Relationships and Going Places
Two From Ferida Wolff's Backyard: Blueberry Picking is Tasty Work! & The Greatness of Lake Erie
"I took a blogcation for a month, enjoying a little road trip, a family visit, and just allowing myself some off time, doing pretty much not much. Isn't that what summer is for? I was saddened when I learned about Lake Erie's history. I wish I could have seen it in its original state; if it is so impressive now, how incredible it must have once been. We went picking at an organic farm and came home with almost eight pounds of berries. What will we do with so many, you might wonder." more »
A Puzzle in Washington, DC: The National Building Museum's Big Maze
Plato writes: "It is a confusing path, hard to follow without a thread, but, provided [you are] not devoured at the midpoint, it leads surely, despite twists and turns, back to the beginning." Mazes and labyrinths can be found on artifacts from the ancient world; from the Bronze Age in Spain, to Ireland and India; from North Africa to the American Southwest. In these cultures — and many others — the labyrinth conveyed ideas about a meandering, perhaps obstacle-filled, journey toward enlightenment.
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Napkin Rings and Saving Ways
Julia Sneden writes: The fad for matched napkin rings has grown and nowadays even the catalogues feature such sets. They weren't meant for decor, and they certainly weren't meant to match. They were simply a means of identification that allowed us to reuse our napkins, usually for a week at a time. In the days before miracle laundry machines, before detergents with or without bleach, (never mind cold-water soaps or power boosters) people didn't toss napkins into the laundry after every meal. more »
Lady in Red: Perhaps Adjust Your Wardrobe and Alert Chris de Burgh To Re-release His Song
"Recent research suggests that red is an aphrodisiac for men viewing women. Men viewing women on a red background or in red clothing find them more attractive and sexually desirable, intend to spend more money on them, and choose to sit closer to them." One experiment situation: "Imagine that you (are interested in casual sex with a guy. You) decide to join a dating website because you have heard that it is a good way to find a guy (for this type of relationship). The website allows you to post one picture, and you decide to take a picture of yourself using your cell phone." more »
