# Little things you learned today **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895 "2010-03-09T20:09:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/21 "2010-03-10T16:35:51Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I have learned that just because you’ve never had a cold sore doesn’t mean you won’t get one! > > And you can put Chapstick on all day long, for days, to no avail. But when you figure it out you’ll feel a fool, and have a giant cold sore. > > Which seems odd if you haven’t had/got a cold. Now I wish I knew if I should throw away my Chapstick? What the heck? I’ve never understood cold sores to be related in any way to (a) having a cold or (b) using, or not using, Chapstick. Cold sores are the visible manifestation of herpes virus, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/22 "2010-03-10T16:53:22Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > What the heck? I’ve never understood cold sores to be related in any way to (a) having a cold or (b) using, or not using, Chapstick. > > Cold sores are the visible manifestation of herpes virus, aren’t they? That’s right. While we’re at it, having a cold sore has nothing to do with having a cold. In fact, sharing chapstick is a good way to _get_ cold sores, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/23 "2010-03-10T17:12:00Z")
I’ve learned that a cat with kidney problems, high blood pressure and pancreatitis can apparently come back from the brink of death within a 24 hour period. Still need to ask about quality of life and make some decisions based on that, but am much more hopeful than yesterday. I’ve learned that 15 minutes of running at night and sunshine the next morning turns an aggressive, angry preschooler with no previous health or behavior issues into a different, better and much happier person. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/24 "2010-03-10T20:49:07Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’d really like to see a cite on this either way. I learned it from Good Eats, but I did a quick Google search and came up with stuff like [this](http://www.aromadictionary.com/articles/tonguemap_article.html) and [this](http://www.livescience.com/health/060829_bad_tongue.html). ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/25 "2010-03-10T20:54:36Z")
> [@me](#): > > 48% of children between the ages of 5 and 14 engage in some kind of labor that the ILO considers child labor. Er, I left out an important detail. This is in Sierra Leone, not worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/26 "2010-03-10T21:18:57Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Are you actually overweight or are you following your BMI? You might be right where nature intends. 🙂 This was all part of a health screening thing they offered at my work as part of a “fitness fair”. They took my height and weight and had me squeeze a thingy that looks sort of like a video game controller, and said based on that I was about 30 pounds overweight. Then they took my blood pressure and pricked my finger to check cholesterol and glucose. They ended up declaring me to be “in good shape”, but said it would probably be a good idea to start a fitness plan of some kind to get closer to my ideal weight. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/27 "2010-03-10T21:47:07Z")
I learned that Avery 1/2" round green removable labels are not available in the United States. But they are available in Canada. 😕 Yes, I called Avery to check. And those neon green ones won’t cut it. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/28 "2010-03-10T22:34:28Z")
I learned that Tim Blake Nelson really did do the lead vocal on “In the Jailhouse Now” by “The Foggy Bottom Boys” on the “O Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack. I had always assumed he just lip-synched over someone else’s vocal like Clooney did for “Man of Constant Sorrow”, but nope, that’s really him singing. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/29 "2010-03-10T22:45:31Z")
I learned that the reason boxers wear trunks with high waistbands is because the rules forbid blows below the belt. I _live_ for useless info like this! ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/30 "2010-03-10T23:03:42Z")
I learned how annoying rogue antivirus malware is, and how to get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/31 "2010-03-10T23:11:24Z")
I learned that, contrary to my perception, I actually DO need a new prescription for my eyeglasses. It makes a difference when each eye is tested separately. _Forehead slap_ ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/32 "2010-03-11T00:22:46Z")
I learned that when you use the chopping board to place your fresh toast on while you spread smoked duck pate on it, and you haven’t actually properly cleaned the aforementioned chopping board since chopping garlic on it, the result is… delicious!!! I need some more garlicky, smoked ducky toast. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/33 "2010-03-11T01:06:26Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > That’s right. > > While we’re at it, _having a cold sore has nothing to do with having a cold_. In fact, sharing chapstick is a good way to _get_ cold sores, I believe. I’d always assumed people called them “cold sores” because they got colds, the immune system got worn down, the dormant virus came out and the affected people just assumed a connection between the two. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/34 "2010-03-11T03:46:19Z")
I learned that if I bring sweets into the house I’m going to eat them. In this case Eskimo Pies. ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/35 "2010-03-11T03:54:38Z")
I learned today that in the state of Virginia you cannot be denied placement on the Kidney transplant list due to any problematic high risk behaviors you have. The same isn’t true about the other major organs you may need in VA. I also learned that organ donors with Hep B or Hep C or other such illnesses are still viable organ donors, and that the Organ donation system still wants their organs- the only no no is pretty much HIV. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/36 "2010-03-11T04:05:05Z")
I learned that those crinkly paper toilet seat covers in public restrooms can be used as blotting paper if your face is oily. I was informed of this. I have not tested it. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/37 "2010-03-11T07:18:42Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Rembrandt’s Night Watch was originally a [lot bigger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Watch_%28painting%29#Alterations_to_original) than it is today. I think I might have just learned where Kenny Loggins got the inspiration for the name of his [1978 album](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwatch_%28album%29) ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/38 "2010-03-11T09:16:55Z")
I learned that there are furniture, in like-new condition, that the Salvation Army would refuse to take as a donation. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/39 "2010-03-11T11:08:56Z")
I’m learning how painful a sinus infection is. I’ve never had one before and a lot of people say they have a sinus infection every time they have a cold with sinus pressure. So I thought a sinus infection was pretty similar to a cold. No. This is like someone stuck a vacuum in my sinus cavity and the bone and tissue in my face is collapsing like a raisin. A raisin with spikes in it. And like someone has knocked half my top teeth out of place and cut up my gums, and like my ear may just burst at any moment. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895/40 "2010-03-11T19:32:29Z")
I’ve learned more about renovating bathrooms than I ever wanted to know. And the weird thing is, I’ve found myself seriously contemplating which shade of GROUT I want. I didn’t even know grout came in different colors! And now I’m all into grout! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-you-learned-today/531895.md?page=3)