The Magic Hair
Image courtesy of Boosinka via Shutterstock
Chapter 16 / Fun Facts
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Petting Dogs
The human-canine bond goes back thousands of years. Dogs are descended from wolves. The settlements of our early human ancestors were an irresistible source of food scraps for wild wolves. Less aggressive animals began hanging around humans, and over the years, became domesticated into dogs.
Research shows that petting releases oxytocin in both the dog and person. This is a hormone that’s associated with bonding and affection. Humans get the added benefits of lower blood pressure and lower levels of stress hormones. Dogs can also help humans deal with depression by boosting levels of serotonin and dopamine, two mood-related chemicals found in our brains.
Dogs’ Sense of Smell
Selma stood at the edge and looked down. “Can Sideburn be being down?”
Gino shook his head. “Too dangerous to lower him down, I think.”
His wife nodded. “I chust am thinking he does the smelling where Nici is being, maybe.”
“I don’t want to chance it,” Gino countered. “It’s hard enough just getting myself down there.”
A dog’s sense of smell is estimated to be a thousand times more sensitive than humans. While we have about 5 million olfactory receptors, dogs have between 150 and 250 million receptors (a bloodhound has 300 million).
Sniffing helps a dog maximize the scent. A deep sniff interrupts its normal breathing pattern and sends air all the way to the back of the dog’s snout. This is where the receptors are.
With this keen sense of smell, dogs can be used to sniff out bombs, drugs, disease, survivors of collapse disasters and even human bodies under the water.
Shortness of Breath
The heart pumps blood throughout our bodies to deliver oxygen, the gas we need to fuel our organs and muscles. People can become short of breath while exercising because the lungs need more oxygen than the heart can pump. Resting lowers the need for oxygen so the body can recover.
Tears
Tears are produced by the lacrimal glands, which are about the size of an almond. These glands produce tears in the upper, outsides corner of your eyes. When you blink, your eyelids spread the liquid across the surface of your eyeball.
Excess liquid drains through small openings in the inside corners of your lower eyelids—except when there are so many tears that they spill out from your eyes. These “drains” in your eyes connect to your nasal cavity. This is why your nose runs when you cry.
You produce three types of tears:
• Basal tears are those that keep your eyeballs moist; your eyes produce these about every six seconds
• Reflex tears are an attempt by your eyes to flush out something that’s irritating them, such as a speck of dirt or strong vapors (a cut onion, for example)
• Psychic tears fall in response to a strong emotion; that might be sadness, anger, physical pain, stress, even happiness
Tears are made up of oil, water and mucus. Psychic tears have a different chemical mixture with more stress hormones in them. So “crying” helps our bodies get rid of stress, which is why we often feel better after a good cry.
Chapter 17 / Fun Facts
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Terrace Farming
Terrace farming is an ingenious way to use land that might otherwise go to waste. On a steep hill or mountainside, wide ledges are cut into the slope. These flattened areas make it easier to plant, irrigate and tend to crops. They also help stop rainwater from washing away the soil.
The Incas of South America were masters of terrace farming. In addition to creating mountain terraces, they constructed canals and aqueducts to keep water flowing through the stepped fields. Their ancient techniques are still used in the Andes Mountains today.
Another impressive example of this type of farming is China’s Longji Terraces. They are nicknamed the “Dragon’s Backbone.” These rice terraces cover 41 square miles [66 square kilometers]. They were built 500 years ago during the Ming Dynasty.
Eyeglasses
The scientist looked up and squinted through his thick spectacles.
The magnifying properties of glass have been well known for millennia.
Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs show that this innovative civilization understood that glass could enlarge what’s being looked at. The first written records about using glass for magnification come from Seneca the Younger, a tutor to the Roman emperor Nero.
But wearable eyeglasses didn’t appear until the mid-13thcentury in Italy. (The actual inventor has been lost to history.) Early versions of the lenses were made of quartz, which it’s hard to believe helped anyone’s eyesight. Luckily, someone figured out how to make glass without bubbles in it, which greatly improved the quality.
In the 1780s, Ben Franklin invented bifocals when he cut his reading glasses and distance glasses in half and fused the two together.
Oil Lamps
Having tamed fire, early humans then wanted a smaller, more portable flame. The first oil lamps found by archeologists date back to 70,000 BC. The containers were made from things such as shells and hollow rocks. Clay lamps appeared during the Bronze Age around the 16th century BC.
Manmade lamps have been found at ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, North African and other sites around the world. These were most often made from clay, bronze, metal or stone. Most were simple dishes that could hold oil and a wick. A wick prevented the whole surface of the oil from catching fire.
Over time, the design changed from an open dish to a vessel that only had an opening for the wick. This kept the oil from spilling so easily. Later, a chimney or other ways to direct the smoke were added to make the lamps brighter and safer.
Oil lamps were used for both household lighting, religious ceremonies and to light after-dark events such as gladiator contests. They were preferred over candles because they lasted longer and were easier and cheaper to make. These lamps were used extensively until electric lights became popular.
Treason
High treason, or disloyalty to one’s ruler or nation, has always been considered one of the most serious crimes. Death was the usual way of handling this disloyalty, and still is in many parts of the world.
But some societies didn’t think death went far enough, and so chose to desecrate the corpse as well. In England, female traitors were burnt at the stake, while male traitors were hanged, drawn and quartered.* I won’t explain this gross practice here, but it certainly was horrendous enough to deter most people from betraying their sovereign or country.
* Mercifully, these punishments are no longer practiced.
Chapter 18 / Fun Facts
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is a clever way to grow more food. Here’s how it works: Each crop takes some nutrients out of the soil, while adding others. Farmers can maximize their land by planting a crop that needs the minerals that previous harvests left in the soil. This strategy naturally fertilizes the soil, and reduces pests and diseases. The result is increased crop yields from the same plot of land.
Dividing a plot of land into three or four areas makes it easy to rotate crops. For example, in Year 1, soybeans could be planted in Plot A, then planted in Plot B for Year 2, Plot C in Year 3 and Plot D in Year 4. Wheat could be plated in Plot B in Year 1, Plot C in Year 2 and so on.
Crop rotation existed before writing did, so we don’t know when exactly it started. Ancient Romans wrote about planting this way and it was common practice by the Middle Ages.
George Washington Carver, a botanist born into slavery in the 1860s, grew up in the American South where cotton was the most important cash crop. His research showed that alternating cotton crops with plantings of peanuts, soybeans, sweet potatoes and other crops restored nitrogen to the soil. Farmers benefited from his advice with food to feed their families, plus more cotton in the fields where they planted it.
Trial and Error
“And how do you figure that out?”
If you think about it, most everything that’s ever been invented or discovered came about through trial and error. Trial and error usually begins with observations—for example, birds can fly, but humans can’t—and questions—for example, if we make wings can humans fly like birds?
Then you start trying out different ways to answer your questions. For example, designing a pair of wings. If your first method, design, etc. completely fails, you come up with another approach—a better pair of wings in our example. If it partially succeeds, you can study what went right and what went wrong, then refine your ideas. You keep doing this over and over until you succeed.
Be warned though, that you might get sidetracked by some other interesting idea to pursue. If you don’t know what means, look it up. It’s a great word.
Scapegoat
The term “scapegoat” appears in the Bible. It comes from the Yom Kippur ceremony of Judaism where a goat is driven into the wilderness to carry away the sins of the people. This animal is the “escape goat.”
Today, it has come to mean a person—often innocent—who is blamed and punished for the sins, crimes or suffering of others.
Pie History
Pies have an interesting history where they started out as a sweet treat, then became a savory dish, before becoming popular as either sweet or savory.
Ancient Egyptians added fruits, nuts and honey to bread dough in a pie-like food.
The Greeks borrowed this bread-and-filling idea to make their meat tastier. When they cooked meat over an open fire, it could easily burn and the tasty juices dripped into the fire. Wrapping the meat in dough solved both these problems.
However, the dough had to be very thick to withstand hours of cooking. So only the contents were usually eaten, not the crust. The crust was sometimes used as a thickener in stews, however.
The Romans stuffed their pies with every type of meat and seafood, as well as fruit and a cheesecake-like filling.
“Surprise” pies became popular at royal banquets in the early 1500s. Sing a Song of Sixpence is a nursery rhyme about a surprise pie. In the song, a pie placed before the king is opened and 24 blackbirds start singing.
Sound impossible? Actually, all it required was baking a huge, empty pie shell. When cooked, they cut a fist-sized hole in the bottom. Then it was stuffed with live birds and placed on a dish so they couldn’t fly out until the pie was cut open.
Chapter 19 / Fun Facts
Pikes
Pikes are pole weapons that were widely used throughout the Middle Ages. They consisted of a wooden shaft that was anywhere from 10-20 feet long [3-6 meters]. A steel spearhead attached to the top of the pole.
Unlike a spear that is meant to be thrown at a target, pikes are held onto and thrust at an approaching enemy. They could also be used defensively to thwart counterattacks.
On the battlefield, pikemen sometimes entered a “hedgehog” formation where they stood in a large circle facing outward. This allowed them to repel enemy advances from all directions.
Medieval Furniture
Inside the hall was a roomy back office with cushioned sofas, several chairs and a desk.
Furniture in the Middle Ages, like most luxuries, was mostly for the rich. The poor made due with sitting on wooden benches and stools. The rich had upholstered chairs and some couches. These were often stuffed with feathers, wool, horsehair, down or rags.
Pockets
Renetta pocketed almost all of the money, saving a few bills for Tem.
The clothing in Pahdu is unisex, so Renetta has pockets in her clothing. But if she had lived in a Western country during centuries past, her “pocket” would have been much different.
Around 500 years ago, men had pockets sewn into their trousers and waistcoats (vests). Women, however, didn’t have pockets in individual dresses. Instead, they used something that was more like a purse tied around the waist under the skirt. A slit in the skirt made the pocket’s contents easily available.
This arrangement was fine when full skirts were in fashion. But in the Victorian era, women started wearing slimmer skirts and showing off their tiny waists. Pockets were then worn outside the skirt. They became more ornate and smaller until they were practically useless.
In time, a handbag that was totally separate from a woman’s clothing became a must-have accessory. Pockets didn’t reappear in women’s clothing until the 1920s, when women started wearing pants in public.
Pocketknives
“That’s an excellent carving,” Renetta flirted with him.
“Really?” the man asked, smiling at her attention.
“Oh yes. It’s very realistic. And that knife. It’s very interesting. Is it imported?”
The guard nodded. “It is. Look, the blade folds into the handle.” He demonstrated it for her.
A pocketknife—or jackknife—is basically a knife with one or more blades that fold into a handle. The earliest versions date back to the Iron Age in the Germanic regions of Europe. These were primitive tools that could be hard to keep in the open position.
The Romans improved the technology with friction knives, where the person holding the knife applies pressure to keep the blade open. The Viking variation had iron blades and bone handles. Locking blade versions have a mechanism to lock the blade in the open or closed position.
By the mid-1600s, English inventors added the slipjoint to pocketknives. This mechanism uses the tension of a spring to keep the blade in the open position or help it snap back into place. This technology is still widely used today.
Chapter 20 / Fun Facts
River Erosion
River erosion occurs where the water has enough velocity (speed) to pick up rock fragments and move them to a new location. These rocks grind down the riverbed over time and the loosened dirt and debris is carried away. Eventually, the channel gets deeper.
A flood increases both the velocity and the volume of water racing down a river. The riverbanks—or walls if it’s a deep channel—force the rushing water upward. This can sweep away bridges, piers, boathouses and other structures that are usually above the water.
​Rope
Her hair braided itself in a rope formation and shot out over the chasm.
Rope is one of those remarkable objects that we take for granted. Basically, it’s a length of fibers, twisted and braided together. By themselves, the fibers are relatively short and weak. When woven together, they become remarkably strong and can extend to any length needed. The friction between the fibers keeps them from sliding apart when the rope is pulled.
Humans have likely been making rope since we became homo sapiens. But because these earliest versions were made of organic materials such as vines and reeds, they have completely decayed over time.
Some of the earliest-known proof of humans using rope are pottery shards with impressions made by ropes that date back 28,000 years. Archeologists have also discovered fossilized remnants of rope that are from 17,000 years ago.
Our ancestors twisted natural fibers by hand to create their ropes. By ancient Egyptian times, the hieroglyphs show that they were employing rope-making tools. That’s not surprising when you think about how much rope was needed to build the pyramids and other massive monuments.
These tools have been improved over time of course, as have rope-making materials. Today, synthetic materials and even wire ropes are in wider use than those made of natural fibers.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that rope has played a vital role in advancing civilization across the globe. People used it to haul and lift heavy objects so they could erect buildings. Rope allowed sailors to hoist sails so they could explore distant lands. It lashed animals to wagons for transporting goods and people, and secured them to farm tools, which increased how much land could be farmed.
Rope also helped people cross rivers, channels, and other land features that make it hard to get from one side to the other. A perfect example is how the Incas used rope to thrive in the Andes Mountains of South America. To conquer jagged terrain, they mastered the building of simple suspension bridges over canyons and gorges. These consisted of massive cables—made out of woven grass—that attached to stone anchors on each side. Branches braided into the bottom cables reinforced the footpath. Other cables were used as guardrails.
Hundreds of years later, an Incan rope bridge still exists in Peru. The bridge is rebuilt every year. Locals of several remote Quechua villages come together for a three-day festival. Each community contributes twisted strands that are braided into rope. The fresh rope is used to construct a whole new bridge that will span the Apurimac River for the next 12 months.
Wheelbarrows
A wheelbarrow combines the advantages of the wheel and the lever to make it easier to transport heavy loads.
Its invention is often attributed to a Chinese general who had his army use wheelbarrows to carry supplies. But pictures found in ancient tombs, seem to show that these handy devices were in use before then, perhaps as far back as the first century. It’s more likely that farmers invented the wheelbarrow, and the design was later co-opted by the army.
These carts had designs that are different from today’s wheelbarrows. Instead of a small scoop with the wheel in front, Chinese wheelbarrows were much larger with the wheel in the middle. This allowed them to easily balance and haul bigger loads, including up to six humans. Some also had sails so the wind could help push them.
Fear of Heights
Extreme fear of heights is called “acrophobia.” It comes from the Greek words “akros” meaning “at the end, the top” and “phobia” meaning “fear.”
Some people incorrectly call a fear of heights “vertigo.” But vertigo is actually a spinning sensation people sometimes get when they look down from a high place. Vertigo is also a wonderful Hitchcock movie that was released the year I was born and partially filmed in my beloved San Francisco.
Chapter 21 / Fun Facts
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Spider Webs
A classic spider’s web is a marvel of biology and engineering. Spiders that create webs—not all do—have glands at the tip of their abdomens that create spider silk. Different glands produce different types of silk—sticky for catching prey, fine for wrapping it, etc. The silk is five times stronger than a steel strand of the same weight.
To begin a wheel web, the spider attaches a fine thread to an anchor spot such as a tree branch. Then it swings on the free end until the thread catches on something else. Once this filament is attached on both ends, the spider walks back and forth on it, adding more silk to strengthen it.
From this top thread, the spider creates a loose loop. At the bottom of the loop, it lets out another strand and then attaches the bottom of this Y-shape to something. Walking back and forth again, the spider makes an outside frame for the web, plus spokes that are all connected in the middle like on a bicycle wheel. The final touch is to walk from spoke to spoke, letting out sticky silk that will catch unsuspecting bugs in the spiral design.
One other cool fact: spiders are into recycling. They eat old silk threads to make more.
Tautness
The braid snaps back across the chasm due to the amount of tension on the line. If the hair rope had been slack, it would have retreated with less force.
You can demonstrate this bit of physics with a simple rubber band.
• Pinch the ends of the rubber band between your thumbs and forefingers.
• Pull it apart two inches from its resting length. Let go of one side.
• Now pull the band apart four inches, which increases the tension on the band. Let go of one side to feel and hear the difference as it snaps back.
Cisterns
Cisterns are an ancient system for catching and storing water. The water can come from rainfall runoff or a stream or spring. It can also be transported via an aqueduct or pipe. Cisterns are commonly used in places where fresh water is scarce. Some of the first evidence of these water-catchment devices reaches back 5,500 years in what is now Israel, Jordan and Lebanon.
What sets a cistern apart from a well is a waterproof lining. Early cisterns were dug out of solid rock and brushed with a lime-plaster layer that kept water from slowly seeping into the rock. Homes often had a small cistern underneath the structure that the occupants could use for cooking, bathing and other personal uses. Large, communal cisterns helped cities better survive droughts or sieges.
One of the most extravagant of these structures is the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, Turkey. This underground chamber was built in the 6th century. It looks like a flooded cathedral, including a vaulted roof that is supported by over 300 columns that are 30 feet tall [9 meters]. If you can’t make it to Turkey to view the Basilica Cistern yourself, you can see it in the James Bond movie, From Russia with Love.
Battle Flails
Battle flails were particularly nasty medieval weapons. They featured a handle with one heavy spiked ball or two lighter ones at the end of a short chain.
Since Middle Age combat was often conducted at close range, the flail was extremely effective. Warriors swung the weapons at opponents, tearing through their armor or flesh. The flail could also strike over a shield, making it difficult to defend against.
Chapter 22 / Fun Facts
Sleep Inertia
The groggy period we sometimes experience after waking up is called sleep inertia. It usually lasts for 15-20 minutes, but can last hours. Sleep inertia happens when you’re awakened during the REM cycle of sleep. (REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement.) You have higher levels of melatonin while in the REM stage and this hormone causes sleepiness. If you wake up during a non-REM stage, you become alert much faster.
Hand Holding
Holding hands is one way to release stress. The touch of another person’s hand can decrease cortisol, a stress hormone, while increasing oxytocin, a hormone that helps you feel happier and more loved.
When cortisol is surging through your bloodstream, your skin becomes more sensitive. Your hands and fingertips contain a large number of nerve endings. So holding hands can have a greater impact when you’re stressed. Holding hands helps you release physical pain, fight fear and enhance your sense of security. It also can lower your blood pressure.
Switchbacks
Switchbacks are zig-zag trails cut into steep hills and mountains. They serve two purposes.
The first is to make the hill easier to climb. Walking straight up an incline may be a shorter path, but it can be difficult and uncomfortable. Zig-zagging your way up the hill reduces the steepness and is easier on your body. That’s because walking straight up puts your ankles in a position that’s less stable, which could cause you to lose your balance. Walking at an angle lets your ankles bend more to the side for greater comfort and stability. When it’s time to come back down the trail, switchbacks reduce the strain on your knees.
The second reason for switchbacks is to reduce erosion on the hill or mountain. Water moves faster down a straight trail, hollowing out the trail and washing away soil and plants. Switchbacks slow down the water’s flow and spread it out over a greater area of land.
Lichens
Here’s why I like lichens. They aren’t just one plant. In fact, they’re a unique partnership of fungi and algae (or cyanobacteria).
Fungi by themselves are unable to produce food. So they have to gather it wherever they can. That usually means gaining nutrients from decomposing matter or becoming a parasite on other organisms.
With lichens, the fungi get nourishment from the photosynthesis abilities of the algae or cyanobacteria. The algae or cyanobacteria spread out among the fungi and the chlorophyll in their cells convert water and carbon dioxide into food for the lichen. The fungi provide a protective covering for the algae or cyanobacteria. So the fungi are basically farming the algae, which the plant allows in return for protection.
Lichens are amazingly adaptive. They can be found most anywhere there’s a solid surface and enough sunlight. That includes desert sand, arctic tundra and bare rocks. The European Space Agency even exposed lichen specimens to outer space for two weeks before returning them to Earth. Despite these hostile conditions, the lichens survived and were able undergo photosynthesis just like before.
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Chapter 23 / Fun Facts
Mimes
Mimic comes from the Greek word “mimetikos” meaning “imitative.”
There were mimes in ancient Greece, but not like the ones we think of today. Instead, the Greek mimes acted out everyday scenes to teach moral lessons.
During the Middle Ages, a troupe of mimes known as Commedia dell’Arte (the comedy of art) became popular in Italy. The acrobatic performers donned costumes and masks with exaggerated features. These had a comedic effect, especially when the anonymous performers acted out scenes that ridiculed bigwigs and other aspects of everyday life. Because there was no language barrier, they could bring their entertainment to audiences throughout Europe.
Eavesdropping
Eavesdropping may have its origin in ancient Anglo-Saxon history. The area around a home where rainwater drips off the eaves (edges of the roof) was known as the eavesdrip or eavesdrop. It was forbidden to lurk in this area of another person’s home.
An eavesdrop was also a small hole near a building’s entrance (often under the eaves) that allowed those inside to hear the conversation of the people at the door. If they were unfriendly, there was no need to let them in.
In the eaves of the great hall in his palace, Henry the Eighth had small faces carved into the beams. These leaned in at an angle so they faced the ground and were known as “Eaves Droppers.” They served as a reminder that Henry’s people were listening at all times.
Knots
Knots are an ancient technology that may have been in use even before man discovered fire. They have played an important role throughout human history. If you think about it, ropes are pretty worthless without knots. However, knots weaken the rope where they are tied.
Early on, people used knots to tie fishing nets and hunting traps, build shelters, make baskets, fasten clothes, and construct crude rafts. Knots were also needed to haul and lift heavy objects, helping civilizations build their homes, temples and monuments. And of course, they were important in sailing vessels that explored new worlds. The Incas also used knots to keep records and communicate information.
Before our lives became so industrialized, many professions and trades tied knots on a daily basis. There are around 4,000 different knots that range from very simple to quite complex.
Lump in the Throat
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Renetta swallowed hard. “Sure,” she agreed. “That sounds perfect.”
The lump in the throat sensation is appropriately named a globus. It happens when one of the throat muscles tightens when it’s supposed to relax during the swallowing process. Stress can make these muscles spasms worse.
Chapter 24 / Fun Facts
Canvas
Sideburn joined them. He walked all around the stranger in the canvas tarp, sniffing loudly.
Just like it was centuries ago, canvas is often the fabric of choice when sturdiness is needed. It’s a plain-woven fabric, which simply means that the vertical threads (warp) and the horizontal threads (weft) form a simple criss-cross pattern.
Canvas was originally made from hemp. This helps explain the name, which is derived from the Latin word “cannabis” (yes, that stuff) meaning hemp. Linen fabric was also used at times. Cotton canvas—most of what you see today—didn’t become popular until Eli Whitney invented a cotton gin that could mechanically separate cotton fibers from seeds.
Canvas is used for sails, tents, awnings, upholstery and even shoes. It’s also a popular surface for artwork. Around the 16thcentury, artists started painting on canvas instead of wooden panels.
Bruises
Bruises—also called contusions by the medical profession—are caused by blows to the skin. Tiny blood vessels break or are damaged, which is what causes the discoloration. Depending on how severe the blow is, the bruise can be flat or form a swollen, raised area if blood leaks into the surrounding tissue.
You can tell how old the bruise is by its color.
Reddish—Immediately after the blow
Blue/Purple—1-2 Days
Greenish—5-6 Days
Yellow/Brown—8-9 Days
Infections
Skin acts as a natural barrier to harmful bacteria. But openings in the skin, such as Thena’s cuts, can allow these harmful organisms to get into the bloodstream.
Bacteria can attach to healthy cells and multiply if its not destroyed by washing or disinfecting the cut. This can cause swelling, redness and discharge or pus at the site of the wound. The immune system then has to kick into high gear to fight off the microscopic intruders. This may include a fever, which is one way the body defends against infection.
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Chapter 25 / Fun Facts
Deafness
In centuries past, deaf people were thought to be cursed by the gods. They were called monsters and kept in isolation, or sometimes even put to death. Too often, parents and even communities considered them a disgrace and were happy to be rid of them to remove the stigma.
What our ancestors didn’t realize is that people who are deaf or hard of hearing generally have functioning vocal chords. But it’s difficult to control your voice when you can’t hear it. So some deaf people choose not to speak because their voice isn’t considered “normal.”
As far back as the ancient Greeks, hearing people had the mistaken idea that deaf individuals weren’t as intelligent. The philosopher Aristotle used the term “deaf and dumb” because he thought deaf people couldn’t be taught, so they weren’t capable of reasoning.
Over time, the meaning of “dumb” evolved to indicate “silent.” In the 18th and 19th centuries, deaf-mute became a popular description. Today, both terms—deaf-and-dumb and deaf-mute—are considered offensive or derogatory expressions.
And of course they’re completely wrong since deaf people are neither stupid nor silent. They just communicate using different methods instead of their voice or in addition to it.
“Carrying a Torch”
This expression refers to unrequited love or to continue loving someone long after they stop loving you (if they ever did). No one is quite sure where it came from. But Venus, the goddess of love, is often depicted holding a torch. Also, the Greeks and Romans had a tradition of lighting a torch from the hearth of a bride’s childhood home and carrying it to her new home to light the hearth on her wedding night.
In the 1930’s, romantic ballads about lost love were referred to as “torch songs” and were sung by “torch singers.” Billie Holiday, Rosemary Clooney (George’s aunt), Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan were some famous torch singers. Adele and Madeleine Peyroux are two modern artists that fit this category.
Double Meaning
“As much as we’d love to,” Carlton said, “we have something that’s a bit more pressing right now.”
Elliot burst out laughing. “Pressing. That’s a good one Carlton.”
His brother smiled. “I hadn’t thought of it like that, but you’re right,” he chuckled.
“What are you guys talking about?” Tem wanted to know.
“We’re making wine,” the younger knight explained.
In case you didn’t get the joke, pressing here has a double meaning. It refers to the urgency of what the Etto brothers want to do, as well as crushing the grapes to make wine.
Sneezes
What causes a sneeze? Usually it’s something irritating the mucus membranes of your nose or throat. This sends a message to your brain to remove the aggravating substance. Your brain then tells your nose to produce fluid and your lungs to fill with air. Your vocal cords and tongue seal off your mouth, which allows the lungful of air to rapidly fly out of your nose. That’s when the nasal fluid goes flying. However, the seal is only partial, so some air is also expelled through your mouth.
A sneeze can travel at nearly 100 miles [160 kilometers] per hour.
You can’t sneeze when you’re asleep because reflex signals aren’t relayed to your brain. However, if something irritates your nasal passages, you’ll wake up and sneeze shortly thereafter.
Some criminals have used the involuntary reactions of sneezing to rob their victims. They throw pepper or snuff or some other irritant into the person’s face, then rob them while they’re sneezing. In 19thcentury England, these thieves were known as sneeze-lurkers.
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Chapter 26 / Fun Facts
Pine Straw
Selma prayed that the pine straw and other forest debris on this path would hide her tracks.
Pine straw is another name for the dead, fallen needles of the pine tree. It is a reddish-brown color, rather than the bright green of the living needles on the tree.
Native American tribes have been using pine needles to weave beautiful and useful baskets for over 9,000 years. For primitive peoples who had few tools, twisting together local plant materials allowed them to create containers for carrying food, water and other items. These basket-weaving skills also helped them create primitive huts and boats.
Today, pine straw is mainly used for mulch in gardening, and can also act as fuel for a campfire.
Broken Ribs
Many broken ribs are actually just fractures in the bone—a crack instead of two separate pieces. When you think about how ribs work, it’s no wonder this injury is so painful. The rib cage is designed to hold a space open when we breathe out and expel the air in our lungs. This space is needed when the lungs fill up again with air in the next breath. The muscles that help us breathe in and out pull on the ribs with each movement.
Most humans have 12 pairs of ribs for 24 total. Some people may have one more or less due to genetic mutations. But males do not have one more rib than females.
The first seven pairs of ribs are attached to the sternum. The lower ribs—sometimes called “false ribs”—do not attach to any bones. The very first rib is protected by the collarbone, so it’s rarely broken.
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Skeptics
“So how we are knowing you are being Thena?” Selma was still skeptical.
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Skeptics are people who doubt or question what others believe or say to be true.
It gets its name from the Skeptikoi—a school of Greek philosophers. Over 2,300 years ago, they believed that “nothing can be known, not even this.” Taking tests at this school must have been pretty easy.
Mob Mentality
Social scientists use the term “mob mentality” to describe the odd behavior that can happen when people are in large groups. It’s usually used in a negative way to describe crowds that get out of control. You can see this at work in times such as when a city’s sports team wins a championship. Often parts of the group that gets together to celebrate instead ends up breaking store windows and setting things on fire.
Group behavior also helps explain things like stock market crashes, where everyone starts to panic about their investments at once. Hate groups use mob mentality to get otherwise rational people to adopt and act on outrageous beliefs.