In this section you will find tids and bits of trivia collected from all over the web. If you have an interesting bit of trivia please feel free to e-mail me the details.

 

Why do we turn green with envy?
Added : 31/01/2000
The logic behind turning this particular colour would be perfectly clear if what we envied was denominated in dollars.  It would also be understandable if what we coveted was somebody's country property or a cache of emeralds. But instead it's the colour we supposedly turn whenever we compare what we've got to *anything* someone else has and feel the less for it.

This one goes back to the ancient Greeks. They speculated that envy made the liver work overtime, producing excess bile and adding a slightly greenish tint to one's complexion. The notion survived in literature--envy is the "green-ey'd monster" in Shakespeare's Othello--and became ingrained in this expression. Anyway, you know what they say: "The grass is always greener on the other side."
Why is someone who has barely made it said to have done so "in the nick of time?"
Added : 31/01/2000
"Nick of Time" was the title of an engaging CD by folk/rock singer Bonnie Raitt some years back. I'll bet she had no more idea about the origin of the phrase than you did--or did I until I went looking for its source.

Of course, even if you just make it to somewhere or something before the deadline, all that really counts is that you're there, not how close you came to being late or missing it entirely. And counting is what this phrase is all about. 

In Medieval times, sticks were used as counters, a sort of primitive version of the beads on an abacus. Schools adapted this crude tool for taking attendance. As long as you made it by the time the person taking attendance reached your name, you received a notch on the stick used to record your presence. That was the nick of time.
Are spiders insects?
Added : 31/01/2000
If a big and particularly disgusting spider happened to drop out of a tree onto your lap at a picnic, you might not be in the mood to quietly contemplate such a question. But we can afford to be thoughtful. So, what has eight legs, a body divided into two parts, and eight eyes?

Maybe that describes your worst nightmare or the guy in the next cubicle at the office, but it doesn't fit any insect.  Meet the arachnid--spider to you. All insects have antennae, but a spider doesn't. Insects are bug-eyed bunch, possessing but two big ones, their bodies are divided in three and they have merely six legs.
How are bonsai grown?
Added : 30/01/2000
So what's the trick? Did your mother ever warn you not do certain things, such as smoking, because it might "stunt" your growth? Well, bonsai are trees whose growth are carefully and methodically stunted. They are placed in small pots and trimmed every day.  And that's the least of it. The cultivator actually places restricting rings around the branches or, in the case of pine, binds them with iron wire.  The result is a tree that's no more than 20 inches high. 
Why do we have a leap year (as in this year) and why is it in February?
Added : 30/01/2000
The earth revolves around the sun every 365.24 days, not an even 365. That produces an extra day's worth of hours every four years. We could distribute them as a bonus to everyone--a one-day time-out every fourth year in which the clock is stopped and we stay in bed all day. But we  don't. Instead we add an extra day onto February. 

Why February? It was originally the last month on the Roman calendar and a logical place to stick the extra day. But Julius Caesar changed the first month to January, stranding February and its little peculiarity in the second spot.
Why is pursuing something to its ultimate going to the "bitter end"?
Added : 28/01/2000
There's a famous cafe in New York City's Greenwich Village called the Bitter End, where many Beatnik poets read from their works in the 1950s and early 60s. But if any establishment would call itself the Bitter End and be true to the expression's origin, you would find it on the waterfront because the phrase comes from the age of sailing ships.
 
Centuries ago sailors often wrapped the chain holding the anchor around a wooden log called a "bitt". As a safety precaution, their vessel might have to drop anchor in high winds or during unfavourable tides.  But the chain was of finite length and sometimes the ship would find itself in deep water, and in deep trouble. If they got to the end of the bitt's cable and the anchor had not yet touched bottom, it could very well be the "bitter end."
Why do people who curse sometimes apologise by saying "pardon my French?"
Added : 28/01/2000
The French are said to be a nation of great lovers and wine drinkers. One might think, therefore, that their mouths would be too preoccupied with smooching and imbibing to do much cursing. But there must be some good reason why talking dirty is linked to speaking French. It can't just be because they say "Sacre bleu!"

As they say in English, "it's all in the eye of the beholder."  The Tommys and Yanks who went to France to fight World War I came from countries whose cultures were still largely Victorian while the French were, shall we say, more advanced. The young soldiers brought back some pretty liberated attitude--also a certain kind of postcard; new kissing styles; and assorted, er, recreational objects, all described as "French." Henceforth, even to this day, French became synonymous with risque.
How do they build bridge supports underwater?
Added : 28/01/2000
Portland cement is used for underwater work. It hardens because of a chemical reaction it has with the water, not because the water mixed with it evaporates. The amount of water that reacts with the cement is crucial for this process, and the physical structure of this cement enables it to control exactly how much water gets into the reaction. So it doesn't matter at all how much water surrounds the cement as long as it has enough to set.
What's the biggest insect in the world?
Added : 28/01/2000
There are over 1.5 million different kinds of insects lurking out there that we know about, and probably just as many types still to be discovered. One of them has to be the biggest, right?  Meet the stick insects of Indonesia. They look like twigs and   can reach a foot in length. After them? The 6-inch long June bug, a native of Guyana and the West Indies. They only sound cute: they're really big beetles and they can fly.  It's ok, they're harmless, as long as they don't frighten you to death.
Why is receiving what we deserve getting our just deserts?
Added : 28/01/2000
Am I the only one who grew up thinking that this was about the pudding, apple pie or ice cream that you got at the end of a meal (if you would just earn it by eating all your vegetables)?  Maybe that's why I still can't spell it, confusing the best part of any meal with the place that holds all the hot sand you will ever need.

Actually the expression is based on a word that comes from France, a country famous for its wonderful desserts and for its Foreign Legion, the denizens of the desert. The word is "deservir," French for "to deserve." So when you're getting your just deserts, it doesn't mean that your good work has earned you the booby prize, a couple of useless acres in the Sahara. Rather, it means you are simply getting what's coming to you.
Why are portraits on coins almost always in profile?
Added : 26/01/2000
In truth, it's technology, not psychology that turns the heads on coins. Manufacturing coins on a mass scale at a reasonable cost requires that the relief on its surface be no more than about sixteen-thousandths of an inch. That doesn't give the designer much space in which to work. Add the wear from circulation and a full-face George Washington would end up with a flattened nose that would do credit to a boxer.
Why is it not good to "see the writing on the wall?"
Added : 26/01/2000
This expression usually implies that you have not listened to warnings about some impending catastrophe and now the die is cast: you're about to be in very big trouble.

The source is the Bible and it involves not only handwriting but also a hand writing. The Book of Daniel relates that after Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, looted the Temple, he was enjoying himself at a feast, drinking wine from the sacred goblets. Suddenly a mysterious hand began to write a cryptic message on the wall. The king summoned Daniel, who told him that the Lord had judged and condemned him. Belshazzar died that night. 

So if you see the handwriting on the wall, remember that it's not just graffiti. Beware, even a good lawyer may not be able to get you out of this one.
Why do many movie theatres no longer pop their own popcorn?
Added : 25/01/2000
You might not have noticed this phenomenon. Even movie houses that sell pre-popped popcorn have to keep it warm because this treat absorbs water from the air if left at room temperature, ruining the flavour. And keeping it warm helps to project some of that familiar popcorn smell that people love. But look and listen closely the next time you visit the refreshment stand. Do you actually see it being popped?

Popping it is not necessarily cheaper, but it does make a mess. The equipment takes skill to use and maintain and the turnover in theatre personnel makes this a sticking point. The popped-off the-premises product is more uniform. And popping it as needed might not meet a sudden surge of demand.  Running out of this profitable sideline is a disaster.
Is is true that every U.S. president elected in years divisible by 20 has died in office?
Added : 25/01/2000
Judging from the time and money that the candidates are spending on the campaign, it seems as if they are just dying to be elected president. But there are many people who are betting that the reverse is also true: whoever is elected in 2000 will die in office.  Now *you* don't believe that old urban legend about years divisible by 20, do you?

Maybe you should. It isn't exactly true, but . . . the winner  may have trouble buying life insurance. So far, nine presidents were elected in years divisible by 20. Six died before their term ended: William Henry Harrison (1840), Lincoln (1860), Garfield (1880), McKinley (1900), Harding (1920), and Kennedy (1960). Franklin D. Roosevelt was reelected in 1940 but died in 1945, after his 1944 reelection. 

So that's really seven out of nine. Maybe they should be running from, not for the office this year.
Who was the Red Baron?
Added : 23/01/2000
If it weren't for "Peanuts," the most successful comic strip in the world, the Red Baron might have long since faded into a fabled but increasingly fainter past. As the nemesis of Snoopy, Charlie Brown's pet beagle, he lives to fly another day. In reality, his plane went down for good a long time ago.

The real Red Baron, Manfred von Richtofen, Germany's air ace in World War I, was nicknamed by Allied pilots for his plane, a red Albatros fighter. The other pilots in his squadron also flew colourful aircraft, earning the name "Flying Circus" for their group.

Von Richtofen's 60 confirmed kills made him a feared and formidable opponent, a seemingly super-human pilot.  But his luck ran out over France on April 21, 1918 when bullets from ground gunners and Canadian pilot Roy Brown (no known relation to Charlie) ended his career and his life.
Why do we call a skeptic a "doubting Thomas?"
Added : 23/01/2000
The expression "doubting Thomas," on the other hand, comes down to us because of a crucial moment when someone did not believe, did not keep the faith. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, insisted on proof that Jesus had risen from the tomb. Jesus told him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed art they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Ever since, anyone who must see before they believe is a doubting Thomas.
What happens to houseflies in the winter?
Added : 23/01/2000
I know where a lot of people would like them to go--a warm place, and I don't mean south, like the birds. Flies perform absolutely no useful purpose, unless you have a cat who finds chasing and catching them entertaining. If I had my way, there wouldn't be enough flies surviving the summer for us to wonder about where they spend their winters.

In fact, none of them make it from one summer to the next no matter where they are. Most don't even make it through the month, with a typical life-span that ranges from one to three weeks. So shouldn't their reappearance en masse each summer fly in the face of logic? No, because a few manage to survive --and because a single pair can generate more than three trillion offspring in one season. With those numbers, hang on to your swatter.
Why do we tie old shoes to the newlywed's car?
Added : 23/01/2000
Newlyweds need many things: flatware, a good microwave, certainly plenty of patience with each other, but they probably already have all the old shoes they will ever require. So on the face of it, what could tying old shoes to their getaway car do for them other than possibly symbolise the end of their days of being footloose and fancy free? 

Brace yourself, we're about to get pretty basic. Shoes are of course related to the foot, and feet have been considered phallic symbols since the beginning of civilisation. The spirit embodied in the shoes is the same as that motivating the throwing of rice: it's a wish that the couple's union will be fruitful, that they will produce offspring.
What do they do with the rest of the lobster when restaurants serve lobster tails?
Added : 20/01/2000
Even if I liked the hard work involved in eating a lobster, I would hesitate to devour a creature with whom I had just made eye contact as I passed the big tank at the front of the restaurant. And I'll be darned if I'll wear a bib in public.  Still, I've had tablemates who adored lobster. But they couldn't answer this anymore than I could.

The secret is that there are two kinds of lobsters. There's the kind that gives its all to make sure you have eaten well.  This is the Maine or American lobster, all of which, claws to tail, is eaten, usually with pronounced slurping noises and looks of satisfaction (on the diner's face, of course).

The spiny or rock lobster, on the other hand (or claw), the source of lobster tails, has only one really thick and juicy part, and it's aft. The rest ends up in soups, sauces, seafood salad and egg rolls.
How did the honeymoon custom originate?
Added : 20/01/2000
The original honeymoon, perfected in ancient Norway, was rough stuff. True, the couple found a hideaway for their first nights together, but only because the "groom" was on the lam.  He hadn't asked for the bride's hand, but rather grabbed it and the rest of her along with it. Her family would be after him for abducting his sweetie from their village. The "honeymoon," a word that comes from the Norse hjunottsmanathr, would be over when things quieted down and his involuntary in-laws gave up their search.

The word itself comes from the honey wine, or mead, that new couples traditionally drank. "Moon" was a reference to the fact that the first month might be a delight, but not necessarily every other one. Over the centuries, romance softened the custom, making it the blissful gateway to marriage (first marriages and each succeeding one.)
Do humans really use only 10% of their brains?
Added : 20/01/2000
Frankly, I often think that 10% is too high. The truth is though, that while we don't understand enough about the brain to know exactly how much of it we use, we know that we make use of much more than 10%. The brain has too much to do for 90% of it to be dormant.

So where did this 10% business come from? No one's sure how the myth started. (Notice that people who quote the figure never offer a source.) It may have simply been made up to illustrate through exaggeration the idea that human beings are far from reaching their mental potential. Or it may have been based on the fact that about 5% of our brain cells are functioning at any one time. Either way, the statement is about as factual as the one about the moon being made out of cheese.
Why do we call people who turn into wolves "werewolves"?
Added : 20/01/2000
The werewolf legend dates back at least to ancient Rome. The King of Arcadia was said to have been turned into a wolf when he sought to test the divinity of the god Jupiter by serving him a hash made from human flesh. Jupiter, who was probably partial to omelets, took offence and before you know it, the King was howling at the moon.

Oh, the word werewolf comes from the Old English, "wer," meaning man. Yes, man-wolf sounds backwards, but what do you expect from a guy who walks around on all fours?
What's the difference between a ghoul and a goblin?
Added : 18/01/2000
It has come to my attention that these words are being tossed around too easily, as if they meant almost the same thing. 

Ghouls are the more disgusting of the two. They were evil spirits who robbed graves to eat the dead. The 19th century low-life grave robbers who provided doctors with fresh corpses on which to experiment were also called ghouls.

Goblins were frightfully ugly sprites who could be bad as bad can be, but sometimes were merely mischievous. The latter were often called hobgoblins. Some goblins were also said to come with old houses. 
McDonalds
Added : 18/01/2000
There are more 25,000 McDonald's restaurants in over 115 countries. McDonald's has actually been remarkably responsive to the local cultures; they offer ayran (a popular chilled yogurt drink) in Turkey; McLaks (a grilled salmon sandwich) in Norway, and teriyaki burgers in Japan. In New Delhi, India, where Hindus shun beef and Muslims refuse pork, the burgers are made of mutton and called Maharaja Macs.  And if you're vegetarian, as many strict Hindus are: There's the McAloo Tikki burger, a spicy vegetarian patty made of potatoes and peas.
Sesame Street
Added : 17/01/2000
Nineteen countries around the world are producing their own versions of Sesame Street.

Chinese children also tune in to the American children's classic TV show Sesame Street. But there it's called "Zhima Jie". Da Niao, Big Bird's Chinese cousin, is played by a gentle young man who still works as a truck mechanic. The other characters are all Chinese: a lively three-year-old red monster called Little Plum; a furry blue pig, a kindly grandfather, a very sweet mother, and a little boy, An An.
Cobbler
Added : 17/01/2000
Boot and shoemakers are often commonly called "cobblers." But the word cobbler is more properly applied to shoe repairmen. Those who actually make footwear are known as "cordwainers." This term has its antecedents in the word "cordovan" which was a reddish leather produced in Spain. Hence, one who worked in cordovan was a cordwainer. Shoemakers who made custom, made-to-order shoes were known as "bespoke" makers.
First Ever Pizza
Added : 17/01/2000
The first known pizza shop, Port 'Alba in Naples, opened in 1830 and is still open today. Gennaro Lombardi opened the first pizzeria in North America in 1905 at 53 1/3 Spring Street in New York City.
Ring around the Rosey
Added : 17/01/2000
The children's famous rhyme,'Ring around the Rosie' was actually a small story on fact. Back when the 'Black (Bubonic) Plague' was around, a ring would appear around the rosey part of the actually boil-like spot, hence 'Ring around the rosey,' People smelled very badly when having this disease, so they carried posies (type of flower) in their pockets to camouflage the smell hence 'Pocket full of posies,' When the people died, because the plague was contagious, they would burn the corpses to ashes hence 'Ashes, ashes' 'We all fall down.' was added because no one was surviving.