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A crocodile can’t stick out its tongue. Crocodiles have a membrane that holds their tongue in place on the roof of their mouth so it doesn’t move. This makes it impossible for them to stick it outside of their narrow mouths. That can be handy for the reptile when snapping its jaws shut rapidly. ItContinue reading “At least they won’t bite their tongues”

The first inoculation against Smallpox was administered on May 14, 1796, by Edward Jenner, when Jenner took fluid from a cowpox blister and scratched it into the skin of James Phipps, an eight-year-old boy (a brief aside – how much do you trust your kid’s doctor –“Good Afternoon Mr and Mrs. Phipps. Little Jimmy seemsContinue reading “Follow along, it will all make sense”

It’s Friday the 13th. In most large cities in the United States, many building don’t have 13th floors. In Japan, they don’t have 4th floors, because the word for four sounds similar to the word for DEATH! Some say that the modern basis for Friday the 13th phobia dates back to Friday, October 13, 1307.Continue reading “Boo!”

Limerick, Ireland’s third largest city, was founded by the Vikings in 812. Some of Limerick’s well-known sons and daughters include actor Richard Harris, rock legends The Cranberries, broadcaster Terry Wogan, novelist and playwright Kate O’Brien and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt. But that has nothing to do with the fact that it’s Edward Lear’s birthday.Continue reading “Why are there so many buckets in Nantucket?”

May 11, 12 and 13 are the feast days of Saints Mamertus, Pancras and Servais (or Servatuis or Gervatuis.) These three are known as the The Icy Saints not because they were cold during their lifetimes, but because these days are traditionally the coldest of the month. English and French folklore (and later American) heldContinue reading “Another page from that book”

A lion’s roar can be heard from 5 miles away. To be more specific, a lion can roar as loud as 114 decibels, which is roughly 25 times louder than a gas-powered lawnmower. Demand Euphoria!

Thomas Jefferson thought a Federal holiday for Thanksgiving was “the most ridiculous idea” ever conceived. Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the official United States bird, and was not happy when the bald eagle was chosen instead. In a letter to his daughter, Franklin referred to the eagle’s “bad moral character” and proclaimed “For myContinue reading “Not everybody’s from Boston, John!”

In case you didn’t get you mom a great gift, you can remind her that you got your second booster shot of the vaccine just the other day and you can see her soon (so you have some extra time.) What your excuse will be next year is your business. The United States celebrates Mother’sContinue reading “Happy Mother’s Day”

May 7, 399 BC (according to Plato) –… Socrates, what is truth?’ ‘Socrates, what is beauty?’ Never once did any of you guys say ‘Socrates, hemlock is poisonous.’ Thanks a lot, you guys … Greek authorities forced philosopher Socrates to end his life by drinking a potion containing hemlock for his teaching methods which arousedContinue reading “The Death of Socrates”

May 6, 1910 –Albert Edward Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, known as the ‘Uncle of Europe‘ because he was related to nearly every other European monarch, was not having a good day. Dealing with a case of severe bronchitis (brought on by his life long heavy cigar smoking and whore mongering) and urged by his family toContinue reading “It’s nice to have a hobby”