Chicken nuggets have been a staple of fast-food restaurants & grocery store frozen food sections for a long time. But, contrary to popular belief, McDonald’s did NOT invent the chicken nugget. So, where did they come from? Well, some parts of the chicken nugget’s origin story may be up for debate, pretty much every source…
Snuff, the powdered, snort-able tobacco, has long been a societal fixture in the UK and U.S. (more so back in the day than today). Because of its prevalence, a particular phrase sprung up around the word that still exists to this day. But what does “up to snuff” mean, exactly? The Oxford English Dictionary defines…
If you’ve ever slid across your lawn while throwing a ball or frisbee around, you know grass can be unforgiving. It may look harmless, but blades of grass can be abrasive on your skin & cause burning or itching that isn’t too fun. But you don’t have to hit the ground hard, grass can make…
Summer 2021 officially begins on Sunday, July 20th. It won’t be long after that you’ll be hearing folks say, “Well, we’re in ‘the dog days of summer’ now”. But what does that really even mean? What do dogs have to do with summer? When do their days begin, and, more importantly, when do they end?…
If you’ve ever shopped for electronics, outerwear, watches, building materials, and more, you’ve probably noticed some products are labeled “waterproof” while others are “water resistant”. Sure, both offer water damage protection, but the they clearly don’t mean the same thing. What’s the difference between something that’s “waterproof” versus something that’s “water resistant”? Items that are…
Summer is upon us, and that means visits to the beach, outings to the park, and plenty of other trips to places that don’t require shoes. But how soon are you allowed to go barefoot. By that, I mean: can you legally drive barefoot? Is shoelessly putting the pedal to the metal illegal? The answer,…
The “funny bone” is neither funny (especially when you bang it on a table or wall), nor is it a bone (regardless of whether you bang it or not). So, where’d the name “funny bone” come from, and why is it so painful? When you talk about your “funny bone”, you’re actually talking about your…
My wife & I went grocery shopping this weekend, and, in the produce section, I saw something I’d seen a million times before but never thought about: why are bulk oranges sold in red mesh sacks? (Talk about a MUNDANE mystery!) It’s always safe to assume that, if any part of a food’s packaging doesn’t…
If you’ve ever wanted to change your hair color, there may be no cheaper way to lighten your locks than simply spending time in the sun. But why does spending time in the summer sun cause some folks’ hair to get naturally blonder? While summertime highlights may seem to breathe new life into your ‘do,…
I recently visited my doctor & ended up with a prescription. After looking at the bottle, I wondered what that “Rx” means. Why does Rx mean “prescription”, when there’s neither an R or an X in the word prescription? The pharmacy practice, or the preparation & dispensation of drugs, has been around for thousands of…