MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do We Celebrate Groundhog Day?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do We Celebrate Groundhog Day?

Happy Groundhog Day!  Punxsutawny, PA, saw another record-breaking crowd at their annual festivities this year, with more & more people attending each & every year since the release of the 1993 Bill Murray comedy, “Groundhog Day”. Some 30,000 people braved sub-freezing temperatures in Gobbler’s Knob to witness Phil come out of his burrow to ultimately…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Does Cheap Jewelry Turn Your Skin Green?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Does Cheap Jewelry Turn Your Skin Green?

Cheap costume jewelry can really make an ensemble pop…but it can also leave you red-faced by staining your skin green. And unless you were going for the Statue of Liberty look, then that’s not a good thing. Lady Liberty’s dye job occurred naturally, though, as she’s made of copper, and copper turns greenish when it…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Can Anyone Ever Really Lose Their Accent?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Can Anyone Ever Really Lose Their Accent?

Some folks might be able to pull off a Scottish accent every now & then whenever they try to quote something from Braveheart. But is it possible for someone to ever truly lose his or her native accent & replace it with a new one? Actually…no. The way you speak now will most likely going…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Don’t Rear Car Windows Roll Down All The Way?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Don’t Rear Car Windows Roll Down All The Way?

You & I most likely don’t have the exact same automobile. In fact, pretty much everybody’s vehicle is different, with various options & features included (or not included). But one thing that pretty much anyone who has a 4-door passenger car has are rear windows that don’t roll all the way down. Why is that? Why…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do People Kiss At Midnight on New Year’s Eve?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do People Kiss At Midnight on New Year’s Eve?

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, right on the cusp of New Year’s Day, maybe you were one of the millions of folks who partook in the tradition of kissing someone. Why do we do that? Why do we, traditionally, kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve? It actually goes back, in part, to the…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: The Difference Between “Gifts” & “Presents”

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: The Difference Between “Gifts” & “Presents”

Christmastime…the time of year when everyone seems to be busy buying, wrapping, and giving items to people that we’d like for them to have. What are they called again?  Gifts! Or…is it presents? Is there even really a difference between “gifts” & “presents”? Each word arose from a different language family. “Gift” was derived from…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Is Giving Tuesday?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Is Giving Tuesday?

Today (11/29/22) is “Giving Tuesday”! And while a recent poll found 93% of us think of ourselves as generous. So, today seems like the day to get out there & prove it. But what even IS “Giving Tuesday”? “Giving Tuesday” is a day when you’re encouraged to donate & volunteer.  It’s always held on the…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What If You’re Still In Line To Vote When The Polls Close?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What If You’re Still In Line To Vote When The Polls Close?

It’s impressive just how many early voters have already cast their ballots ahead of the midterm elections. I mean, records have already been broken in several states for this election. But tomorrow, November 8th, is the actual big day…the grand finale…Election Day! And while the higher-than-usual voter turnout is encouraging evidence of democracy in action,…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Is “New Car Smell” Really?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: What Is “New Car Smell” Really?

If you’re anything like me, the smell of a new car is amazing…alluringly appealing, as I like to say. You might not be able to put your finger on exactly what that smell is, but it’s just excitingly enticing. But what is “new car smell” really? And what makes it so distinct that air fresheners…

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do Students Give Apples To The Teacher?

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Why Do Students Give Apples To The Teacher?

With school in-session & students back in the classroom, if you were to ask any teacher what he or she needs to feel appreciated, apples probably wouldn’t be high up on the list. In spite of that, we still associate educators with apples. It’s part of their unofficial logo. Just look at any back-to-school commercial…