Archive
What Pumpernickel Really Is
Pumpen is a German synonym for being flatulent. Nickel, or Nicholas, is equal to a devil, goblin, or demon.
Therefore pumpernickel has been known in some circles as “the devil’s fart.”
I learned that on The Big Bang Theory.
Fartlek Training
From the Swedish, meaning “speed play,” fartlek is a method of exercise using bursts of intense physical effort, followed by a period of laid-back, more relaxing work.
You Learn Something New Every Day
The phrase “you learn something new every day” really is true. For instance, at about 1:30 this morning I learned two things:
1) My friend Ben shaves his armpits.
2) If you shave your armpits, never, ever, announce it at a party, because you will get made fun of. A lot.
Book Review: All Facts Considered by Kee Malesky
All Facts Considered – The Essential Library of Inessential Knowledge, by NPR librarian Kee Malesky, covers a wide variety of interesting facts, some worth knowing, some not. Here’s a small spray of topics covered:
–The abbreviations et al. (Latin, et alii or et aliae) and etc. (Latin, et cetera) have the same basic meaning: and others, and the rest, and so on. The difference is that et al. should be used when referring to people, and etc. when referring to things.
–The platypus and the anteater are the world’s only monotremes, or mammals that lay eggs.
–Male seahorses get pregnant.
–A cheese connoisseur is called a turophile.
–It takes nearly a year and about 450 different laborers to make a Steinway grand piano, which has over 12,000 parts.
–18th century physicians used a tobacco smoke enema to revive drowning victims.
–Frankenstein is not the name of the monster, it’s the name of the scientist who fabricated him; in the book, he named his creation Adam.
–Martin Van Buren was the first president born in the United States; all the earlier presidents were born in the colonies.
There are many, many more. Good book.
The Ventriloquist
A large number of p
eople are familiar with Bruce Wayne’s traumatic childhood and rise to heroic chiropteran vigilance. There exists in the world of DC Comics another, lesser known character who had a similar beginning, yet whose grief manifested itself in a far, far lamer way than the sworn ideal of heavy-handed justice to criminals.
Who: Arnold Wesker, aka The Ventriloquist
Similarities to Bruce Wayne: Arnold Wesker and Bruce Wayne were both born into privilege, AW into the Mafia, BW as the son of a doctor. AW witnessed the assassination of his mother, BW saw both of his parents murdered by a mugger.
This is where the two fork off — Bruce Wayne became Batman. Arnold Wesker, taciturn by nature, vented through the art of ventriloquism. He lets the dummy that he has absolute control over abuse him, both mentally and physically. Wesker has no superpowers, other than being talented at ventriloquism, and even there he is limited. While ventriloquizing, he is unable to pronounce a “B” sound, so the dummy has a speech impediment, and pronounces “Batman” as “Gatman.”
How long until Hollywood scrapes the bottom of the barrel and makes a movie out of this guy?
Kim Jong-il Dead
I heard all this on the radio this morning. Most of this is coming from official North Korean literature:
-The first time Kim Jong-il ever played golf, he shot 38 under par, including 11 holes-in-one. Only his body guards witnessed the round.
-When he was born, winter immediately turned to spring, and rainbows appeared.
-He didn’t defecate.
-His suits became a global fashion craze.
-He was once prescribed painkillers, and, fearing addiction, made all of his closest associates take them as well. That way he wouldn’t be the only addict.
-His mood influenced the weather.
-He was the world’s biggest Hennessey customer.
Friday Fun Facts – William Tell
It is said that on this date in 1307, William Tell shot an apple off his son’s head with a crossbow. Flash forward over 600 years later: William S. Burroughs, the writer, would attempt a similar stunt with a gun at a bar in Mexico City. Long story short, he ended up killing a woman named Joan Vollmer. True story.
Roma Tomato
I have eaten one Roma tomato every day this week. Let’s just say that I’m doing fine in the fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and manganese departments. I’ve also eaten a variety of other things. The departments of protein, carbohydrates, and a number of other vitamins are well staffed and running efficiently.
Friday Fun Facts – The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement
Interesting concept, but it will never garner the 100% cooperation needed for it to succeed. Here’s the website:
It’s pretty self-explanatory. The whole point is to get all people to stop breeding, and eventually die out. Things would get interesting as the population began to dwindle, especially if I were to make it down to the very end. Then I could find out if some of these girls really were serious when they told me “not if you were the last man on earth.” I would love to be able to call them out on that bluff.
Anyways, here’s the Blong. J-Dilla – Two Can Win.
The Philosophunculist 