If you’ve ever been called a poindexter, you know what a backhanded compliment it can be: it means you’re smart, but in a very un-cool way. Where did the term come from? Believe it or not, we can thank the antics of a cartoon cat for this not-quite-a-compliment. In 1919, Felix the Cat began…
Unless you live in a small cave without power or under a rock, you are somewhat familiar with the case in Ferguson MO. An unarmed teenager by the name of Michael Brown was shot to death by a police officer named Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014. Since then there have been riots, protests and…
How many times a day do you use the term “OK”? If you were to count all the times you use the expression, whether it’s to show enthusiasm, agree with someone, describe something, or to change the topic of conversation, you’d probably be taken aback by how important those two little letter are. They’re…
Today, “Bingo” is a game of chance and “Beano” is an over-the-counter medication that helps you pass gas. Amazingly, though, “Bingo” was once called “Beano”, and before that, it was called “Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia.” Here’s how the popular game made its way from Italy in the 1500s to modern-day bingo halls and senior…
Ever wondered why do we sometimes see squiggly lines in peripheral vision? These are Eye Floaters & Flashes. Read this articke to know more.
Is there anything quite as un-funny as hitting your funny bone? Not only does it hurt, but it hurts in the strangest way – a truly unique sort of torture. But why? Contrary to what its name suggests, the funny bone is not actually a bone at all. Instead, it’s a nerve; specifically, the ulnar…
Few things bring more frustration to a Westerner than trying to use chopsticks – it’s like having to work for every bite, and it seems unlikely that Eastern folks are just born with the innate ability to pick up rice with two sticks. Well, just like Western children are taught to use a fork…
Are you one of those people that carries your own arsenal of hand sanitizer and toilet seat covers just in case you feel nature’s call while out and about? Or maybe you’re so grossed out by public restrooms it would take a medical emergency to get you to enter one. Well, to all you…
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet – but if you ask any sommelier, mixologist, or beer aficionado whether a drink poured into just any glass would taste as good, they’d probably say “no”. It’s a standard practice in the libations industry to serve different types of drinks in different types of…
There are a few reasons why people cross their fingers, but in the Western world one of the main reasons is to bring good luck, or to show support and solidarity for someone else. “I’ll keep my finger’s crossed” means “I’m rooting for you” or “I hope you have good fortune.” It’s one of…
Ever wondered why sometimes you get a headache after eating an ice cream? This article explains this phenomenon and why it happens.
What’s going on with exploding whales? Is it just whales, and do whales explode in the ocean, or just when they’re on land? As it turns out, just about any decomposing animal will explode if given the right conditions; the difference with whales is that it’s a much, much bigger explosion, and beached whale corpses…
End of content
End of content