With the economy shut down over the past year, there’s been a lot of talk about going “back to square one”…trying to start back over & return to where we were pre-pandemic. But what does that even mean, “back to square one”? And where did it come from? Whenever someone involved in a project or…
Chances are, if you were to look at your wrist right now, you’d see a watch on it. But why is that thing called a watch? I mean, do you have to watch a watch any more than you would a clock? Why not call it a “wrist-clock”? Why “watch”? Well, according to the dictionary,…
Ever wondered what separates a grocery store from a supermarket? Are there even any real differences? Well, actually…yes, there are! Grocery stores have been around a lot longer than supermarkets. Back in the day, when most towns had a bakery, a butcher shop, and a grocery, the grocery store offered townsfolk an efficient way to…
Whether you enjoyed the race with us at Longshots, or you just put on an extravagant hat in the comfort of your own home, chances are that, if you watched the Kentucky Derby this year, you probably sipped a refreshing mint julep at some point. But, why is the mint julep the official Kentucky Derby…
When you hear the word “blockbuster” mentioned, it’s usually about movies, (either a flick that was a huge box office success or a certain now-defunct chain of video rental stores). Yet, while the word’s meaning is pretty innocuous now, “blockbuster” actually used to describe something pretty dark. Back in the 1940s, “blockbusters” were actually large,…
As you look up at the clock & will it to hit 5:00pm as quickly as possible, do you ever wonder: why do clocks run “clockwise”? Who decided that that was the direction they should go? Think about it: in most of our revered sports (baseball, NASCAR, horse racing, most forms of skating, and more),…
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You just won a brand-new car” on many a game show. You might have told a friend before about a “brand spanking new” TV you bought. Or, because you listen to WFRE, you’ve definitely heard Brooks & Dunn proclaim how they’re a “Brand New Man”. But, are “brand” & “spanking”…
If you wear prescription eyeglasses, chances are you’ve probably noticed numbers stamped inside one of the arms of the frame. That’s not the manufacturer’s way of sharing winning lottery numbers, like some sort of an optical fortune cookie, nor are they a serial number or manufacturing date. So, what are those numbers? They’re actually the…
Our attire can sometimes create optical illusions. For example, there are clip-on ties, faux button holes, and the idea that black is more slimming. But, none is as odd as…the fake pocket. You know how it is: you try on a dress or pair of jeans & try to dig your hand into the pocket…
For the longest time, businesses called their customers “customers”. But, more & more business owners have begun referring to their customers as “guests”. It’s super-polite and sort of odd. But how did that get started, and why? Well, we have Disney to thank (or blame, depending on how you look at it). Back in 1955,…