Sharing corner

Was reading some very old issues of the Reader's Digest, and found some surprising answers to perplexing questions. Sharing with you all

Ever wonder why sometimes an expensive but nonproductive possession is a "white elephant"?

The King of Siam supposedly gave white elephants to members of his court he wished to ruin. At the time, the creatures were sacred and not allowed to work - yet they still had to be fed and cared for.

....... a zero score in tennis is called "love"

In France, where tennis first became popular, some people apparently thought a big zero on the score-board looked like an egg - and therefore called it the egg, which is l'oeuf in French. When tennis became popular in England, the British copied the French and also called the zero l'oeuf, but pronounced it "love".

..... men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's are on the left?

It's easier for right-handed people - the majority - to push buttons on the right through holes on the left, and so men's buttons are on the right. When first used, buttons were expensive and worn primarily by the wealthy. Women in that class were usually dressed by servants. Since a maid would face the women she was dressing, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right - the woman's left - where they've remained.

Ever wonder why people clink glasses before a toast?

It was once thought that the devil was omnipresent at festive occasions but could be repelled by the sound of bells. Revelers, therefore, would clink their glasses, producing bell-like noises to scare him away.

Ever wonder why a bride always stands on the groom’s left?

In days when men often captured their brides from neighbouring villages, a groom had to keep his sword hand – the right one – free during the ceremony to fend off a possible attack by the bride’s kinsmen or jealous suitors.

…… when a woman spurns a gentleman, she is said to be “giving him the cold shoulder”?

In the early 19th century, when the phrase was first recorded by Sir Walter Scott, it was customary for a hostess to serve hot meat to visitors who were welcome and cold meat to those who were not. Since the cold meat given to the unwanted guest was usually a shoulder of mutton, the hostess was said to be “giving him the cold shoulder.”

wow...inachi, thats nice sharing. given me more insights into things which r close to us but may not be aware of =)

wow,thank u very much honey for sharing these informations.

hope others can share some interesting info, facts, articles etc here

Ever wonder why people play April Fools’ Day jokes on others?

Until the latter part of the 16th century, the European new year began in late March and marked the beginning of spring. To celebrate the new year, festivities involving gift-giving and party going were held for several days, culminating on Apr 1. Then the King of France authorized a change in the calendar, moving the beginning of the new year to January 1. Many people who either didn’t get the word or simply refused to honor the change continued to exchange gifts and hold parties on April 1. Because of this, they were called April fools and were mocked by others who sent them frivolous presents and played pranks on them.

Ever wonder why “getting the sack” means getting fired?

Mechanics and other workmen used to bring their own tools to the job. When a workman was let go, he was given his final salary and a sack for his tools.

Ever wonder why most pencils are hexagonal?

Hexagonal pencils are cheaper to make than round pencils. Nine hexagonal pencils can be produced from the same amount of wood needed for eight round ones. The hexagonal pencil is also less likely to roll off a desk.

...... why people cross their fingers for good luck?


Early Christians secretly made the sign of the cross this way to ask for divine assistance without attracting the attention of Pagans.

.......why in some countries builders put a small tree on the top of a building when its frame is completed?

In ancient times people would attach plants thought to be inhabited by good spirits to the tops of their new structures. Builders still observe this superstition in a custom called “topping out” a new building.

Inachi wrote:....... a zero score in tennis is called "love"

In France, where tennis first became popular, some people apparently thought a big zero on the score-board looked like an egg - and therefore called it the egg, which is l'oeuf in French. When tennis became popular in England, the British copied the French and also called the zero l'oeuf, but pronounced it "love".

I heard of this somewhere before also, think on wikipedia.
But in today's context, I think most if not all of the racquet ball sports users "love" to represent zero.

Oooh nice - there are some fascinating facts in here! Oh I love the browser game of internet and its endless pools of information!

Hi,

Welcome to the forum, bailey. Do share with us any interesting facts and info that you come across the internet.

Maybe this is not very relevant to this thread.

People always quote "Failure is the road to Success"

But why when you fail, people always put you down in all sorts of variations. For me I learn more by failure, maybe because learning the easy way for me is taking it for granted. Learning the harder way makes me a better person as it etches in my mind.

Of course the things that I once failed in were no longer a problem now and I have even did better then others perhaps.

I know too many failures also shows how bad you are in performing your tasks. Just that I feel that my management of tasks is abit bad even though I my starting point was great.

Whats your thoughts.

Everybody will definitely fail in one point of their life, whether a task not completed due to its difficulty, failing to reach somebody's expectations or own goals or even a simple thing such as failing to make someone happy...

Its just what you do after you fail. Whether you want to change or improve yourself or you think that everything is over once you fail and give up.

Well what I feel that is important is your mindset and attitute. You can fail lots of times but definitely after tons of tries, there is bound to be success in one way or another. Even if there isn't, at least you know you gave it your all and you can be proud of yourself.

Success can be anything too...just depend on how u determine success.

Yea so just dun ever give up(use motivations if necessary)!!!

Something to think about:

(1) 中國傳統文化 - 四象/ Four Symbols (Chinese constellation)

東 · 青龍 - 春季 (Azure Dragon of the East) - Spring
南 · 朱雀 - 夏季 (Vermilion Bird of the South) - Summer
西 · 白虎 - 秋季 (White Tiger of the West) - Autumn
北 · 玄武 - 冬季 (Black Tortoise of the North) - Winter
中央 · 黃龍 - 四季变化 (Yellow Dragon of the Center) - Changing of Seasons

(2) 金庸武俠小說 (射鵰三部曲) - 天下五絕/ Jin Yong's (Condor Trilogy) - Top 5 Greats in the World.

東邪(黃藥師) - Eastern Heretic(Huang Yaoshi)
南帝(段智興) - Southern Emperor(Duan Zhixing)
西毒(歐陽鋒) - Western Venom(Ouyang Feng)
北丐(洪七公) - Northern Beggar(Hong Qigong)
中神通(王重陽) - Central Divine(Wang Chongyang)

(3) A surprise .... demographics in the positions of "certain elements" in Singapore currently, making up the geomancy of this nation. (From Destiny, Geomancy & Karma .. loosely reference to 天時地利人和). Close reference to (1) above.

Internal Security in the East = The Palace Guardian
External Deterrence in the South = The Commander-in-Chief
Resource Supply in the West = The Holder of the Keep
Diplomatic Exchange in the North = The Worldly Advisor
Central Authority in the Center = The Ruler of the Palace