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…
With the cool snap we experienced this past weekend, you may have had to put on a jacket. Or, was it a coat? What’s the real difference between a coat & a jacket, anyway? Well, according to the professionals, there’s actually only one real distinct difference between a coat & a jacket. A lot of…
If you’ve ever had to follow directions while driving, you’ve probably ended up flustered or confused when you come across a road or street that has more than one name. Chestnut Street can become Loblolly Street before going back to being Chestnut Street; Whippoorwill Lane can morph into Hoot Owl Drive; Buckeystown Pike is also…
Saltwater is obviously wet. And we eat things with salt in them all the time. So why can’t we drink saltwater? It isn’t really because of germs (though that’d also be a valid reason). It’s mainly because…well, it’s salty. Sodium is the main element in salt, but salt isn’t inherently bad for you. It’s actually…