While not everyone has them, chances are that you or someone you know has had the unfortunate experience of having to have wisdom teeth removed. For some, it’s not a difficult experience. For others, like yours truly, it’s one of the worst things they’ve ever been through. But the question comes up: why, if we…
Try going into any retail store right now & not seeing pink & red boxes of chocolate on display on almost every aisle. You couldn’t do it! Because chocolate’s become one of the standard Valentine’s Day gifts, alongside flowers & jewelry. But chocolate didn’t develop its romantic reputation overnight. It took centuries of Mayans, myths,…
Following a big win in a major sporting event, such as this year’s Super Bowl, fans will try to score championship merchandise as quickly as possible. So, to meet that demand, manufacturers make & stock two different sets of T-shirts, hats, and other gear ahead of time declaring each team the champion. This was done…
Have you ever been watching a football game & wondered why the quarterback yells “hut” or “hike” just before starting a play? “Hut” descends from the military. In the service, “hut” often replaces a syllable in a word to make it sharper & more distinct. Think about a drill sergeant screaming “atten-hut!” at cadets. It…
With the weather we’ve had lately, you may be thinking more about your car’s ability to get up & down snowy, icy, or muddy roads. And, while you might know that 2-wheel drive isn’t the best option for driving in harsh weather, some other terms may be more confusing. Such as, all-wheel drive versus 4-wheel…
As we’re being besieged by a winter storm, heaving shovelfuls of snow can give a person time to think. And, as I was digging my vehicle’s way out of the current white apocalypse, I wondered what, exactly, I was battling. Is this a snowstorm, or a blizzard? And, what’s the difference between them? A snowstorm…
Certain phrases don’t really need an explanation. If someone says you’re “playing with fire,” then you’re probably doing something reckless that could earn you some rough consequences. “Dropping your guard”? That’s lowering your defenses. But, what does “falling off the wagon” have to do with excessive alcohol consumption? Is it about losing your balance when…
You know those odd-looking birds that circle above lost cartoon characters & skulk along the roadside after an unfortunate car-meets-wildlife incident? What are those bald-headed birds of prey called? Vultures, or buzzards? While they may be synonymous here in America, in other parts of the world, buzzards & vultures are actually two different kinds of…
If you’ve been working from home, or have ever used a computer at your place, then you probably know that computer keyboards are prime real estate in the eyes of pretty much every cat. They’ll frequently bypass their comfy cat bed over in the corner & just sprawl right out across your laptop. But why?…
How is that so many otherwise sensitive people expose others to their less-than-stellar body odor? I mean, surely they have to know that they, or their clothes, aren’t up to snuff, right? Right? Compared to most animals, humans don’t have an acutely developed sense of smell. The human olfactory nerve easily becomes fatigued in areas…