The Post of Mind Blowing Facts

While listening to NPR, I heard a guest say that we are at our most alert and excited when we are learning. Anytime we are given new information that we can process and understand, we're like gratified monkeys who just figured out where the bananas are kept. I get it, I, along with my family, spout random facts at each other around the clock, because information is irresistible.

Every year, I learn something mind blowing. Through magazines in Dr.'s offices and newspapers at the dentist, listening to public radio, TED talks, school field trips, or what my children tell me when I pick them up from school and say, “Ride home will cost you one interesting fact from today.”

They've coughed up some good stuff this year.

 

Now, tell me these things don't get you all hot and bothered, too:

George Washington lost most of the battles he fought in.

You can prove anything with math.

Eating less carbs and more protein makes you feel better. ( I did it. It worked.)

You can make yourself exercise, even if you don't want to do it and you can do more than you want to. (1st part yes, 2nd part, no)

Drinking water does cure a lot of what ails you.

Naps matter! They allow our brain to “housekeep” and solidify memory. (say no more)

Meditation helps with anxiety.

Music will always help with any mood or long put off task.

A hot shower is still the best, cheapest, most possible escape. And one at midnight puts you to sleep like a powdered baby. (the 2nd sentence is my fact)

The word ‘man’ was originally completely gender neutral, meaning more or less the same as the modern day word “person”. It wasn’t until about a thousand years ago that the word “man” started to refer to a male only.

The bigger the navel on a navel orange, the sweeter it will be. (I still can't believe how it's always true.)

Dogs and cats do not see in only black and white.

The NFL is a non profit and receives 100 percent of ticket sales. (and are tax-exempt)

The first physician to perform a C-section was a woman disguised as a man. She attended medical school dressed as a man. This wasn't discovered until after her death. (women are more awesome than history lets them be)

Cheerios was originally Cheery Oats. (this is my favorite)

Mild mannered Mr. Rogers swam naked every morning. (still waters run deep)

Coffee in the morning does make you more alert. (duh)

Teddy Roosevelt was shot in Milwaukee. (WOW)

Andrew Jackson lived with a bullet inside of him for a long time.

If the population of China walked past you it would never end because of the continuing birth rate.

Russia didn't consider beer alcohol until 2011. Until then it was a soft drink.

Caterpillars totally liquefy before transforming into butterflies or moths. wuuuuuut??

Naked mole rats are neither moles, nor rats. They are also incredible in the physiology department: most amazing: imperviousness to pain, low-oxygen needs, and resistance to cancer. (and still ugly)

 

*I'll stop here, because a heart can only take just so much heart pounding enlightenment. But I promise you, if anything new comes my way, you'll be the first to know.

Xo (origin of the xo signoff: middle ages, the X because many were illiterate and the O for the eternal circle of love)

 

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