Strange But True

• It was way back in the 17th century when noted Scottish scholar Patrick Young made the following sage observation: “The trouble with weather forecasting is that it’s right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it.”

• About once a week, a frog will shed its skin. Then eat it.

• If you’ve watched many old Westerns, you’ve doubtless seen Native Americans scalping their enemies. You probably don’t realize, though, that the brutal practice didn’t originate with the Indians. When the Dutch and English settlers were trying to clear out the natives, they were paid a bounty for each scalp they brought back. The Native Americans adopted the practice only after the Europeans’ arrival on the continent.

• The country’s first pizzeria opened in 1895 in, unsurprisingly, New York City.

• Those who study such things say that 70 percent of Americans have visited either Disneyland, in California, or Disney World, in Florida.

• If you want to have an especially memorable - and chilly - vacation, consider heading to Finnish Lapland. There, more than 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle, you can stay at the Kakslauttanen Hotel. The quarters aren’t luxurious, but the sights are amazing. All the accommodations are geodesic glass igloos, offering amazing views of the aurora borealis.

• Are you a snollygoster? If so, you’re shrewd, which isn’t a bad thing, but you’re also rather lacking in principles.

• When Andrew Jackson was running for president in 1828, his opponents called him a stubborn jackass. Jackson was proud that he was known for obstinately sticking to his guns, so he started using the image of a donkey on his campaign materials. The Democrats have been using that symbol ever since.

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Thought for the Day: “Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts.” - Leo Rosten

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.