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Hey Guys,

Few folks like spiders and absolutely everyone loathes cockroaches. But ladybugs? Ladybugs get nothing but love. But they’re also a bit mysterious. For one, how did they get their name? And two, what’s up with the spots? Here’s the scoop on what is arguably the world’s only cute insect.

First off, let’s tackle the name. According to the aptly named site “Ladybug Lore,” the legend goes something like this. During the Middle Ages, insects were destroying crops throughout Europe. Farmers prayed for assistance from the Virgin Mary, and soon afterwards the ladybugs arrived, “devouring the plant-destroying pests and saving the crops.” Again, according to legend, the bugs’ red wings symbolize the Virgin Mary’s cloak, while the black spots represent “her joys and sorrows.”

Now, about those spots. Not all ladybugs have them. In fact, not all ladybugs are red. But for those who are, here’s the reason why. According to Ladybug Life Cycle, the spots serve as a kind of warning to predators. “Don’t eat me,” the spots seem to say, “because I taste really bad.” At least that’s the theory. And it’s inspired by bumble bees, that are also brightly colored and have dark markings. A blog from MadSci.org seems to back up the theory.

So that’s the story behind the ladybug (real name: Coccinellidae). And, for the record, not all of them are ladies.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

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Hey Guys,

The Pittsburgh Steelers have some of the most distinctive helmets in the NFL. Unlike every other team in the league, their logo only appears on one side of their helmet. Here’s the story behind the Steelers’ asymmetrical look…

The iconic logo, which is based on the American Iron and Steel Institute, features three diamond shapes. One yellow, one red, one blue. Collectively, they symbolize the materials used in the production of steel (red for ore, blue for steel scrap, and yellow for coal).

The logo first appeared on the team’s helmets back in 1962. And, just like today, the logo only appeared on one side. Why? According to the Steelers official site, the team wanted to be sure it liked the look of the logo before they agreed to put it on both sides of the helmet. The team equipment manager, Jack Hart, was told to put the logo on just the right side of the helmets. So he did.

That year, the Steelers finished 9-5, then a franchise-best record. They also qualified for the playoffs. To celebrate the occasion, the team changed from gold helmets with a logo to black helmets with a logo. The look was a hit and helped to “highlight the new logo.”

Things haven’t changed since then and I doubt they ever will.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

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Hey Guys,

Want to feel stupid? Then, by all means, watch “Jeopardy.” The long-running game show features tough questions, tricky wordplay, and a theme song that can stay in one’s head for days. The other night, while I answered 90% of the questions incorrectly, I got to wondering — was the catchy theme music specifically written for this show?

Well, sort of. The song, appropriately named “Think,” was written by show creator, the late Merv Griffin. According to an article from Variety, Griffin originally wrote the song as a kind of lullaby for his son. Makes sense — the tune does have a melodic, sleep-inducing vibe to it. Eventually, he used in for the show he created, “Jeopardy.”

While Griffin eventually sold the rights to the popular show, he did hold on to the rights for the song. Variety wrote: “Griffin at one time estimated that the song had earned him over $70 million in royalties.” Not bad for a 30-second piece of music.

The “Jeopardy” tune wasn’t Merv’s only foray into music. The hugely popular talk show host, scored a hit with “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts” back in the 1950s. Talk about a renaissance man.

What are some of your favorite TV theme songs? “The Jeffersons”? “Hawaii 5-0″? “The Dukes of Hazzard”? Go ahead and leave a comment below.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

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Hey Guys,

The Super Bowl is just a few weeks away, which means its time to brush up on useless football trivia. Like, oh, for example, who coined the term “Super Bowl”?

The Super Bowl wasn’t always the name of the game that decided the NFL champs. Back in the day (“the day” in this case being the 1960s and earlier), the big game was simply called the National Football League Championship Game. It wasn’t until the NFL merged with the AFL that the Super Bowl was born.

Football legend Lamar Hunt is the one who came up with the term. According to legend, Hunt was at home watching his child play with a bouncy ball (aka a super ball). Inspiration struck, and Hunt decided that “Super Bowl” would make a heckuva name for a game.

Of course, he was right. But not everybody thought “Super Bowl” was the way to go. Another football legend, Pete Rozelle, lobbied for a different name. The blog Mental Floss explains that Rozelle, then the commissioner of the league, wanted to call the title game “The AFL-NFL Championship Game.” Yawn. Owners pushed back and suggested it be called “The Big One.” Eventually, the “Super Bowl” came out on top, despite Rozelle’s objections that the term was “corny.”

It’s probably a good thing that Rozelle lost the debate. Today, the Super Bowl is practically a national holiday and one of the most widely viewed sporting events on the planet. Clearly, Lamar Hunt knew a good name when he saw one.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

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Hey Guys,

I like to think I’m a somewhat brave person. I can deal with spiders. The idea of death doesn’t freak me out. But there is one area in which I am a complete and total wimp. Clowns.

Clowns freak me out, man. And for a long time I thought I was a weirdo for being so scared of them. But it turns out this affliction (yes, it is an affliction, I don’t care what you say) affects more people than I thought.

There aren’t official numbers, but all over the Web you’ll find sites and blogs dedicated to scary clowns. In fact, I found a lot more sites dedicated to menacing clowns than I did sites dedicated to nice, friendly, funny clowns. Maybe they need a new P.R. firm?

It turns out a fear of clowns is a very real problem for some people. The blog phobialist has an interesting, though not definite, theory as to why. It argues that people may be afraid of clowns because a clown disguises his or her real emotions via makeup. That makes it impossible for Joe or Jane ‘Fraidycat’ to figure out whether the clown wants to give you a balloon or do something terrible.

Makes sense to me. And keep in mind that if you’re one of those folks who would rather walk through fire than go to the circus, you are not alone. Many people are terrified of these things. For example, Johnny Depp used to have nightmares about clowns. In an interview, he remarked, “There always seemed to be a darkness lurking just under the surface, a potential for real evil.”

No argument here, Johnny. No argument here.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

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