Random thoughts

[Lucy]

This is a place for random thoughts/observations I have been thinking about. The list is getting long in my head. Needed some place to put it. Some of them are questions I haven't looked up the answers to yet but I am curious about. People can add their own if they wish.

Why does our interstate have a speed limit but the Autobahn doesn't?

If you’re 'up' for something, you’re usually happy about it. If you’re 'down' for something, you’re also usually happy about it. English is weird.

If you think about it, your birthday is just the anniversary of the day you were evicted from your first apartment.

We call it 'the news,' but it’s almost always just stuff that happened yesterday.

If you’re waiting for the waiter at a restaurant, aren't you the waiter?

If money is at the root of all evil, why do churches ask for it?

Humans are the only species that pay to live!

The banana used to be the food that most looked like a phone. Now it’s the pop tart.

In order to fall asleep we have to pretend to be asleep.

Why are people so afraid to make mistakes when it is how we learn?

Why is it easier to offer forgiveness to others than it is to forgive yourself?

Why did certain countries develop deeply rooted tipping cultures, while others view tipping as an insult?

Why are certain national borders drawn in perfectly straight geometric lines instead of following natural landscapes?

Why do some countries design cities for pedestrians and bicycles, while others build exclusively for cars?

Why do certain nations use entirely unique electrical plug types and voltages instead of a global standard?

Why do certain nations completely eliminate standardized testing in schools, while others base a student's entire future on a single exam?

Why are there no street names or house numbers in the postal system of Costa Rica?

Why does Norway deliberately choose to store its massive oil wealth in a giant global fund instead of spending it domestically?

Why is it considered a major insult to show the soles of your shoes to someone in Middle Eastern cultures?

Why do people in Finland routinely leave their sleeping babies in strollers outside in sub-zero temperatures?

Why does the tiny nation of Tuvalu earn millions of dollars a year just from owning the ".tv" internet domain?

Why does Germany still heavily rely on cash payments for daily transactions while neighboring nations have gone almost entirely cashless?

Why is it tradition in Denmark to splash cinnamon all over single people on their 25th birthday?

Why do France and Spain trade ownership of a single island (Pheasant Island) back and forth every six months?

Why are traditional houses in the Netherlands built with prominent iron hooks sticking out of their top roofs?

Why are historical buildings in Prague marked with unique animal symbols (like a golden horseshoe or a red fox) instead of standard street numbers?

Why do farmers in Peru grow thousands of varieties of potatoes at different altitudes rather than focusing on the single highest-yielding crop?

(More questions and stuff to come.)

 

[Lucy]

How does the insect get inside the Mexican Jumping bean?

Who was the first human to look at a cow and think, "I wonder what that white stuff tastes like coming out of the udder?

Why can turtles carry Salmonella bacteria in their intestinal tract and it not make them sick?

How is it that our government can print money from nothing? and do other governments do that?

Did we really have founding fathers?

Who decided red meant stop and green meant go?

Why was Venice built on stilts?

Why are manhole covers round?

Why do some monks fast for such long periods?

Why does the rest of the world seem to use military time in every day life but we don't?

Who established the international date line?

 

[Jade]

Those are a lot of questions, Lucy, some may answer your questions...however, I'll give you one the rest search on the internet and everything will be answer.

Who established the international date line?

answer: The International Meridian Conference in 1884 in Washington, DC as an imaginary line following the 180-degree meridian, marking the boundary between one calendar and the next.

 

[Julie Justice]

@Lucy. The Bible verse that you are (probably) referring to, comes from 1 Timothy 6:10.
"For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some have coveted after it, they have erred in faith; and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

The verse is telling us to keep money in the proper place in our lives; and not be greedy; not that money itself is bad. Jesus was taught to be a carpenter by his foster father, Joseph. Peter was a fisherman, when he first met Jesus. Matthew was a tax collector (which was even more hated back then; because they represented the foreign-occupying power of Rome--and Scripture tells us that Matthew left that job when he became a disciple of Jesus) but I assure you all these people expected to be paid for the services they provided.

The reason that most churches have a tax exempt status is that they don't own the land they are on; and they have no way to generate enough money to pay those kinds of taxes; and anything that they make or sell or any collections of money, food, or clothing that they might take up go to benefit the needs of the congregation and their communities.

But, this was always the way it was. Remember, what you and I consider the Early Christian Church was actually rooted in the Jewish religion. Remember that Joseph, Mary (Mother of Jesus) Jesus, Himself, and all of the original 12 disciples (including Matthew, the tax collector) were all Jewish and followed the Scriptures of the Torah (which is the first five books of the Old Testament of our Christian Bible). So when you read a verse that says,"Take care of the widow and the orphan" it was the local Synagogue or the Temple in Jerusalem that did that. Not the foreign-occupying force of the Roman government.

 

[Lucy]

I really like Jade's idea of making a "What I Learned" series. But I've realized I have way too many questions floating around in my head that I want to explore. So I figured this thread could be my place to collect them.

I also wanted to add something I learned recently! One of my questions was, "What did people do before alarm clocks?

I found out that people used some really creative methods. One was putting nails into candles. As the candle burned down, the nail would eventually fall onto a metal tray or another hard surface, making a noise that could wake them up.

There were also people whose actual job was to wake others up. They were called knocker-uppers, and they would tap on windows with long sticks or throw tiny pebbles until the person woke up!

Thousands of years ago, some civilizations used water clocks. As water slowly dripped from one container to another, it eventually raised a float, triggered a lever, or rang a bell.

Church bells, In many towns, people didn't need individual alarms. The local church bells rang: before sunrise, at the start of work, for meals, and at other regular times.
Roosters! Other family members!

Did you know facts:

The plastic tip on the end of a shoelace is called an Aglet!

The little metal band that holds the eraser onto a pencil is called a ferrule.

The little dent in the bottom of many whine bottles is called a "punt"?

The grooves on the edge of a coin are called reeding.

The little metal plate around a keyhole is called an escutcheon.

The dots on dice are called pips.

The dot over the letters i and j has a name. It's called a tittle.

The symbol & is called an ampersand

That little extra pocket inside your front pocket was originally designed for a pocket watch. It's sometimes called a watch pocket.

Did you know the raised bumps on the letters F and J on a keyboard have a purpose?
They're called home row markers. They help you place your fingers correctly without looking.

The @ symbol was used in commerce long before computers. It meant "at the rate of" (like "5 apples @ $1 each").

Did you know the little plastic strip on the edge of a zipper has a name?
It's called a zipper pull when you grab it, and the slider is the part that moves up and down the teeth.

Bananas are berries, but berries aren't?

turtles can breathe through specialized tissues near their rear ends while hibernating underwater, allowing them to survive months beneath ice.

Bodies can make sounds after death as gasses move through the body. These noises have startled people for centuries.

 

[Jade]

Lucy, no wonder you got lots of questions waiting for you with answers beside using the computer why read non-fiction books to give you answers as well.

Just take it easy on yourself and let your brain calm down until the next to make another 'What I learned' series like I'm taking a break from the Studio and getting some ideas for my next story.

 

[Lucy]

So for this question, @Julie Justice and I looked it up together. Please enjoy.

What "we" learned:

How did the stork become associated with babies?

So, apparently, this myth goes back centuries to Greece when Hera transformed a rival into stork. The transformed stork refused to leave the new born, Gerena, scooped her baby up in a blanket with her beak, and flew off.

There is also a similar connection in Egyptian myth, Where Bennu, flew over the waters of Nun, before creation. When Bennu landed on a rock and let out a cry, it determined what would be included in the unfolding world.

More recent research suggestions that Gerena was transformed into a Crane, not a stork, and archaeological evidence indicates that Bennu was likely inspired by a now-extinct species of large heron that once lived on the Arabian Peninsula.

Another bird that may have been confused with the stork, and which contributed to the idea of storks as bringers of life, is the pelican. In Catholic symbolism, the image of a mother pelican feeding her chicks is deeply symbolic.

According to legend, a brood of young pelicans, despite being lovingly cared for, became increasingly aggressive toward their mother, pecking at her and wounding her. In a fit of anger, she struck out with her sharp beak, killing them. Three days later, overcome with remorse, she pierced her own breast, drawing blood that dripped onto her chicks, miraculously reviving them while she perished, an ultimate act of sacrifice.

We found it most interesting that this was referenced by Shakespeare.

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms
And, like the kind life-rend’ring pelican,
Repast them with my blood.

In the 19th century it was Hans Christian Anderson who popularized the stork and babies with a dark and unsettling twist in his tale The Storks.

People in Northern Europe also noticed their flight patterns, They would go South for the Winter, and return exactly nine months later in the Spring. Villagers noticed that they would get back just in time for a wave of new births.

European peasants had observed that storks nested on the little-used gallows or “Catherine” wheel in towns. These looked like wagon wheels positioned horizontally on tall poles, and storks found them a safe place to nest. The birds were regarded as good luck, so it was not uncommon for people to construct a similar wheel on top of their roofs to attract storks. When children asked about the origin of the infant, it was easy to suggest that it had arrived by way of the chimney and that the stork had accomplished this deed.

(Julie if you find I missed something, let me know and I'll edit this.)

More Questions:

Are they really going to get rid of the U.N?

Why do some leaders treat my questions like threats?

Why does it seem like our educational system wants to take away our creativity?

Why are European keyboards different than American ones? What about the rest of the world?

why do escalators have brushes on the side?

Why do tennis balls have fuzz?

Why do elevators have mirrors?

Why do a handful of companies control food in the USA?

Why isn't our money backed by gold anymore?

Is it true the reason we have summer break in school was so kids could help their parents with the planting of crops?

Why was Satan's/serpent punishment to slither on its belly all the days of his life?

Why are soda bottles shaped the way they are?

Why do political disagreements sometimes escalate into labeling and demonetization?

Do the Japanese still sleep on the floor? and why? Plus, do they wear kimonos outside of celebrations?

Why do other countries start you off with a family to help you integrate into the culture, but America doesn't?

Why are some words considered rude?

Where do accents come from?

Why do computers use binary?

Why do certain colors feel a certain way?

Why does anesthesia knock people out?

Why does salt melt ice?

Why does time move differently in space?

Why does the Moon have phases?

Why does metal rust?

Why don't we like the sound of our own voice?

why is the unicorn the national animal of Scotland

Do other countries have mythical animals for their national animals?

Why are so many deaths associated with the Hungarian Death song, and did the BBC really ban it for so many years?

Why don't we remember the moment we fall asleep?

If the Nazis were the Third Reich, What were the 1st and 2nd?

Why are they called "spicy" kitties?

Why were Japanese houses made of paper?

 

[Jade]

So many questions, a lot of answers like 'spicy' kitties...

A cat who is 'spicy' often has independent nature [prefers their own space, not clingy], playful aggression [mock attacks or swats while playing], clear boundaries [quick to say 'no' to petting], vocalizations [hissing, growling or chirping when annoyed], high energy [needs lots of play and mental stimulation], and selective affection [affectionate in subtle ways, like sleeping with you] (That is according to iere.org/ I don't own this answer whatsoever).

The rest of the questions well, I hope everyone looks for the answers for you like me and Julie did

 

[Lucy]

In honor of Dolly Parton passing I want to do some facts about her and random other facts:

Dolly Parton was 1 of 12 siblings.

Her first single was "Puppy Love" recorded in 1957.

When she was 13 she performed at the Grand Old Opry

Parton had a television show that debuted in 1976 called Dolly. The show had 26 episodes before it ended in 1977.

Parton’s first film was 9 to 5, released in 1980.

Dolly has a never-before-heard song locked away at Dollywood that will be released in 2045.

Dolly’s book with James Patterson, Run, Rose, Run, is being turned into a film by Sony Pictures along with Reese Witherspoon‘s production company, Hello Sunshine.

Parton has released at least 50 duets, including “I Will Always Love You” with Vince Gill, “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers, and “Here I Am” with Sia for the 2018 Netflix film Dumplin’.

Dolly has been offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice and turned it down. The first time she turned it down because of her husband’s illness and the second time because of the pandemic.

Dolly is featured in two Funko Pops, which were announced in early 2023.

Dolly Parton was a guest on “The Simpsons”, where she voiced herself.

Parton acted in approximately 135 movies, television shows, and music videos according to IMDb.

Dolly doesn’t have any children of her own. According to Today, Parton told Oprah Winfrey that she believed God didn’t mean for her to have kids so that everybody’s kids could be hers.

In 1977, Dolly met Queen Elizabeth II in London.

Parton raised over $9 million in a telethon for her My People Fund, which gave $1,000 checks to families affected by the wildfires monthly for 6 months. The fund received enough donations that the final check fire victims were given was $5,000.

Parton was recognized by the FBI for helping Gatlinburg wildfire victims. The FBI gave the 2018 Directors Community Leadership Award to the Dollywood Foundation.

Parton saved an actor’s life by pulling him out of the path of an oncoming vehicle on the set of ‘Christmas on the Square’.



What else have I learned?

The word “muscle” comes from Latin term meaning “little mouse“, which is what Ancient Romans thought flexed bicep muscles resembled.

Bodies give off a tiny amount of light that’s too weak for the eye to see.

The average person has 67 different species of bacteria in their belly button.

Babies don’t shed tears until they’re at least one month old.

Your left lung is about 10 percent smaller than your right one.

Scientists estimate that the nose can recognize a trillion different scents!

Humans are the only species known to blush.

You blink more than 10,000 times per day

When you learn, you change the structure of your brain.

You lose about 4kg of skin cells every year

 

[Jade]

In honor of Dolly Parton passing I want to do some facts about her and random other facts:

Dolly Parton was 1 of 12 siblings.

Her first single was "Puppy Love" recorded in 1957.

When she was 13 she performed at the Grand Old Opry

Parton had a television show that debuted in 1976 called Dolly. The show had 26 episodes before it ended in 1977.

Parton’s first film was 9 to 5, released in 1980.

Dolly has a never-before-heard song locked away at Dollywood that will be released in 2045.

Dolly’s book with James Patterson, Run, Rose, Run, is being turned into a film by Sony Pictures along with Reese Witherspoon‘s production company, Hello Sunshine.

Parton has released at least 50 duets, including “I Will Always Love You” with Vince Gill, “Islands in the Stream” with Kenny Rogers, and “Here I Am” with Sia for the 2018 Netflix film Dumplin’.

Dolly has been offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice and turned it down. The first time she turned it down because of her husband’s illness and the second time because of the pandemic.

Dolly is featured in two Funko Pops, which were announced in early 2023.

Dolly Parton was a guest on “The Simpsons”, where she voiced herself.

Parton acted in approximately 135 movies, television shows, and music videos according to IMDb.

Dolly doesn’t have any children of her own. According to Today, Parton told Oprah Winfrey that she believed God didn’t mean for her to have kids so that everybody’s kids could be hers.

In 1977, Dolly met Queen Elizabeth II in London.

Parton raised over $9 million in a telethon for her My People Fund, which gave $1,000 checks to families affected by the wildfires monthly for 6 months. The fund received enough donations that the final check fire victims were given was $5,000.

Parton was recognized by the FBI for helping Gatlinburg wildfire victims. The FBI gave the 2018 Directors Community Leadership Award to the Dollywood Foundation.

Parton saved an actor’s life by pulling him out of the path of an oncoming vehicle on the set of ‘Christmas on the Square’.

Well done, Lucy and everything about Dolly is true and there some places and an organization named after her...

1. She co-owns places with Herschend for varieties of entertainment... [I don't own this information whatsoever]

a. Dollywood [alias Rebel Railroad in 1961, Goldrush Junction in 1964, Goldrush in 1975 and Silver Dollar City Tennessee in 1977 until May 3, 1986, when its reopened as of forty years ago]

b. Stampede [alias Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede in 1988: a dinner show]
c. Dollywood's Splash Country in 2001 [opens only in May through September]
d. Dollywood Cabins in 2010 [lodging]

e. Pirates Voyage in 2011 [another dinner show after converting then Dixie Stampede in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]

f. Dollywood's DreamMore resort in 2015 [lodging with a spa service]
g. Dollywood's Heartsong lodge and resort [lodging with a convention center]

2. She founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 [ Again, I don't this information or its foundation whatsoever]

a. the Buddy Program in 1990 or 1991 for students in seventh and eighth grade to combat the high dropout rate.

b. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library founded in 1995 for children from birth to five years old for free books [it started in Sevier County, Tennessee; then launched in 1996 then it grows that program worldwide]

c. Dolly Parton Scholarship in 2000 [Only five students from each high school in Sevier County will receive $15,000 for further higher education for their own dream]

d. She not only help children she helps families in 2007 she helps the Sevier County Hospital Birthing Unit to launch the Dolly Parton Center for Women's Services and expanded healthcare resources throughout the region.

e. My People Fund in 2016 [After a wildfire that spreads around Sevier County, she and the Dollywood foundation raise more than twelve million dollars to those who lost their own homes]

f. Sevier County isn't the ones who needed help from the Dollywood Foundation in fact in 2024 after Hurricane Helene causes a disaster in Western North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee more than two million dollars to support relief and recovery efforts to those [in Western North Carolina and Northeast Tennessee] not only lost their loved ones but their homes as well.

3. Most recently this year...The East Tennessee Children's Hospital [in Knoxville, Tennessee] changes its name to Dolly Parton Children Hospital on February 26th and before she passed away, she opened Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee on June 24th.

There are more places that remembered Dolly Parton in Sevierville like the statue at the courthouse or The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, comes to think of it I remember she may or may not appeared in Where in America is Carmen Sandiego? when Carmen, Justin Case, Ken Hartley Reed and Kitty Litter robbed around there it hard to find out which of the female country singers that looks like her.