It's Good/Fun to Know


It’s Fun to Know: The Original Landfill
by ETR (08/05/2008)

Garbage collection and disposal has been a concern for mankind since prehistoric times.

It’s Good to Know: Oil by the Barrel
by ETR (08/04/2008)

Oil, or petroleum, hasn't been stored in barrels for more than a hundred years.

It’s Fun to Know: The Origin of Ketchup
by ETR (08/02/2008)

The ketchup on American tables today has come a long way. It originated in China more than 500 years ago, and was called "ke-tsiap."

It’s Good to Know: The Grawlix
by ETR (08/01/2008)

Writers and cartoonists commonly use a series of symbols to indicate bad language.

It’s Fun to Know: Cloning Spot
by ETR (07/31/2008)

If you can't bear to live without your pet dog, two competing South Korean labs might be able to help you out when he passes away.

It’s Good to Know: Minimum Credit Card Transactions
by ETR (07/30/2008)

You've no doubt seen these signs at your local market, convenience store, and other businesses: "No credit card transactions under $10."

It’s Fun to Know: The Next Solar Eclipse
by ETR (07/29/2008)

The next total solar eclipse will take place this coming Friday, August 1.

It’s Good to Know: Young Athletes, Grown-Up Injuries
by ETR (07/28/2008)

If your kids play sports, take note. In recent years, doctors have seen a dramatic rise in the number of young children requiring treatment for common adult-athlete injuries, including stress fractures, tendonitis, cartilage damage, and even torn ACLs (anterior cruciate ligaments).

It’s Fun to Know: The World’s Most Disappointing Tourist Attraction
by ETR (07/26/2008)

Crystal Falls, MI is home to what may be the world's largest and oldest living organism. It's a fungus that lies beneath 38 acres of forest floor near the Wisconsin border.

It’s Good to Know: Green Goddess Dressing
by Charlie Byrne (07/25/2008)

In a review about a new steakhouse here in Delray Beach, the writer said she'd ordered a salad with green goddess dressing.

It’s Fun to Know: Where to Get Your Garlic Fix
by ETR (07/24/2008)

ETR health experts have been touting the health benefits of garlic for years. It's a cancer fighter, it can lower your blood pressure, and it can even help you lose weight. If you're a garlic fan, you won't want to miss these festivals:

It’s Good to Know: Smart Pigs
by ETR (07/23/2008)

The word "pig" doesn't always refer to barnyard animals or chauvinistic people. It's also the term for devices that help keep gas and oil pipelines in tip-top shape.

It’s Fun to Know: The Pet Prescription
by ETR (07/22/2008)

You love Fido with all your heart. So when he starts getting depressed, it's natural to wonder whether a drug like Prozac will help him feel better

It’s Good to Know: How to Measure Things Without a Ruler
by ETR (07/21/2008)

When you don't have a ruler handy, use one of the following to estimate sizes.

It’s Fun to Know: Life in the Ocean
by ETR (07/19/2008)

A worldwide team of marine biologists and other scientists are developing a comprehensive online database of all the species that live in the world's oceans.

It’s Good to Know: Urge Surfing
by Judith Strauss (07/18/2008)

"Urge surfing" is a technique developed by psychologist Alan Marlatt to prevent recovering addicts from relapsing. It's based on the idea that cravings come in waves, growing stronger and more powerful before cresting and then disappearing. Patients are taught to ride out the wave with a combination of meditation and focused breathing.

It’s Fun to Know: The World’s Tallest Known Tree
by ETR (07/17/2008)

In a remote section of California's Redwood National Park stands Hyperion, the world's tallest known tree.

It’s Good to Know: The Internet Archive
by ETR (07/16/2008)

It’s Fun to Know: A New Menu for the Olympics
by ETR (07/15/2008)

The Beijing Olympics are coming up in August, and Chinese officials have been preparing for it well in advance of the competitions.

It’s Good to Know: A Quick and Easy E-Mail Backup System
by ETR (07/14/2008)

You no doubt know that you should be backing up important files on your computer. But what if you don't have access to your office's server, a flash memory drive, or another backup system?

It’s Fun to Know: The Largest Diamond in the Universe
by ETR (07/12/2008)

The largest diamond ever mined on Earth weighed in at 3,000 carats (about 1.3 pounds) before being cut.

It’s Good to Know: The Vinyl Frontier
by ETR (07/11/2008)

Hey, baby boomer, you didn't throw out your record player and all your old LPs, did you? You see, vinyl is experiencing something of a renaissance.

It’s Fun to Know: Is that Pint Really a Pint?
by ETR (07/10/2008)

It’s Good to Know: In-Flight Terrorist-Detecting Cameras
by ETR (07/09/2008)

European airlines are testing a combination of cameras and software to detect possible terrorist activity on commercial airplanes.

It’s Fun to Know: The Largest Mall in the World
by ETR (07/08/2008)

The 7-million-square-foot South China Mall in Dongguan, China is the largest in the world

t’s Good to Know: Music Seizures
by ETR (07/07/2008)

Musicogenic epilepsy is a rare condition (only 150 cases have ever been reported) in which sufferers have seizures when they hear certain types of music.

It’s Fun to Know: The Origin of the Expression “Win Hands Down”
by ETR (07/05/2008)

To win something "hands down" means to win easily. But where does the phrase come from?

It’s Good to Know: Your Morning Whiff of Joe
by ETR (07/04/2008)

Coffee is part of the morning wake-up ritual for millions of people worldwide. But recent research by South Korean scientists indicates that you might not have to drink it to get that "pick-me-up" effect.

It’s Fun to Know: The Deadly Artistry of Spider Webs
by ETR (07/03/2008)

It turns out that the intricate designs of spider webs might not just be for show.

It’s Good to Know: Living Syringes
by ETR (07/02/2008)

Zoo veterinarians have always found it difficult to draw blood from their animals. Large animals often need to be sedated first, and with small animals it is difficult to find a vein.
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