Did You Know?
Did You Know Mexican General Santa Anna’s Fake Leg Is In This State?
If you guessed Texas has Santa Anna’s fake leg, you guessed wrong. The Battle of San Jacinto On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence. Fifty-one days later, on April 21, the Texas Revolution ended in an unqualified success when General Sam...
Did You Know a Ghost Rainbow Isn’t Just for Ghosts?
Recently a friend sent me photos she’d taken on a Galveston beach. The focal point was a white rainbow, shimmering in January’s late afternoon fog. Have you ever seen a white rainbow? I hadn’t. I’d never even heard of it. Rainbows We’ve all seen rainbows. Some...
Did You Know This Wall Cost More Than The Entire Island On Which It Was Built?
If you take a trip to Lower Manhattan in New York City, you’ll find an eight-block-long street in the Financial District called Wall Street. But before Wall Street became synonymous with the financial markets, it was just a road. The History In 1624, the Dutch...
Did You Know Around 50,000 People Do This Every Year, But Only About 1,000 Succeed?
Have you ever thought you were the best at something? Well, there’s one way to find out. The Company Today, if you want to know something, a quick search on the internet usually provides the answer. If you’re looking for record-breaking human achievements, as...
Did You Know This Famous New York Church Was Built With The Help Of A Pirate Turned Privateer?
If you’ve seen the 2004 movie National Treasure, you’re familiar with Trinity Church. For more than 325 years this historic Episcopal church has served the people of New York City (NYC), especially those in Lower Manhattan where it all began. The Buildings The...
Did You Know A Straight Line Isn’t Always The Best?
What comes to mind when I say, I want to build a brick wall? I’ll bet you pictured a straight brick wall. But that’s not what I want. I want a “crinkle crankle” wall, as the British call them. What Is It A “crinkle crankle” wall is a brick wall with alternating...
Did You Know There’s a Reason People See “The Man in the Moon?”
Have you ever seen a cloud shaped like an animal? What about a car or a potato with a face? If so, you’re not alone. The Phenomenon Seeing faces and familiar shapes in inanimate objects is a phenomenon called “pareidolia” (par·ei·do·lia). The word comes from...
Did You Know Dr. Seuss’s Father Ran the Local Zoo?
I admit it. When it comes to poetry, I’m far from cultured. If it doesn’t rhyme, I’m not interested. Which explains why I like Dr. Seuss. Early Life Theodor “Ted” Seuss Geisel was born on March 2, 1904, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He began drawing animals at...
Did You Know This Popular Spice Isn’t Popular in the Insect Kingdom?
In Did You Know This Seasoning Repels Insects, Lightens Hair, and Freshens Breath?, I promised more information about an environmentally friendly pesticide in the Spring. Guess what? Here in Texas, Spring is here. (Rather, it will be next week when our temps jump back...
Did You Know Sniffer Dogs Were Almost Used to Hunt for Jack the Ripper?
With spring break just around the corner, and summer not far behind that, people are beginning to think about traveling. The Problem When I was 23, I traveled overseas alone for the first time. Thanks to the research and planning I did before leaving, my trip...