According to a pet veterinarian group, more than 50 percent of the mature domestic cats in the U.S. are lactose intolerant. This information would indicate that feeding your kitty a bowl of milk may contribute to the animal’s bloating, abdominal pain, excessive flatulence, vomiting and diarrhea. The statement was news to me – I had long thought milk to be a perfect food for our household felines.
In the movie Titanic, one of the lead characters (Jack) reminisces about ice fishing with his dad on Lake Wissota. It seems that Lake Wissota did not exist until a dam was constructed in 1917. The Titanic sank in 1912.
Power saws have likely been around a lot longer than you might guess. Archeological evidence indicates that ancients were using metal saws powered by water wheels to cut marble slabs by 200 B.C.
Insurance statisticians are quite aware that residences constructed during the last two decades are generally twice as susceptible to fire as houses built previously. New designs and cheaper materials make contemporary dwellings easier to ignite, faster to combust and more difficult to extinguish than abodes of yesteryear.
Legendary film star John Wayne was born in Iowa. However, it is Texas that has officially declared May 26 (Marion Robert Morrison’s birthday) to be John Wayne Day. He was nicknamed “The Duke” because of an obvious fondness for his family dog, Big Duke.
Pickles are a favorite condiment and that has apparently been the situation for millennia. The cucumber/brine food has been around at least since 2000 B.C. in the Tigris Valley. Aristotle praised the healing effects of pickles. Queen Elizabeth I often ate pickles while snacking or dining. William Shakespeare made reference to pickles in three of his plays. Thomas Jefferson declared that a jar of freshly opened pickles was “comforting” on a hot day. During World War II, the U.S. government rationed the distribution of commercially produced pickles. In 1985 one Steven Trotter attached two pickle barrels together, climbed inside his contrivance and survived a plunge over Niagara Falls. There exists a Pickle Street in West Virginia. Of course you know that National Pickle Day is November 14.
The first National Republican Convention was held in 1856. John C. (Charles) Fremont was the presidential nominee. The first DNC gathering was in 1832 with Andrew Jackson nominated for the presidency. Well, enjoy some pickles while getting “comfortable” – and have a great week.
James White is a retired mathematics teacher who enjoys sharing fascinating trivia. He can be reached at [email protected].
