I Didn't Know That

Q: Why are many coin banks shaped like pigs?
A: Long ago, dishes and cookware in Europe were made of a dense orange clay called "pygg". When people saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as "pygg banks." When an English potter misunderstood the word, he made a bank that resembled a pig. And it caught on.

Q: Did you ever won der why dimes, quarters and half dollars have notches, while pennies and nickels do not?
A: The US Mint began putting notches on the edges of coins containing gold and silver to discourage holders from shaving off small quantities of the precious metals Dimes, quarters and half dollars are notched because they used to contain silver. Pennies and nickels aren't notched because the metals they contain are not valuable enough to shave..

Q: Why do men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's clothes have buttons on the left?
A: When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn primarily by the rich. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right. Since most people are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes on the left. And that's where women's buttons have remained since.

Q: Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses?
A: In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or write, documents were often signed using an X. Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill obligations specified in the document. The X and the kiss eventually became synonymous.

Q: Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called "passing the buck"?
A: In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a buck, from player to player to indicate whose turn it w as to deal. If a player did not wish to assume the responsibility, he would "pass the buck" to the next player.

Q: Why do people clink their glasses before drinking a toast?
A: It used to be common for someone to try to kill an enemy by offering him a poisoned drink. To prove to a guest that a drink was safe, it became customary for a guest to pour a small amount of his drink into the glass of the host. Both men would drink it simultaneously. When a guest trusted his host, he would then just touch or clink the host's glass with his own.

Q: Why are people in the public eye said to be "in the limelight"?
A: Invented in 1825, limelight was used in lighthouses and stage lighting by burning a cylinder of lime which produced a brilliant light. In the theatre, performers on stage "in the limelight" were seen by the audience to be the center of attention.

Q: Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use "mayday"as their call for help? A: This comes from the French word m'aidez -meaning "help me" -- and is pronounced " mayday,"

Q: Why is someone who is feeling great "on cloud nine"?
A: Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud If someone is said to be on cloud nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares..

Q: Why are zero scores in tennis called "love"?
A: In France , where tennis first became popular, a big, round zero on scoreboard looked like an egg and was called "l'oeuf," which is French for "egg." When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans pronounced it "love."

Q: In golf, where did the term "Caddie" come from?
A. When Mary, later Queen of Scots, went to France as a young girl (for education & survival), Louis, King of France, learned that she loved the Scot game "golf." So he had the first golf course outside of Scotland built for her enjoyment. To make sure she was properly chaperoned (and guarded) while she played, Louis hired cadets from a military school to accompany her. Mary liked this a lot and when she returned to Scotland (not a very good idea in the long run), she took the practice with her. In French, the word cadet is pronounced 'ca-day' and the Scots changed it into "caddie."

Obstacle Course

Obstacle Course
This is the best Japanese game clip I've ever seen in my life. This guy is insane. He's ninja status.

Grammar Girl

Grammar Girl is a site that goes over a different grammar mistake every day. They're common ones that a normal writer will overlook or get confused on. It's a really really fun site, whether you're a writer or not. Learn something. =)

Read a Book

Read a Book from College Humor.

Sheriff of Grammar

Michael Buble

I saw him in concert at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. This was one of the best concerts I've ever gone to. A jazz performer that is funny, witty, and charmingly handsome...in addition to his GREAT voice. Best night EVER!!! If you ever get a chance to see him, take it! He performs Home, Fever, and Feelin' Good from his previous albums. From the new album Call Me Irresponsible, he performs Always On My Mind, Mrs Jones, and some other great ones. The band is also very engaging in the show so it's a roundabout great performance.

Reading

One in four Americans do not read a single book in one year! I cannot even imagine what else I would be doing during the summers when I had SHIT to do. You can't go out on your own, can't go clubbing, can't think for yourself even...so you read!! Where you fall in poll of U.S. reading habits is an article posted by CNN a few days ago. I know that I read a hell of a lot more than 7 books per year....however, now that I am in law school, I think it just may be 7 books that I read this year and here they are:
Contracts casebook
Torts casebook
Real Property casebook
Civil Procedure casebook
Legal Analysis
Supplements for these insane books
and then a book for Legal Writing.

First Day

First day of orientation.
They gave us reading to do for the first day of school.
Hell has begun.

Damien Rice

Damien Rice is coming to LA and I am going to his concert in September! This is the best song on his album...9 Crimes .