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The Trivia Mailing List

Question: Why are there so many earthworms on the sidewalk when it rains?

Answer: Earthworms breath air, just like humans. So when they're underground, they make sure to have air holes. When it rains, the rain often clogs up the earthworms' air holes, forcing them to come out on the sidewalk.

Question: Why doesn't drinking water cool your mouth after eating spicy food?

Answer: The spices in most of the hot foods that we eat are oily, and, like your elementary school science teacher taught you, oil and water don't mix. In this case, the water just rolls over the oily spices.

So what can you do to calm your aching tongue? Try one of these three methods. Eat bread. The bread will absorb the oily spices. A second solution is to drink milk. Milk contains a substance called "casein" which will bind to the spices and carry them away. Finally, you could drink something alcoholic. Alcohol will dissolve the oily spices.

Question: Why do Canadians say "mush" when they want their sled dogs to move?

Answer: When they wanted their sled dogs to go forward, early French-Canadians used to say "marchons," which meant "go" in French. When English-speaking drivers tried to copy the expression, they mispronounced it and said "mushon." Later, they abbreviated this mispronunciation and simply said "mush."

Question: Why is a quarter called "two bits?"

Answer: In eighteenth century America, the Spanish dollar was a popular coin. It was made out of silver and was so large that people often cut it into smaller pieces, or "bits." Each bit was one-eighth of the original coin and was therefore worth 12.5 cents. Later, when the American quarter came into use, it was said to be worth "two bits."

Question: They weren't invented in France, so why does everybody call them "French fries?"

Answer: It's true, the French fry wasn't invented in France. (It's origin is probably British.) But the "French" in French fries doesn't refer to its country of origin. It refers to the way in which this side dish is prepared.

Food that is cut into strips is said to be "Frenched." Since French fries are strips of potato that have been fried, they became known as French fried potatoes, or "French fries."

Question: Why is New York called "The Big Apple?"

Answer: New York's nickname "The Big Apple" was coined by jazz musicians, who used to say "There are many apples on the tree, but to play in New York City is to play The Big Time . . . The Big Apple!" Later, the New York City Convention and Visitors Bureau popularized the nickname because the Bureau thought it gave the city a "bright and shining image."

Question: Why is it called a "hamburger" if it doesn't contain ham?

Answer: At first glance, it seems that the word "hamburger" is a combination of the words "ham" and "burger." Therefore, one naturally assumes that a hamburger is a burger that contains ham.

But the word "hamburger" actually traces its roots back to Hamburg Germany, where people used to eat a similar food called the "Hamburg steak." Eventually, the Hamburg steak made its way to the United States, where people shortened its name to "hamburger."

To subscribe to "The Trivia Mailing List" send a blank email to JoinTrivia@MailBits.com. If you find you don't like it, you can always unsubscribe very easily.

Money Origami

• Boots
• A Bow Tie
• Butterfly
• Pair of eyeglasses
• A Fan
• Picture Frame
• A Ring
• Sailboat
• Serpent
• Shirt
• Spider
• Valentine

Check out this fun site at:

http://www.msd.si.net/~clay/money/

Reading over the instructions, some of the money origamis require up to 3 and 4 bills. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I'm sure that Terry and I will real soon. Enjoy!

Humor Time and Other Noteworthy Bits of Interesting Readings

To celebrate the arrival of our puppy, we've like to share with you something that one of Terry's best friends sent us. Thank you Margaret for sharing this with us. It's amazing how true it really is.

Some Things You Can Learn From a Dog

1. Never pass up an opportunity to go for a joy ride.

2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

3. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

4. When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

5. Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

6. Run, romp, and play daily.

7. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

8. Be loyal.

9. Never pretend to be something you're not.

10. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

11. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

12. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

13. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

14. On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.

15. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

16. No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.

17. Delight in the simple job of a long walk.

After just a few years of marriage filled with constant arguments, a young man and his wife decided the only way to save their marriage was to try counseling. They had been at each other's throats for some time and felt that this was their last straw.

When they arrived at the counselor's office, the counselor jumped right in and opened the floor for discussion. "What seems to be the problem?" Immediately, the husband held his long face down without anything to say. In contrast, the wife began talking 90 miles an hour, describing all the wrongs within their marriage.

After 15 minutes of listening to the wife, the counselor went over to her, picked her up by her shoulders, kissed her passionately and sat her back down. Afterwards, the wife sat speechless.

The marriage counselor looked over at the husband, who stared in disbelief. The counselor said to the husband, "Your wife NEEDS that at least twice a week!"

The husband scratched his head and replied, "I can have her here on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

• You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water...

• You can say 110 degrees without fainting...

• You eat hot chili to cool your mouth off...

• You can make sun tea instantly...

• You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron...

• You notice the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance...

• Hotter water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one...

• It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one person is moving on the streets...

• You actually burn your hand opening the car door...

• Sunscreen is sold year round, kept at the front of the checkout counter...

• A formula less than 30 SPF is a joke and you only wear that to go to the corner store...

• Hot air balloons can't go...

• No one would dream of putting vinyl upholstery in a car...

• Your biggest bicycle wreck fear, "what if I get knocked out and lay on the pavement and cook to death"?

• You realize that asphalt has a liquid state...