Question of the Day

Have you ever heard of the Feast of Adam and Eve?

Yes, though it's not a feast day that's noted much any more. It was popular in the middle ages. To mark the day and the "original sin" that was Adam's and Eve's downfall, it was popular to act out the scene in a Christian "mystery play" on December 24. As a prop, an evergreen called the Paradise tree was hung with red apples, a custom which is surely a precursor to our current Christmas tree traditions.

Last 7 Days

Saturday, November 21, 2009

What's the best way to get rid of athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that thrives on moisture. Creams and powders probably won't keep you from reinfection. The fungus can be present in public showers, pool areas, and locker rooms so wear thongs in those places. Keep your bathroom floor at home clean and disinfected. Wear clean white socks. Watch for socks made with a new product called "Cool Max," a material that reportedly wicks away moisture from feet. Avoid wearing the same pair of shoes every day. If your shoes are infected throw them out or treat them with an antifungal powder. Wear leather shoes or sandals. It is important to keep your feet dry so dust them AND your shoes with antifungal powder, powdered alum, flower of sulfur or cornstarch. Go barefoot a lot at home. In addition you may want to try a home remedy: Soak your feet in apple cider vinegar or lemon juice every night for a few minutes. Air dry.

Friday, November 20, 2009

How much rain would a snowflake hold, if a snowflake could hold rain?

One-tenth of an inch of rain equals about one inch of snow. One inch of rain equals about ten inches of snow.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

How long can I keep leftover turkey and stuffing in my refrigerator?

You should keep stuffing and gravy for only one to two days. Turkey should be fine for three to four days. If you freeze cooked turkey, it should keep for about four months.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

What are the best types of trees to use for firewood?

It depends on your needs. Ash is good for kindling, oak for high heat, and apple for a wonderful aroma. Overall, hardwoods, like oak, burn better and longer. Softwoods, like pine, burn faster and tend to give off more creosote, which is not good for your chimney.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Where does the saying "I wish you Godspeed" come from?

This dates back to a 15th century song sung by English ploughmen on Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Day, the end of the Christmas holidays. Before farm laborers went back to the fields, they dressed all in white and went from door to door drawing a plough and soliciting "plough money" to spend on a last celebration. The song lyric "Godspeed the plough" expressed a wish for success and prosperity and was soon shortened to just "Godspeed".

Monday, November 16, 2009

Why is Thanksgiving always on a Thursday?

Thursday seems to have evolved first as tradition, then as a matter of national law. We don't know for sure which day of the week the Pilgrims' famous first Thanksgiving actually occurred, for instance. That Thanksgiving, interestingly, took place in mid-October, not November. For a brief time beginning in 1668, November 25 was considered the "legal" annual day of Thanksgiving, but that practice lasted only five years. It may be that Thursday became tradition in order to distance the event from the Sabbath day among the Puritan colonists. Thursday was also a typical day for lectures in New England, with ministers giving a religious talk each Thursday afternoon. This practice may have contributed to the Thursday Thanksgiving tradition. Since George Washington's time, Thursday has been the day, and this was solidified by Abraham Lincoln's proclamation in 1863 designating the national day of Thanksgiving to be the last Thursday of November. Later that was amended to the fourth Thursday in November. It's important here to note that neither Lincoln, nor anyone else, ever declared the Friday after Thanksgiving as the national day of shopping.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Who first said, "The world is your oyster?"

It was the bard Shakespeare who gave us this phrase. In "The Merry Wives of Windsor," he wrote, "Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open." We take this phrase nowadays to mean that the world offers everyone so many opportunities that one can simply choose among them.