Twenty-Two More Interesting Trivia

Happy Friday, Everyone!

This is a very special Freestyle Friday blog post. In continuation with Last Saturday’s post about trivial tidbits, here are twenty-two more for you. Check these out:

·         Thomas Edison one tried to invent a helicopter engine that ran on gunpowder. He was forced to end the experiments… after blowing up his lab.

·         It is completely impossible for a person to recite the letters of the alphabet without moving their lips or tongue; all letters sound the same.

·         In 1796, the state of Franklin changed its name to Tennessee. In 1861, the state of Kanawha changed its name to West Virginia.

·         Kids laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.

·         Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime… and it was purchased by his brother, Theo.

·         The first American novel to ever to sell one million copies was Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which was published in 1852.

·         Natural gas has no odor, but it can still be smelled, since scent is artificially added to it as a means of detecting leaks.

·         Sherlock Holmes never said “Elementary, my dear Watson,” and Captain Kirk never said “Beam me up, Scotty.”

·         In 1938, the two creators of Superman sold all the right to the character and the concept for $130.

·         The first-ever video on MTV was The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star.” The first by an African-American artist: Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.”

·         In the Gilligan’s Island series, the skipper’s name is Jonas Grumby, and the professor’s name is Roy Hinkley. Their names were used only once—in the pilot.

·         The green rooster on the front of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes is actually named Cornelius. He made his debut in 1957, and is still on boxes today.

·         The top hat was so controversial that, when its inventor first wore it out in public in 1797, he was arrested for disturbing the peace.

·         “The whole nine yards” refers to the string of bullets used with airplane-mounted guns during World War I, which were 27 feet (nine yards) long.

·         Contrary to popular belief, the Great Wall of China is too narrow to be seen from space. One can, however, see the Hoover Dam and the Giza Pyramids.

·         It snows more in the Grand Canyon than it does in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The largest natural snowflake ever recorded was fifteen inches wide.

·         The only real people to be Pez heads were Paul Revere, Daniel Boone, and Betsy Ross, issued in the 1970s, and the Orange County Choppers, in 2006.

·         The word “oink” for the sound of a pig is “ood” in Thai, “snork” in Afrikaans, “chro” in Czech, “buu” in Japanese, and “hulu” in Mandarin.

·         The fastest moving muscle in the human body is the one that opens and closes the eyelid… “As fast as the blink of an eye!”

·         The first postage stamp, called the “One Penny Black,” was issued in 1840 and featured a portrait of the young Queen Victoria.

·         Abandoned titles for The Great Gatsby included “Trimalchio in West Egg,” “Under the Red, White, and Blue,” and “The High-Bouncing Lover.”

·         The longest airport runway in the world (3.4 miles) is at Bamda Airport in Tibet. It is also the highest (altitude of 2.7 miles).

The reason why I boldfaced Item #11 is because I already knew that one, particularly because of watching Gilligan’s Island with my fam and friends.

I also want to thank my fellow Southern Cali native Nikki Douglas for this information. Perhaps one day, I will throw these tidbits of information in one of my lessons and quiz my future kindergarten class, just to see if they were really paying attention to me… hahaha!

Well, I’ll holla at y’all tomorrow. Take care.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

My Secret Admirer Returns... In A Manner of Speaking!

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

So, check this out, y’all… well, as you can tell by the title of today’s blog post, my secret admirer has—for lack of a much better term—made his first appearance of 2014. He presented me with a letter via Ruby, and I gotta say, this is perhaps the most sweetest letter that he’s ever given me.

And yes, I am aware that “most sweetest” is a touch redundant, but that’s how sweet it is. Just listen to this:

Dearest Natasha:

Even though we are sixteen days in, I still would like to wish you a Happy New Year. I hope that your 2014 will be just as great as this past year, if not better.

And now for the real reason behind this letter: You see, everyone looks to live happily ever after long before they check out what happened once upon a time, and it’s very easy to pretend that you’re not pretending—that is, until the naked truth makes itself known. Now, I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I do know this much: You are totally different from these other girls… as a matter of fact, you’re not a girl—you’re a woman. I’ve seen how you carry yourself, and I like it! I like how you have confidence in yourself; it shows in the way you walk and talk. You’ve got a no-nonsense side that is second-to-none, and I like how you have a silly, playful side as well. It goes without saying, Natasha, but you’re a total package.

I don’t know what your plans are for Valentine’s Day, and if I am too late, then that’s just a cross that I’ll have to bear. Nevertheless, I am a man of my word, and I want to get you a small gift, just to let you know that I think you are truly special.

Until next time, you have a great day, and God Bless.

Sincerely,

Your Secret Admirer

So, it appears that I’m finally gonna meet my secret admirer in about four weeks’ time. I truly hope this is not a game, because my heart cannot afford to be played with. I’ve already said that I refuse to be a fool again, and besides, it’s gonna take a very special guy to figure out the combination to my heart. That’s right, folks—my heart is still on lockdown! Granted, Craig is a nice guy, and this secret admirer is quite a charmer as well, but for now, I cannot take a chance on another heartbreak. I truly hope they both understand.

Nevertheless, I do enjoy the attention… a lot!

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Catch-22

Hi, Everyone!

Today’s blog post is a continuation from yesterday afternoon.

So, check this out: On the way to our Spanish II class this afternoon, Ruby and Theo were teasing me about my “new boyfriend” Craig Dixon. I emphatically stated that Craig was not my boyfriend, nor would I string him along and play with his heart. Almost as soon as I said that, Theo asked me if I still had any reminders of that silly boy back in Cali, to which I responded that I only had one—the Share Bear Care Bear that he got me for Valentine’s Day last year.

Well, y’all ought know Ruby’s personality by now—she emphatically confessed on my behalf that I still had all of Ray’s love letters, cards, and the ladybug clip for my hair. Ruby then made it clear to Theo that she had suggested on numerous occasions that I get rid of everything that reminded me of my past. I assured Ruby and Theo that all of my past was stuffed in a box, especially the Care Bear.

It was then that Theo dropped some serious knowledge on me. He caught me by my arm and said, “Now, Natasha, I remember reading in the Bible about a time where the Israelites were instructed to leave nothing alive, but they didn’t. If I remember correctly, they left the Philistines alone, and that one small remnant came back to haunt them. Natasha, as a concerned friend, I wanna say to you: Please don’t be as stiffnecked as those Israelites were—I’m just sayin’.”

Ruby affirmed Theo’s comments with a simple “Mmmmmm-hmmmmm!”

Now, I’m not denying that Ruby and Theo care for me, nor am I denying that they have my best interest in mind, but here’s the problem that I have: While I have set Ray free and I’ve thrown everything into a box, I’m still debating on whether or not I should throw everything away. You see, while I have moved on, I cannot deny that I had some great memories of the times I spent with Ray, and the Share Bear Care Bear is but one of those memories. And then, there’s the constant weighing of pros and cons that I have going on in my mind. I don’t mind letting go, but I don’t want to let go of everything. Ruby and Theo say that I should throw everything out at once, and they also suggested that when I return to L.A. for the summer, I go back to the “video studio” and edit anything and everything related to Ray. Now, I’ve already made a promise to myself that I will not go in that box for any reason, but at the same time, I’m thinking about what Theo said about the remnant of the Philistine that haunted the Israelites.

I’m so confused—please say a prayer for your girl!

Until next time, y’all take care.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

The Vipress Is Back, Y'all!

Hi, Everyone!

Some of you may be wondering about the backstory behind the title of today’s blog post—well, allow me to explain.

Yesterday evening, I had a deep phone conversation with my Auntie Cherri, and I was telling her that fellow Rustite and aspiring teacher Craig Dixon asked me to be his Valentine. She asked me if I accepted, to which I affirmed that I did so, but rather reluctantly. Well, Auntie Cherri told me that I did the right thing by accepting Craig’s sweet little request. She said that by accepting Craig’s invitation to be his Valentine, I showed that I am allowing my emotional scars to heal. She also said something that I hope she puts in her upcoming book:

“Tasha, I’m gonna tell you just like I tell Vanessa—the most dangerous woman in the world is one who knows her worth.”

As soon as Auntie Cherri told me that, I got to thinking about my blog post from just this past Thursday. There’s a gospel song that talks about how you sometimes need to encourage yourself. Well, if y’all remember, I started to regain my confidence once I remembered that I am Natasha Renee Stewart—Mom’s little Smurfette, Dad’s little Honey Bee, Gramma Jewel’s little Bright Eyes, and one-third of the Tripod. I am also four feet eleven inches tall, with dark brown hair, gorgeous brown eyes, a beautiful smile that would make Mona Lisa a touch envious, and a figure that puts an hourglass to shame!

Okay, that may be overembellishing a little bit, and I may be tooting my own horn, but let’s face it: I know my worth as a woman, and I should never forget that. Besides, Auntie Cherri told me about a song from the late great Luther Vandross called “Too Far Down.” I looked that song up on YouTube this morning, and after listening to it, I feel so much better. To summarize the song, the message is simply this: It’s okay to be sad and it’s okay to cry, but don’t be so down in the dumps to where you’ve hit the point of no return.

Well, y’all—I’ll be damned before I get depressed and fall too far down. As long as I’ve got my family and friends, and of course with God on my side, I’ll make it.

I now close today’s blog post with the last few lines of that encouraging song by Luther Vandross:

Pick yourself up—if you’re lost, you’ll be found,

But if you don’t care, you’re just too far down.

I know you feel so left out, pushed around,

But nevertheless, don’t go too far down.

Y’all have a great day, and I’ll holla tomorrow.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Return of the Tripod

Hi, Everyone!

Today’s blog post is rather short, sweet, and to the point.

I forgot to tell y’all that the Tripod is back together in class again—Ruby, Theo, and I are taking Spanish II together, and it’s so ironic how Theo and I are sitting in one row with Ruby sitting in the row next to us. The last time we all took a class together was our Intro to Computers class in our freshman year. I remember it so well—all things considered—because that jackass Richard Cornelius was in class with us. It was also in that very computer class where Theo christened me as the Vipress-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-ss. Yes, I am aware that such a memory was not that long ago, but it still holds a precious spot in my heart.

Oh, I also forgot to mention that, seeing as how this particular Spanish class is at a second level, our instructor has told us that a majority of our class will be group assignments. Well, I don’t think I need to tell y’all that the Tripod is locked in tight… that is, unless our instructor says otherwise. Ruby, Theo, and I are hoping that we get to become a team, but if not, then we can at least still have our study sessions.

I really want to apologize for this lackluster blog post, but there really is nothing to talk about today. I tell y’all what—give me until tomorrow, and I promise that I will have a helluva blog post for each and every last one of you.

Until tomorrow, y’all enjoy your afternoon.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Twenty Trivial Tidbits

Photo credit: sweetfudge.com

Happy Saturday, Everyone!

Today’s blog post is like none other I’ve ever written. Seeing as how I am studying to be a teacher, and also it is common knowledge that no one ever stops learning, I’ve decided to dedicate today’s blog post to an email that I received from fellow aspiring teacher Nikki Douglas.

The following is some trivial tidbits—some of which I knew, and others that I only learned since reading Nikki’s email:

·         The “Dogs Playing Poker” series of sixteen paintings were done by C.M. Coolidge in 1903, commissioned as cigar ads. Two sold at an auction for close to $600,000.

·         The Code of Hammurabi, which was written around 1750 BC, included a provision for the death penalty if a tavern owner watered down the beer.

·         Tulips are actually native to the Middle East, and were first brought to Europe by the Dutch ambassador to Iran in the 16^th Century.

·         Not only do fingers have unique prints, but so does the tongue (I can imagine a court case: “Officer, I can prove that he’s the one who licked the spoon!”).

·         The largest individual flower on earth is the Rafflesia Arnoldis, which grows in the jungles of Southeast Asia. It can grow to be three feet wide.

·         New York’s current Grand Central Terminal opened in 1913 and has forty-four platforms—this is more than any other train station in the world.

·         Major League Baseball began in 1869, which is the year that the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings was established.

·         In the first episodes of Sesame Street, Oscar the Grouch was orange as opposed to green. He has a pet worm named Smiley, and a pet elephant named Fluffy.

·         The tallest point in the continental United States is California’s Mount Whitney, which is just eighty miles from the lowest point in the U.S., Death Valley.

·         The longest chairlift in the world is the Magic Mile, on Oregon’s Mount Hood. It takes skiers about six minutes to ride for 5,500 feet.

·         The geographic center of the 48 contiguous United States is in Lebanon, Kansas. The geographic center of North America is in Rugby, South Dakota.

·         The trademarked Tiffany Blue color is officially known as “Pantone #1837.” Not coincidentally, 1837 is the year that Tiffany & Co. was founded.

·         The Cat in the Hat, the iconic children’s story that was published over fifty years ago, contains only 236 words… and some great pictures.

·         During the height of the Beanie Baby fad in the 1990s, the most prized animal was a dark blue Peanut the Elephant, and Bongo the Monkey.

·         The guy with the top hat in the Monopoly game is known as “Rich Uncle Moneybags.” His first name is supposedly Milburn.”

·         In order to run the length of the Great Wall of China, one would have to run 171.8 marathons—consecutively!

·         The Wal-Mart chain began with one small store in Bentonville, Arkansas; it was called Walton’s Five & Dime.

·         The tallest cactus species is the Pachycereus pringlei, which is native to Mexico and can grow to be 63 feet high.

·         A cranberry can be tested for ripeness by dropping it on the ground. A fully ripened cranberry should bounce like a basketball.

·         The Guinness Book of World Records is actually in the Guinness Book of World Records, for being the most often stolen book from public libraries.

These are but twenty trivial tidbits. There are more, but I’ll save them for a later blog post. Until then, y’all have a good rest-of-the-weekend.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha

Happy #50, Uncle Anthony!

Happy Friday, Everybody!


Let’s not waste any more time than we already have—let’s just dive into today’s blog post head first!


Happy #50 to my eldest uncle, Anthony Thomas Jones! I gotta say that 50 looks good on you. I really wish that I could be out there and help you celebrate your birthday this weekend, but I’ll go you one better and celebrate out here with my peeps Ruby and Theo. I know how much you like Philly chicken cheesesteaks, so I’m gonna order a couple in your honor today. In the meantime, I already know that Auntie Stephanie and Cousin Candi are gonna treat you to all of your heart’s desires.


Also, celebrating a birthday with my Uncle Anthony are: Rod Stewart (age 69), Pat Benatar (age 61), Jim Croce (who would have been 71 today), and George Foreman (age 65).


This is amazing—Uncle Anthony is the youngest of the bunch… hahaha!


In celebration of my Uncle Anthony’s 50^th Birthday, I thought about how he considers the theme to The Cosby Show as his personal leitmotif—he sings it every chance he gets. It doesn’t help matters that I accidentally called him “Dr. Huxtable” when I was ten years old. Then again, Uncle Anthony probably took it as a compliment, considering that Bill Cosby is his favorite actor. Well, with that said, I went on YouTube and found the last season’s rendition of The Cosby Show, just so I can dedicate to my lovable Uncle Anthony.

And one last thing: Celebrate the whole month if you want to, Uncle Anthony. I love you lots, and God Bless.




Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha