Why is Friday the 13th supposedly unlucky? Friday was the day Jesus was crucified and 13 is an irregular number. Twelve is the number of completeness – 12 hours of the clock, 12 months of the year, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus. Every year has at least 1 Friday the 13th, but no year has more than 3. However, the Automobile Club of Southern California thinks Friday the 13th may be lucky. There were 2.1% fewer traffic deaths in California on Friday the 13th’s from 2002 to 2009 than comparable Fridays. Obviously, some people aren’t “driven” to believe Friday the 13th is unlucky.
What makes a belly button an innie? A belly button is an abdominal scar created when the stalk of the leftover umbilical cord dries up. Whether a belly button is an innie or an outie has nothing to do with a doctor’s skill. It depends on the space between the skin and the abdominal wall. If soft tissue protrudes through the belly button, it’s an outie. However, for several thousand dollars and a 45-minute outpatient operation, plastic surgeons can turn an outie into an innie. In fact, in 2005 more than 2,100 people “bellied up” for an umbilicoplasty.
What happened to the food pyramid? It had been the government’s how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-daily-basis icon since 1992. From the bottom 6-11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta to the “use sparingly” fats, oils and sweets at the top, it was confusing. In 2011 the pyramid was replaced by a plate divided into 4 parts. Fruits and vegetables make up 2 parts or half the plate. The other 2 parts of the plate are grains and protein. Dairy is a tiny plate to the side. “My Plate” is definitely less confusing and hopefully the $2 million for design and promotion won’t go to “waist”.
What cures a hangover? For Americans hangover foods reflect the country’s Anglo roots. Usual recommendations include salty, greasy, fatty foods like bacon, grilled cheese sandwiches or anything fried. However, although fatty foods are popular hangover remedies, they’ve been scientifically proven to be better hangover preventions. The grease in fatty foods helps repel alcohol from the stomach lining. When already hung over, fatty foods tend to further irritate the stomach. Instead, eat eggs. They contain high amounts of cysteine – an amino acid that breaks down a hangover-causing toxin. It seems eggs put the “over” in hangover.
Comments