Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
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* It was Italian novelist, philosopher and university professor Umberto Eco who made the following sage observation: “Fear prophets and those prepared to die for the truth, for as a rule they make many others die with them, often before them, at times instead of them.” * The average (presumably non-bearded) man will shave at least 20,000 times over the course of his lifetime. * Although it is a dog, the dhole, which is native to Asia, doesn’t bark; to communicate with other members of its pack, it whistles. Evidently, that high-pitched sound ca...
* Those who make the finest wigs from human hair typically avoid buying hair from Americans. Evidently, hair grown in the United States is more likely to have damage caused by hairspray, hairdryers, dyes and pollutants. * You might be surprised to learn that the tiny nation of the Netherlands, located barely 1,000 miles from the Arctic Circle, is the world leader in yield for tomato production, producing 144,352 tons of tomatoes per square mile under cultivation. * In 1900, a prairie dog colony was found in Texas. That’s not surprising -- p...
* You’ve probably been to a restaurant with a dessert called Death by Chocolate, but the real-life event is less appetizing. After falling into a vat of boiling chocolate in New Jersey, a man died before his co-workers were able to pull him out. * It’s not known why there’s a New Jersey law banning the sale of cabbage on Sunday. * The first Band-Aid brand bandage didn’t exactly look like the Band-Aids we’re familiar with today. For instance, it was 3 inches wide and 18 inches long. A bit of overkill for a scraped elbow, I imagine. * At weddin...
* It was Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of the U.S. Congress, who made the following sage observation: “Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the basic principles of Americanism: The right to criticize; The right to hold unpopular beliefs; The right to protest; The right of independent thought.” * According to historians, British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill slept on silk sheets and...
* The unknown soul who made the following sage observation must have been a keen observer of events: “A politician can appear to have his nose to the grindstone while straddling a fence and keeping both ears to the ground.” * In the 17th century, a Frenchman opened a coffee shop in London and sold chocolate, newly imported from the Americas, for 10 to 15 shillings a pound. That may not sound like much until you learn that at the time, the going price of a pound gold was 20 to 30 shillings. * Are you interested in pogonotrophy? If you’re a woman...
STRANGE BUT TRUE by Samantha Weaver --- * It was noted American journalist, satirist and cultural critic H.L. Mencken who made the following sage observation: “Whenever ‘A’ attempts by law to impose his moral standards upon ‘B’, ‘A’ is most likely a scoundrel.” * You’re certainly aware that the Middle East has large deposits of petroleum. It makes a kind of sense, then, that one of the first uses early discovers put the substance to was to treat their camels’ mange. * As the holiday season approaches, there are some interesting traditi...
* In Finland, it is traditional to pay a visit to the steam baths on Christmas Day. Nice and clean, Finns then put on new clothes before enjoying their Christmas dinner, which is served in the evening. * The nation of Canada has the longest coastline in the world. * Lots of people dislike lawyers, right? You might be surprised to learn, though, that it isn’t a new phenomenon. In fact, in 1641 the Massachusetts Bay colony made it illegal for anyone to earn money by representing another in court, and in 1658, the legislature of Virginia passed l...
* It was 17th-century English novelist and politician Edward Bulwer-Lytton who made the following sage observation: “If you wish to be loved, show more of your faults than your virtues.” * If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, you might have found yourself wondering why it sometimes shows up on your doorstep with an offering of a dead animal. Well, there’s actually a good reason for it. It seems that the cats most likely to present owners with a gory gift are spayed females, and they’re acting out behaviors seen in the wild. Feral cats teach t...
* It was 20th-century American author and college professor David Foster Wallace who made the following sage observation: “There is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some diehard’s vote.” * Those who study such things say that many ancient Greeks carried coins in their mouths -- clothing of the time lacked pockets, you see. * In late 19-century America, parts of New England had a rather unusual Halloween tradition. Evidently, in many rural communities, boys...
* It was German dramatist, poet, philosopher and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who made the following sage observation: “Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them.” * At one time in Ireland, a traditional Halloween activity was predicting future romance. It was one of the few times of the year when young men and women could mingle, and fortune-telling games to predict who they would marry were popular. * Those who are experiencing money-related relationship issues might be int...
* It was beloved 20th-century American poet, memoirist and civil-rights activist Maya Angelou who made the following sage observation: “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” * You might be surprised to learn that in terms of holiday retail sales, Halloween is second only to Christmas. * If you’re a fan of beer and/or space, you might be interested in Celeste Jewel Beer. This ale...
* In 1946, there were only 10,000 privately owned television sets in the United States. By 1952, that number had grown to 12 million. * Those who study such things say that the mouth of an anteater is only an inch wide. * You might be surprised to learn that there is no such thing as a poisonous snake. Of course, there are venomous snakes. What’s the difference, you may ask. Well, something that is poisonous has detrimental effects when you ingest it -- for example, poisonous mushrooms. As a general rule, eating snake meat won’t hurt you. Bec...
* In Western cultures, the owl is associated with wisdom, but in some Asian countries, it’s traditionally a symbol of stupidity. * You may already know that seahorses mate for life. You may not be aware, though, that as they swim, they keep their tails linked together. * Those who study such things say that Napoleon Bonaparte was partial to cashmere underwear. * Beards may be trendy these days, but if you prefer the clean-shaven look, you belong to a group that goes back further than you think. Cave art dating back to 10,000 B.C.E. depicts g...
* It was 17th-century French philosopher Rene Descartes who made the following sage observation: “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” * Does the sight of a bald eagle inspire you with patriotism? If so, you can thank John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who overruled Benjamin Franklin when deciding on the national bird. Had Franklin had his way, we’d be looking to find national pride in the somewhat more humble turkey. * When you think of large tire...
* It was pioneering Mexican-American musician Carlos Santana who made the following sage observation: “The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” * Those who study such things say that men who tend to be womanizers when they’re single are more likely to be jealous husbands once they’re married. * Driving isn’t the only activity that is dangerous to mix with alcohol. Statistics show that 40 percent of skiers who get injured in the French Alps are legally drunk....
* Those who study such things say that the three subjects that spark the most arguments in a marriage are money, children and driving. Of course, any couple that has had to figure out a teenager’s auto insurance costs already knows that. * Dogs can be xenophobic, too -- those are the pups that are afraid of strangers. * You’ve heard of standing desks, right? These work surfaces -- which are designed to allow people to stand rather than sit while accomplishing their tasks -- have become quite popular in recent years. Standing desks are not a n...
* It was aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart who made the following sage observation: “Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn’t be done.” * Those who study such things say that as we get older, we breathe more slowly. * Sure, a group of swans can be referred to as a flock or a flight, but why not show some creativity? You can refer to a grounded group as a bank or a drift (presumably due its resemblance to a drift of snow); in the air, they can, collectively, be called a wedge. The best choice, however, might be the fanciful term “a la...
* It was American journalist and political satirist P.J. O’Rourke who made the following sage observation: “No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power.” * If you’re like many Americans, you celebrate the Fourth of July by cooking out. In fact, it’s estimated that in the United States, 150 million hot dogs and 700 million pounds of chicken are consumed on that single d...
