Will the Penny Ever Go Away
People have been calling for the penny’s eradication for years. Many Americans feel exact change isn’t worth the bother. Here’s the government’s two cents…
Read moreArchives
We’ve all had the experience of suddenly wondering why something is referred to into a particular way, how things work, or where something comes from. In this series, I’ve used the inter-tubes to find what I can about a particular nagging question.
Where Did “Rock and Roll” Come From?
Famed DJ and concert producer Alan Freed is widely credited with coining the phrase in 1951. Freed led an interesting life, bringing what we now call “rock and roll” to the masses. Unfortunately, he’s equally famous for his role in the payola scandal of the 1960s.
Read moreWhy Are Left Handed People Called Southpaws
Over the weekend, I heard the term “Southpaw” used. Now I know it means a person who is left-handed, but never understood where it came from. So, I decided to find out.
Read moreWhy does it cost more to mail a square greeting card than a rectangular one?
Assuming they weigh the same, why should a square envelope cost more to mail than a rectangular one? That’s completely ridiculous. There must be a mistake here.
Read moreWhy Psychiatrists Are Called Shrinks
Psychiatric MDs and their psychoanalytical brethren probably don’t like it, but the term “shrink” has been around since the 1950s. Back then, the full label was “headshrinker.”
Read moreWhere Is The Hottest Place on Earth?
The biggest scorcher ever noted was on September 13, 1922, in El Azizia (also known as Al ‘Aziziyah), Libya, when the mercury hit 136 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read moreDo You Know The Difference Betwee e.g. and i.e.?
Basically, i.e. means “in other words” and e.g. means “for example.”
Read moreWho Invented Long Island Iced Tea
The strip of land near New York City has long been a launchpad for icons of American culture, including a cocktail that carried the Long Island name to frat parties everywhere.
Read moreWhy You Can’t Sneeze With Your Eyes Open
The received wisdom states that if you don’t blink when you sneeze, your eyes will fly out of your head. Thankfully, as is often the case with urban legends, this theory is a load of hooey.
Read moreWhy Do We Scratch Our Itches?
Science has come to few conclusions about the biology of itching. The itch reflex likely shares some of the same neural mechanisms and pathways as the pain reflex, but they’re obviously not the same thing. A nasty cut will make you pull your hand back, while a mosquito bite provokes an itch.
Read moreHow Do Touchscreens Work?
A touchscreen’s main components are a touch sensor, controller, and software driver, combined with a display and computer processor. The sensor is a touch-responsive glass panel, usually employing one of three technologies: resistive, surface wave, or capacitive.
Read more