Odds & Ends
Dried rose petals in a sachet are called this.
What is potpourri? You can make your potpourri with dried flower petals, bark (such as cinnamon), and herbs. To augment or refresh the fragrance, sprinkle with a drop or two of essential oil.
This is the fatty, external extension of the ear
What is earlobe? It is either attached or detached at the bottom. Scientists do not know what purpose earlobes serve, but they do know that they continue to grow as we age.
Most people do not want this animal to see his shadow on February 2.
What is groundhog? Also known as a woodchuck, the special weather-forecasting groundhog’s proper name is Punxsutawney Phil. If he sees his shadow, legend has it we will see six more weeks of winter. We can expect an early spring if he doesn’t see his shadow.
This is a term for two straight lines that will never cross.
What is parallel? Parallel lines are everywhere. Think about a lined notebook or a crosswalk. Lines that cross at 90 degrees are called perpendicular lines.
When people first fall in love, they feel like they are on this cloud.
What is cloud nine? Cloud nine denotes a feeling of euphoria
These are installed in homes to alert owners to fire.
What are smoke alarms? All provinces require smoke alarms in new installations.
Other than dust mites, these are one of the main ingredients in household dust, particularly if you have pets.
What are dead skin cells? Other dust ingredients include pollen, soil, and whatever you bring in from outdoors.
It is the U.S. national bird.
What is the bald eagle? The bald eagle, of course, isn’t bald but has white feathers on its head when it reaches maturity. They typically mate for life.
On Valentine’s Day, many people receive roses of this color
What is red? Red symbolizes romantic love. If the rose is thornless, it symbolizes love at first sight.
These imaginary lines run east and west from top to bottom across the globe.
What are (lines of) latitude? Latitude measures distance from the equator. You can pinpoint any location on Earth by determining its latitude and longitude coordinates.
This is where Batman fought crime.
What is Gotham City? Batman started fighting crime in Gotham City in the fourth episode of the Batman comic book, released in 1941. Before then, he was based in New York City.
In 1973, the first communication from this device was completed.
What is cell phone? The cell phone of 1970 bore no resemblance to today’s cell phone. They were called “brick phones” because they were as large as a brick and similar in design.
During the Roaring Twenties, women wore cloches on this part of the body
What is the head? A cloche is a bell-shaped hat
This refers to something that can be eaten, such as the part of a plant that is safe to eat.
What is edible? For example, we eat apples, but the seeds are not edible because they contain cyanide.
Almost every four years, this affects February.
What is leap year? An extra day is added to February during leap years. Without adding an extra day, the seasons would start drifting earlier. NBC reports that the rule for skipping a leap year is: “If a year is divisible by 100 and not divisible by 400, leap year is skipped.”
Another term for meridians is lines of this.
What are (lines of) longitude? Meridians are imaginary lines that run north and south around the globe. They measure the distance from the prime meridian in Greenwich, London, England.
This is the fictional palace of King Arthur.
What is Camelot? The term was applied to the Kennedy presidency by Jackie Kennedy in a Life magazine interview after John’s assassination.
In the 1970s, McDonald’s introduced this jolly menu item that is still going strong today
What is the Happy Meal? The original packaging resembled a cereal box with games, comics, and jokes on it.
He published Poor Richard’s Almanack under a pseudonym.
Who is Ben Franklin? He published the first batch in 1732 and sold them annually for a quarter century. His pen name was Richard Saunders. An original 1732 edition sold for $556,500 at a Sotheby’s auction.
If something is facile, it can be done with this.
What is ease? The word facile comes from the Latin facilis, meaning “easy.”
Although rare, February is the only month where it is possible not to have this in the night sky.
What is a full moon? If the January full moon falls on January 31, you won’t see the next full moon until the beginning of March.
This is another name for an oblique line
What is slanting or diagonal? Oblique lines are straight but not horizontal or vertical
He comes from Ork.
Who is Mork? In the TV sitcom Mork and Mindy, Mork is an Orkan who comes to Earth to observe human behavior.
In 1979, Sony released this device for playing cassette tapes.
What is the Walkman? At last, we had a personal and portable device for playing favorite tunes.
This is the most popular surname in Canada
What is Smith? More than 2.7 million people share the name. It originated as an Old English term meaning “blacksmith” or “ironworker.”
This word describes someone who exhibits profuse, unrestrained emotion.
What is effusive? Weddings and funerals often bring out heartfelt, effusive feelings.
The Soviets invaded this country in February 1979 and withdrew a few years later in defeat.
What is Afghanistan? The Afghans are fierce fighters, and the country has been called “the graveyard of empires.”
Some say these theoretical straight lines connect sacred places, such as Stonehenge and the Giza Pyramids.
What are ley lines? Some believe that their energy produces strong magnetic fields.
This fictional perfect place is located high in the Tibetan mountains and is one of the settings in James Hilton’s Lost Horizons.
What is Shangri-La? It’s a fictional utopia where people live for hundreds of years.
This was the first video arcade game, introduced in 1974.
What is Pong? Pac-Man didn’t arrive until the following year