Strange But True

* It was beloved American humorist Will Rogers who made the following sage observation: “Everything is funny as long as it’s happening to somebody else.”

* If you have spent a great deal of time in the Scottish highlands, you might be familiar with the term “sgiomlaireachd.” Evidently, the habit of dropping in at mealtimes is common enough there to require a word to describe it.

* The world’s most popular fruit is the banana. In the United States, people consume more bananas than apples and oranges put together.

* How would you like to brush your teeth with salt, chalk or ground brick? The first tooth powders used with toothbrushes were made of just such materials.

* Ever wonder why magazine publisher Hugh Hefner chose a rabbit as the symbol of his Playboy magazine? Evidently, when the mogul was a small boy, one of his treasured possessions was a blanket with bunnies all over it.

* Those who study such things say that Italians drink, on average, 26 gallons of wine every year.

* The English word “vegetable” comes from the Latin word “vegetare,” which means “to invigorate.”

Thought for the Day

“I divide my officers into four groups. There are clever, diligent, stupid and lazy officers. Usually two characteristics are combined. Some are clever and diligent — their place is the General Staff. The next lot are stupid and lazy — they make up 90 percent of every army and are suited to routine duties. Anyone who is both clever and lazy is qualified for the highest leadership duties, because he possesses the intellectual clarity and the composure necessary for difficult decisions. One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent — he must not be entrusted with any responsibility because he will always cause only mischief.”

--Kurt Freiherr von Hammerstein-Equord

(c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.