Today, I learned two bits of interesting, albeit somewhat esoteric, trivia:
There are not five Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), as I had previously thought. There are actually seven. NOAA and DHHS/PHS do not just maintain a civilian force, but a Uniformed Officer Corps as well. While technically not military bodies, they can be militarized by the President, or serve on detail assignments to the military services.
I came across this site on the genetics of cat colours yesterday (it’s a fascinating read, by the way - who knew cat colours were so complicated?), and learned that cats lose almost as much fluid in grooming as they do peeing. Hmm, actually, it might have been a different site where I learned that, but I’ll let my link stand, because it really is a fascinating read.
I learned that, until I hear someone on tv say it last week, I never connected the word entendre (as in double entendre) with its verbal form. I’ve known the definition since I was twelve or so, but clearly had no idea how you say it.
Today I learned that one of the definitions listed in most dictionaries for the word “ravel” is “unravel.”
I don’t know why, but that makes my head hurt.
I also learned from reading another thread here that Circular Quay is a place. I had only known it as the name of one of my early choices to win this year’s Kentucky Derby.
I had seen it written many times before I ever heard it pronounced, so for some reason I thought a Circular Quay was some type of dilema. I was pronouncing it Circular Kway. I was thinking it was something like, “Judy found herself in a circular quay over which invitation to accept.” Now I realize I made that entire definition up out of thin air without realizing it. From now on I am looking all these things up.
If anyone else didn’t know about Circular Quay, here is more about it. (but since it is such a famous place, I am probably the only one who didn’t know)
Apparently “cafe latte” means two completely different things depending on whether you say it in Seattle or Rome. I’ve yet to receive clarification on this, though.
:eek: I would’ve gone the rest of my life without ever thinking of that.
Mine is so stupid I hesitate to mention it, but here goes:
You know how sliced apples turn brown if you let them sit too long? And they say you can put lemon juice on them to prevent browning? Well, I never liked that idea because then the apples taste sour.
About a month ago, it occurred to me that I could just rinse the lemon juice off before serving the apples.
Well, this might make you feel better - I’m 40, and I had never thought of that, either. Course, I really like sour food, so lemon juice doesn’t bother me…
I just found out last week that Kansas City, MO and Kansas City, KS are virtually the same place, just with a state dividing line drawn right down the middle of it! I was for sure it was just happenstance that they were both named this way and that they must surely be hours away from one another. sigh
I recently figured out that the lyrics to the TV show “Three’s Company” theme song include the words “down at our rendezvous” and NOT “dominominayvoo”.
I gave up trying to figure out what that means a long time ago.
I realised very recently that the word “painstaking” is not derived in some wacky way from “staking pain” but from “taking pains” to do something. :smack:
When doing creative writing, I look up words which may have extra meanings I am unaware of to make sure I’ve chosen the most effective wording possible.
Two months ago, I was suberbly amused for about a week because, (according to Merriam-Webster) livid is a word that can mean any of red, grey, or blue.
