsia

Why: It is a genus of flower, but it just doesn't sound Latin (like most others).


Answer: It is named after German botanist Leonhard Fuchs! The flowers were named by Charles Plumier when he found them on the Caribbean island Hispaniola in 1696. He named them after his idol Fuchs, who was one of the founding fathers of botany.

Source: Answers.com

The More You Know: In addition to a bunch of polemics about why herbs are better than medicine, Fuchs wrote a bunch of reference books about the anatomy of the human eye.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

How is Carly Witwicky related to Spike?


Search
: carly witwicky

Why: In the movies, the girl is named Mikaela Banes, who isn't in any of the animated series. Carly is a kid when she first shows up, but her last name is Witwicky. Zack thinks maybe they are siblings.

Answer: She is Spike's wife! When she first showed up in 1985, she was 16. Her maiden name was never revealed. Carly and Spike eventually wed. In 1993, while in labor with son Daniel, she she nearly gave birth inside Ratchet!! In 2008, she and Spike had a daughter named Jennifer. Here she go in her 80s garb:
Source: TFWiki.net

The More You Know: More like Witwickipedia, mirite? Anyway, in the movies, Spike is named Sam. Zzzz.

Who is Johnny Ryan?


Search
: johnny ryan

Why: He is this month's special Dos & Don'tser for Vice Magazine.

Answer: He draws comics, like Angry Youth Comix and Comics are for Idiots!


Source: JohnnyR.com

The More You Know: See his latest comic, "Lesbian Spock." (Warning: features doodle of full frontal male nudity.)

How long did the Montgomery Bus Boycott last?


Search
: montgomery bus boycott

Why: This picture of Rosa Parks is one of Time's Top 10 Protest Symbols.


Answer
: 381 days, from December 5, 1955, to Dec 20, 1956. There were 42,000 people involved, and by the end, the bus company had lost 65% of its business.

Source: AfricanaOnline

The More You Know: One afternoon in 1943 (12 years before he arrested her for civil disobedience), Parks boarded James Blake's bus and paid the fare. She then moved to her seat, but Blake told her to follow his rules and enter the bus again from the back door. Parks exited the bus, but before she could re-board at the rear door, Blake drove off, leaving her to walk home in the rain.

Who is the world's new oldest man?


Search
: world's oldest man

Why: The last oldest living man, Tomoji Tanabe, died Friday in Japan at 113 years, 274 days old.

Answer: Henry Allingham, a WWI veteran living in the UK. He was born June 6, 1896.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Tanabe credited his longevity to "a big appetite but a strict diet, together with avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and snacks." Allingham says his is due to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women — and a good sense of humour."

I want to see the Toothpick City


Search
: toothpick city

Why: Scott Weaver took 34 years to build it (and my crappy work computer doesn't have Flash!!).

Answer: It's San Francisco. A ball travels through it, touring the elements of the city. Pretty (and he looks like a pretty cool dude, too):




Source: A stranger's Flickr

The More You Know: There are toothpicks all over my house, car, and wallet.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Where is Baba Roga from?


Search: baba roga

Why: In the New Yorker short story "The Tiger's Wife" by Téa Obrecht:
They would have been better equipped to react if Vladisa had told them that he had met the witch Baba Roga and, in that same instant, her skull-and-bones hut on its one giant chicken leg had come tearing down the hillside after him.
Answer: She is from Slavic folklore! She flies around on a giant mortar and kidnaps children (to eat them). In various languages, her name is:
  • Baba Jaga (in Czech, Slovak, and Polish)
  • Ježibaba (in Czech and Slovak)
  • Jaga Baba (in Slovene)
  • Баба Яга (or Baba Yaga in Russian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian)
  • Baba Yaha (in Ukranian)
  • Baba Dochia (in Romanian)
  • Baba Cloantza (or "old hag with broken teeth" in Romanian)
  • Baba Roga (in Croatian or Bosnian) (ding ding ding!!)
  • Баба Рога (in Serbian and Macedonian)
Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Baba is a pejorative form of "grandmother" (kind of like Bubbe, which is not pejorative). Yaga comes from the name Jadwiga, which comes from Hedwig. Nothing to see here.

What countries does the Danube touch?


Search
: danube

Why: In the New Yorker short story "The Tiger's Wife" by Téa Obrecht:
The tiger's route that night took him past the waterfront, where the remains of the merchants' port and the Jewish quarter spread into flattened piles of brick down the bank and into the waters of the Danube.
Trying to figure out what country this story is set in - the village, Galina, is fictional.

Answer: Crap, there are a bunch of them. It is the 2nd longest river in Europe after the Volga:
  • Austria
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Ukraine
Here's a map!



Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: The Blue Danube was written by Strauss, who was Austrian.

What are the official drinks / beverages for various states?


Search
: state drink

Why: According to this list of the 11 Weakest Official State Items, the state drink of Indiana is water.

Answer: Here they are:
  • Coffee Milk (Rhode Island)
  • Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey (Alabama)
  • Cranberry Juice (Massachusetts)
  • Kool-Aid (Nebraska - Official State Soft Drink)
  • Milk (AR, DE, IN, KY, LA, MD, MN, MS, NE, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, VA, WI)
  • Moxie (Maine)
  • Orange Juice (Florida)
  • South Carolina Grown Tea (South Carolina - Official State Hospitality Beverage)
  • Tomato Juice (Ohio)
  • Water (Indiana)
Source: NetState

The More You Know: Each state has many nicknames! While Tennessee is most commonly known as the Volunteer State, you can also call it The Hog and Hominy State!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

I want to see a picture of the Prime Minister of Ukraine


Search
: yulia tymoshenko

Why: To show Amy, because she totally looks like Princess Leia.
Answer: Here she is. She is 48, in case you were wondering:
Source: Google Images

The More You Know: She also kinda reminds me of the Childlike Empress, coming soon to a remake near you!

What is an umbo?


Search
: umbo

Why: In the In Touch Weekly crossword, #84 across: "Convex shape"
UMBO
Answer: 1. The boss or knob at the center of a shield.
2. Biology A knoblike protuberance arising from a surface, as the prominence near the hinge of a bivalve shell or the projection at the scale tip of a seed-bearing cone.
Anatomy A small projection at the center of the outer surface of the eardrum.

Source: TheFreeDictionary

The More You Know: The entry is accompanied by this helpful picture:


What animated movies are by DreamWorks?


Search
: dreamworks

Why: Watched a little Road to El Dorado this morning. I have no ideas which movies are DreamWorks and which are Pixar.

Answer: These:
  • Antz (1998)
  • The Prince of Egypt (1998)
  • Chicken Run (2000)
  • The Road to El Dorado (2000)
  • Shrek (2001)
  • Spirit: Stallion of the Cimaroon (2002)
  • Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)
  • Shark Tale (2004)
  • Shrek 2 (2004)
  • Madagascar (2005)
  • Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
  • Over the Hedge (2006)
  • Flushed Away (2006)
  • Shrek the Third (2007)
  • Bee Movie (2007)
  • Kung Fu Panda (2008)
  • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)
  • Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Saw Up last night. It was pretty great. The Pixar films are:
  • Toy Story (1995)
  • A Bug's Life (1998)
  • Toy Story 2 (1999)
  • Monsters, Inc. (2001)
  • Finding Nemo (2003)
  • The Incredibles (2004)
  • Cars (2006)
  • Ratatouille (2007)
  • WALL-E (2008)
  • Up (2009)

What is the acronym in BASE jumping?


Search
: base jump

Why: On the info for Dateline:
Hoda Kotb recounts 10 harrowing near-death moments captured by camera. Included: a failed BASE jump; and a rooftop fire rescue.
Answer: The acronym stands for the 4 types of surfaces from which one can jump:
  • Building
  • Antenna
  • Span
  • Earth
Source: HowStuffWorks

The More You Know: D.U.M.B.

What was that giant crazy bird I saw running laps at the zoo?


Search
: la zoo birds

Why: It was just so nuts. It kept jerking around and jumping and running around its little pen. Some douche next to me kept making clicky sounds at it. Every time, the bird reversed directions.

Answer: A Double-Wattled Cassowary! It is the 2nd-largest bird in the world (after the ostrich) at over 5 ft tall and around 130 lbs. It is flightless and lives in Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. It has a large helmet-like casque on its head, which is believed to protect the bird as it runs through dense undergrowth. Cassowaries have 3-clawed toes on each foot. The claw on the middle digit is especially large and sharp, like a dagger, which the bird uses as a weapon by leaping at an enemy feet-first.

Source: LAZoo.org

The More You Know: Cassowaries don't like to be in zoos:

What's the story with Tiger Woods's stuffed tiger club cover?


Search
: tiger woods stuffed club cover

Why: Watched some US Open today and saw it:


Answer: His mother made it by hand. The words "Love from Mom" are stitched on it in Thai. The tiger's name is Frank.

Source: World.com

The More You Know: That impaled kiwi is a tribute to Tiger's caddie of 10 years, Steve Williams, who is from New Zealand.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Who was the wedding band in "Dan in Real Life?


Search
: dan in real life soundtrack

Why: I just wartched it.

Answer: It was some chick and Sondre Lerche, a Norwegian guy who did most of the songs on the soundtrack.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Look how cute. He kind of looks like Seth Meyers.


Friday, June 19, 2009

When were Nate the Great books published?


Search
: nate the great

Why: This. Even the words are nearly identical:


Answer: The first, Nate the Great, was published April 15, 1977. The one with Rosamond, Nate the Great and the Lost List, was published May 15, 1981.

Source: Amazon

The More You Know: The first Emily the Strange comic book, Emily the Strange, was published in 2001. Still, the publishing company somehow sued the authors of Nate the Great after people on the Internet pointed out that Emily is the same as Rosamond. They say Emily wasn't inspired by Rosamond - but even if she were, the statute of limitations on Rosamond's copyright is up. The case hasn't been settled.

Who is Gary Spivey?


Search
: gary spivey

Why: This:


Answer: "A psychic, medium, spiritual healer, and spiritual teacher who has made appearances on radio programs, TV shows, and live casino shows." I looked around his official website and I'm pretty sure his hair is a hat.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: This is funny:


How did the flag wave on the moon?


Search
: flag waved moon

Why: Abby tweet tweeted about this list of things we reportedly left on the moon. Moon Landing Hoax people cite the wavy flag as proof that it was filmed in a studio by people who had never researched the moon and the conditions on it.


Answer: Because it didn't need wind to flap, even in a vacuum. Watch proof here on "Mythbusters"


Source: YouTube

The More You Know: This guy suggests that the flag was fitted with mesh wiring that the astronauts unrolled upon landing. You can even see them fiddling with it during official footage (0:18). When it almost tips over (0:37), it still has a ripple in it.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Did people really get caught smuggling drugs inside sharks?


Search
: cocaine smuggle sharks

Why: Andy mentioned it in response to those Japanese guys caught smuggling $135 billion worth of US bonds.

Answer: Yes! But the sharks were dead and frozen. Some Mexican geniuses were trying to smuggle more than a ton of cocaine from Costa Rica to Yucatan. They were caught by the navy and some drug-sniffing dogs.

Source: Fox News

The More You Know: Have you checked the Pacific Coast Shark News blog lately? Stay out of the ocean, you guys!

What language is the word "patina"?


Search
: patina etymology

Why: It sounds Hindi or something. I'm surprised I haven't seen a person named Patina in the news. She might be on her way to jail for abandoning her kids or freebasing on the sidewalk.

Answer: Latin or Italian, maybe. Paten/patine means "dish or pan." A paten is the plate used to hold the Eucharist.

Source: EtymOnline, Wiktionary

The More You Know: The Statue of Liberty is made of copper, but is all green from natural patina.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I want to see a picture of the Birdman


Search
: birdman nuggets

Why: He has the 2nd Worst NBA Tattoo Ever (according to 11 Points).

Answer: Look, he has little red wings that he can flap when he slam dunks or whatever:


Source: Google

The More You Know: His name is Chris Anderson, and he's an attention-o-holic.

Who sings the song "Second Chance"?


Search
: tell my mother tell my father

Why: The singer sounds just like John Oszajca.

Answer: Shinedown! Seems they have been around for a while - they already have a bunch of hit songs that got places on various charts, though I've never heard any of them. Then again, most of them came out while I lived in Boston and never ever listened to the radio.

Source: MetroLyrics

The More You Know: Rachel gave me a John Oszajca album when she decided she didn't want it anymore. I know every word to every crappy song on it. Here is one:

Also, there is apparently a documentary about him.

Who is Eugene Tooms?


Search
: eugene tooms

Why: I suspect that this is some sort of joke (possibly at my expense):
Answer: On "The X-Files," Eugene Tooms was a mutant cannibal. He sustained himself by eating 5 human livers every 30 years and then went into hibernation. He could elongate his body and squeeze into tight places like air vents, chimneys, and toilets.

He was voted #5 on TV Squad's list of All-Time Scariest TV Characters.

He was played by Doug Hutchison, aka Horace Goodspeed (on "LOST") and the douchebag Percy Wetmore in The Green Mile.

Here he is peeping into your window:
Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Yesterday was Bloomsday. How did you celebrate? I wandered around... like a rock.

What animals are retromingent?


Search
: what animals are retromingent

Why: Dan wants to know. Retromingent animals urinate backwards.

Answer: All female animals, and the males of these (according to Aristotle), among others:
  • Camel
  • Hare
  • Hippo
  • Lion
  • Lynx
  • Raccoon
Source: GreekTexts.com

The More You Know: Apparently, a female elephant's "privy" parts are down below her thighs. Who knew!

What is a jape?


Search
: jape

Why: On Snopes.com:
The chances of this jape's playing out in real life are slim for the time being, as the current Japanese Prime Minister, Taro Aso, is a fluent speaker of English who studied at Stanford and the London School of Economics.
Answer: v. To joke or quip, To make sport of; n. A joke or quip

Source: Answers.com

The More You Know: Middle English japen, probably from Old French japer, to yap, chatter, nag, of imitative origin

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I want to hear the song "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"

Search: boogie woogie bugle boy

Why: It is #6 in the Top 25 Songs of the Century. I don't think I've ever heard it. (The totally weird list is part of an education project by the RIAA, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Scholastic that aims to "promote a better understanding of America’s musical and cultural heritage" in American schools.)

Answer: Embedding is disabled, but here is a link. I was right - I've never heard it.

Apologies, but here is a version by Bette Midler dressed as a mermaid:



Source: YouTube

The More You Know: Here go the Top 10:
  1. "Over the Rainbow" -Judy Garland
  2. "White Christmas" -Bing Crosby
  3. "This Land is Your Land" -Woody Guthrie
  4. "Respect" -Aretha Franklin
  5. "American Pie" -John McLean
  6. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" -The Andrews Sisters
  7. The West Side Story soundtrack (wtf)
  8. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" -Billy Murray
  9. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" -The Righteous Brothers
  10. "The Entertainer" -Scott Joplin

What does "lave" mean?


Search
: lave

Why: In the In Touch Weekly crossword, #84 across: Clean
LAVE
Answer: All this crap:
  1. to wash; bathe.
  2. (of a river, sea, etc.) to flow along, against, or past; wash.
  3. Obsolete. to ladle; pour or dip with a ladle.
  4. Archaic. to bathe.
  5. the remainder; the rest.
  6. (of ears) large and drooping.
  7. to lap or wash against.
  8. To refresh or soothe as if by washing: "The quiet and the cool laved her" (Edna Ferber).
  9. To wash oneself.
Source: Dictionary.com

The More You Know: The Oscar Hammerstein musical Show Boat was based on a 1927 novel by Edna Ferber.

What role did Madonna play in 1997?


Search
: madonna

Why: In the In Touch Weekly crossword, #77 down: "1997 Madonna role"
__I__
Answer: I assume they want EVITA, but it premiered in LA in December 1996.

Source: IMDb

The More You Know: Mandy Patinkin (aka Inigo Montoya) played Che in Evita on Broadway in 1979. I saw some thing the other day where Patinkin was talking about his toy trains. Hmm.


What is the capital of Morocco?


Search
: morocco

Why: In the In Touch Weekly crossword, #76 down: Capital of Morocco
R_B__
Answer: RABAT!

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: The largest city in Morocco is Casablanca. Here is a map!


Who are some people who died at 27?


Search
: people who died at 27

Why: Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain were both 27.

Answer: These:
  • Jonathan Brandis
  • Kurt Cobain
  • Jimi Hendrix
  • Robert Johnson (who I did a report on in 9th grade)
  • Janis Joplin
  • Jim Morrison
Here is the rest of the 27 Club.

Source
: Listverse

The More You Know: Otis Redding died at 26. So did Nick Drake. Buddy Holly was 22. Brandon Lee and Heath Ledger were 28. Tupac was 25.

What is a doula?


Search
: doula

Why: Lindsay is getting doula certification.

Answer: "The word doula comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period."

Source: DONA.org

The More You Know: In Greece, the word doula has negative connotations, denoting a "slave." Anthropologist Dana Raphael may have first used the term to refer to experienced mothers who assisted new mothers in breastfeeding and newborn care in the book Tender Gift: Breastfeeding (1973). Thus the term arose with reference to the postpartum context.

Why are Mardi Gras colors purple, green, and gold?


Search
: mardi gras colors

Why: Purple and teal look nice with bronze light fixtures. :-/

Answer: Rex (the "King" Krewe of the Carnival) selected the official colors in 1872. They are said to have been chosen by Russian Grand Duke Alexis Alexandrovitch Romanoff during a visit to New Orleans. The 1892 Rex Parade theme "Symbolism of Colors" gave meaning to each:
  • Purple = justice
  • Green = faith
  • Gold = power
Source: MardiGrasNewOrleans.com

The More You Know: These colors influenced the choice of school colors for archrivals Louisiana State University and Tulane: When LSU was deciding on its colors, the shops in New Orleans had stocked up on purple, green, and gold material for the Mardi Gras season. LSU decided upon purple and gold, and bought much of it. Tulane bought much of the only remaining color, green! They are now known as the Green Wave.

What is maté?


Search
: mate

Why: Valentín makes it for his grandmother. I used to make Maté Latte for Claire when she forgot to do her homework, and now I am drinking Herbal Mist Yerba Maté Something.

Answer: Also called chimarrão or cimarrón, it is a South American infusion sort of like tea (or coffee, I guess), made by steeping the dried leaves of the yerba maté plant (a species of holly) in hot water. Drinking it is a common social practice. Drink it from a hollow Calabash gourd through a metal straw made of silver or steel.


Source
: Wikipedia

The More You Know: The Guaraní people started drinking maté in the region that now includes Paraguay, southern Brazil, north-east Argentina, and Uruguay. The Guaraní have a legend that says that the Goddesses of the Moon and the Cloud came to the Earth one day to visit it but they instead found a Yaguareté (jaguar) that was going to attack them. An old man saved them, and in compensation, the Goddesses gave the old man a new kind of plant from which he could prepare a "drink of friendship." Also, drinking hot maté may cause cancer.

Monday, June 15, 2009

What does a dolphin skeleton look like?


Search
: dolphin skeleton

Why: Dolphin flippers have 5 digits and the nearly the same bone structure as the human hand.

Answer: Like this:

Source: Visual.Merriam-Webster.com

The More You Know: The ribs of dolphins are delicate and not strongly attached to the spine or to the breastbone. The ribs are said to be "floating." The ones that are attached are usually joined, enabling the ribcage to collapse under the pressure of a deep dive without damage. Also, dolphins have no hair or sweat glands.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Who are some celebrities with gaps in their teeth?


Search
: gap toothed celebrities

Why: Lauren Hutton has a big one.

Answer: Amy Winehouse, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Paxton, Bobby Brown, Bob Seger, Chris Eubank, Chris Martin, Condoleezza Rice, Dave Foley, David Letterman, Denis Leary, Devon Sawa, Eddie Murphy, Elijah Wood, Elton John, Elvis Costello, Ernest Borgnine, Flea, Guy Verhofstadt, Itzchak Perlman, Jack Black, Jennifer Hudson, Jerry Falwell, Jesse Ventura, Jorja Fox, Kate Moss, Larry King, Laura San Giacomo, Lauren Hutton, Lawrence Fishburne, LeAnn Rimes, Louie Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Madonna, Maya Angelou, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Noam Chomsky, Oliver Stone, Omar Sharif, Paulo Coehlo, Paul Scheer, Percy Sledge, Pete Rose, Rhea Perlman, Robbie Coltrane, Robin Williams, Rob Reiner, Ron Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, Sandra Bernhard, Saul Bellow, Scottie Pippen, Seal, Terry Gillam, Tommy Tutone, Willie Nelson

Source: LuckyGap.co.uk

The More You Know: A gap between the teeth is called a diastema. Robert Downey Jr. and Zac Efron had diastemas that they corrected.

What role did Robert Gorman play in "One Tree Hill"?


Search
: one tree hill dug grave

Why: Robert Hy Gorman was that kid from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Rookie of the Year, and Forever Young. Saw him last night in Sometimes They Come Back (1991). What does he look like today?


Answer: I just found his headshot, so I think maybe he was Larry the Clothes mover:


Source: Screencaps.org

The More You Know: Gorman is now a producer for Creative Forge Productions.

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