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October 15, 2016

The "at" Symbol


The earliest known example of @ is found in the 1345 Bulgarian translation of the 12th century Manasses Chronicle, which gives a brief synopsis of the history of the world up to the end of the 11th century. In it, @ was used as the symbol for “amin” (amen).

The Smithsonian website differs in the first use, but there's some interesting information in this piece:

The Accidental History of the @ Symbol

October 14, 2016

Fear of Toads

The fear of toads is called bufonophobia.


October 12, 2016

Some Batty Trivia

Bats are the only mammals that fly.
(Flying squirrels merely glide)


October 11, 2016

Keep It or Toss It?

Wondering if that jar of horseradish is still good to eat? Find out at StillTasty, your ultimate shelf life guide. There's a fridge-full of other info on the site with answers to many common perishable food questions:

Can You Safely Drink Milk After the Sell-By Date?
Is it OK to Put Hot Food Directly Into the Fridge?
Are Eggs Still Safe After the Expiration Date?

(yes, yes, yes, but as for me re: the milk-ONLY after intensive sniffing and extremely cautious sipping. Personally, I would rather get slapped in the face than drink sour milk.)