Monthly Archives: February 2010 »
How ‘Gay’ Came to Mean ‘Homosexual’
Today I found out how ‘gay’ came to mean ‘homosexual’. The word “gay” seems to have its origins around the 12th century in England, derived from the Old French word ‘gai’, which in turn
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What a Backronym Is
Today I found out what a backronym is (also commonly spelled bacronym). In short, a backronym is when you treat a word that is not an acronym as if it was an acronym, constructing
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Baking Soda Makes a Good Cheap Teeth Whitener
Today I found out that baking soda makes a good teeth whitener. Specifically it works by breaking down stains in your teeth caused by such things as dark sodas, wine, smoking, coffee, etc. Baking
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Duct Tape was Originally Named “Duck” Tape and Came in Green, Not Silver
Today I found out Duct tape was originally named “Duck” tape and originally only came in green, not silver. Duct tape was originally invented by Johnson & Johnson’s Permacel division during WWII for the
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How to Survive Being Trapped in Quicksand
Today I found out how to survive being trapped in quicksand. First, don’t panic! Panicking in quicksand is pretty much one of the few ways to turn this slightly dangerous situation into deadly. Second,
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Poinsettias Are Not Poisonous
Today I found out that poinsettias are not poisonous, contrary to popular belief. The belief that they are poisonous originally seems to have started around 1919 when a two year old child of a
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Dr Pepper is the Oldest Major Soft Drink in the United States
Today I found that Dr Pepper is the oldest major soft drink, that is still being produced, in the United States; now over 125 years old. In 1885, in the frontier town of Waco
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There is No Difference Between Fur and Hair
Today I found out that there isn’t any difference between fur and hair; it’s all just hair. We tend to refer to a lot of animal hair as “fur”, while referring to our own
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The 12 Best Ways to Remove Stripped Screws
Today I found out twelve ways to remove a stripped screw. We’ve all been there; trying to void a warranty or otherwise take something apart and you go to take that one last screw
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A Japanese Soldier Who Continued Fighting WWII 29 Years After the Japanese Surrendered, Because He Didn’t Know
Today I found out about a Japanese soldier who continued fighting World War II a full 29 years after the Japanese surrendered, because he didn’t know the war was over. Hiroo Onoda is a
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