MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Artificial Lemon Juice Vs. Real Lemon Dishwashing Liquid

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Artificial Lemon Juice Vs. Real Lemon Dishwashing Liquid

Why is it that lemon juice is made with artificial flavor, yet dishwashing liquid is made with “real lemons”? First, it depends on what what you mean by “lemon juice”. If you’re talking about just raw, unsweetened lemon juice that you might use for cooking, you can actually buy that (“RealLemon” brand) & it really…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Are There No Windows Inside Grocery Stores?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Are There No Windows Inside Grocery Stores?

Most grocery stores will usually have large windows across the front of the store. But, once you’re inside, that natural light all but disappears. Stores rarely, if ever, have windows along their inner walls. Why is that? It’s actually a facet of retail shopping psychology. Store owners want to create an environment where you feel…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Vegetables Are Used To Make “Vegetable Oil”?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Vegetables Are Used To Make “Vegetable Oil”?

If you’re shopping in a grocery store’s baking aisle, you’ll notice that the companies selling 100% corn or peanut oil proudly emblazon the identity of their star vegetables in marquee-sized letters on the label. So, why are they so much more obtuse when it comes to vegetable oil? What mystery veggie (or veggies) do they…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where Did “Back To Square One” Come From?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where Did “Back To Square One” Come From?

With the economy shut down over the past year, there’s been a lot of talk about going “back to square one”…trying to start back over & return to where we were pre-pandemic. But what does that even mean, “back to square one”? And where did it come from? Whenever someone involved in a project or…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Is A Watch A Watch?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Is A Watch A Watch?

Chances are, if you were to look at your wrist right now, you’d see a watch on it. But why is that thing called a watch? I mean, do you have to watch a watch any more than you would a clock? Why not call it a “wrist-clock”? Why “watch”? Well, according to the dictionary,…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Grocery Stores Vs. Supermarkets

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Grocery Stores Vs. Supermarkets

Ever wondered what separates a grocery store from a supermarket? Are there even any real differences? Well, actually…yes, there are! Grocery stores have been around a lot longer than supermarkets. Back in the day, when most towns had a bakery, a butcher shop, and a grocery, the grocery store offered townsfolk an efficient way to…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why People Drink Mint Juleps For The Kentucky Derby

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why People Drink Mint Juleps For The Kentucky Derby

Whether you enjoyed the race with us at Longshots, or you just put on an extravagant hat in the comfort of your own home, chances are that, if you watched the Kentucky Derby this year, you probably sipped a refreshing mint julep at some point. But, why is the mint julep the official Kentucky Derby…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Clocks Run “Clockwise”

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Clocks Run “Clockwise”

As you look up at the clock & will it to hit 5:00pm as quickly as possible, do you ever wonder: why do clocks run “clockwise”? Who decided that that was the direction they should go? Think about it: in most of our revered sports (baseball, NASCAR, horse racing, most forms of skating, and more),…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Is Something “Brand Spanking New”?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Is Something “Brand Spanking New”?

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You just won a brand-new car” on many a game show. You might have told a friend before about a “brand spanking new” TV you bought. Or, because you listen to WFRE, you’ve definitely heard Brooks & Dunn proclaim how they’re a “Brand New Man”. But, are “brand” & “spanking”…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Are Those Numbers On Your Eyeglass Frames?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Are Those Numbers On Your Eyeglass Frames?

If you wear prescription eyeglasses, chances are you’ve probably noticed numbers stamped inside one of the arms of the frame. That’s not the manufacturer’s way of sharing winning lottery numbers, like some sort of an optical fortune cookie, nor are they a serial number or manufacturing date. So, what are those numbers? They’re actually the…