Science is hands down one of the coolest subjects in the world. It is always striving to learn, so it’s mutable and adaptive. Some people think it’s a weakness of science when what we believe is true is proven wrong, but that’s what makes science so valuable. It’s never arrogant enough to say “This is…
Author: Ian Fortey
When you see the word “natural” on a food label it is often used in a way to suggest that food is healthy, free from preservatives or chemicals, and generally good for you. In reality, the use of the term is kind of loosey-goosey. In America, the FDA lets you use “natural” on a label…
Have you ever heard a story about how a different actor was almost cast in an iconic role played by someone else? Like how Will Smith could have been Neo in The Matrix or how Eric Stoltz was first cast as Marty in Back to the Future? There are hundreds of examples, and it makes…
There’s a thing adults tell kids sometimes – cheaters never win. That’s horribly untrue, of course. They win constantly because they cheated. Now, if they get caught, they may face consequences, but that’s sort of the same as crime. Crime never pays unless you get away with it. But we’re trying to keep the kids…
It’s been said that far too many of us, especially today, live in our own bubbles. If you only limit your experience to one media source, one kind of cuisine, or one genre of movie, then you’re missing out on so much. It also skews your understanding of anything outside your bubble and makes you…
Have you ever gotten something confused in your head, or maybe you just didn’t care, and called one thing by the wrong name for far too long because you consider them the same? The way some people seem to call any brown soda Coke even if it’s a Pepsi or a root beer or whatever?…
There are a lot of harsh places to find yourself in the world. The desert can kill you just as surely as being in Hurricane Alley. There are parts of the world where it rains almost constantly, and others prone to earthquakes and mudslides. But few places are as consistently inhospitable as the Arctic. Just…
They say it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there and that’s just if you’re a dog. They’re cute and can get away with simple things like that. Other creatures are not so lucky so when it comes to self-defense they need to up their game. While most animals in the world rely on things like teeth…
How much do you like your name? Have you ever thought your life would have gone a different way if your parents named you Maverick or Uppercut? It’s too late to know for sure, but it’s never too late to try your hand at something new if you really want to try it. Many places…
For a long time, if you wanted to get around the world you were going to have to go by water at some point. And the thing about water is that everything is literally smooth sailing on the surface. When things go wrong, however, then you sink. In general, sinking sucks. It’s cold, you can’t…
People have probably been giving stuff away to win others over, attract new business, or express appreciation for loyalty since back in the caveman days. Offer something small and fun to many, or something significant to a few and it can have more or less the same effect. The key is to understand what people…
We come to expect some things as par for the course in the world. The sun rises in the east, tacos are delicious, roosters crow, and so on. But just because you expect a thing and have even grown used to a thing based on past experience doesn’t necessarily mean that’s how it always is.…
Hollywood seems like a wonderful place to those of us who don’t read too deeply about its history. It’s where movie magic is made, and it’s full of shiny celebrities, and that seems really nice. Actors are elevated to great heights in our minds because of the roles they play and the people we want…
Despite what the song “It’s a Small World” tells us, the world is pretty big. We’ve managed to fit eight billion people on it, and that’s impressive — bordering on unsettling. There’s a lot to know about that population as well, in terms of where they’re all located, how they’re spread out, and where else…
When you’re looking to know all there is to know about something you may want to invoke the use of the W5 acronym. That stands for “who, what, when, why, and where” though maybe not always in that order. If you can answer all of those questions regarding just about anything, you can get a…
Many people have a bad habit of taking knowledge for granted. When it’s something a little more esoteric like advanced calculus or how to make the perfect mole poblano it can be very obnoxious and even arrogant to act like everyone should know it. But sometimes even what you consider common knowledge may be lost…
Getting drunk is never technically a good idea, but it’s definitely a popular pastime for many of us. If you’re a responsible drinker, then that’s okay! Don’t drive, don’t hurt yourself, don’t hurt anyone else, try not to text your coworkers and things should work out fine. But we’re not here to talk about the…
Legacy is a big deal to some people. They have this need to leave something behind, to know that their family name will carry on or, at least, something they created. A family business, a tradition, whatever. Sometimes these legacies can grow into something no one ever predicted and become noteworthy not just for those…
The Make-A-Wish Foundation began in 1980 with a mission to help fulfill the dreams of children with serious illnesses. The stories from the charity are often bittersweet as thousands of kids get to have the experience of a lifetime but their illness and struggles loom heavy. Still, the work they do is incredible and for…
In any movie or TV show about crime you know things are serious when the FBI shows up. The FBI is like the big leagues of criminal investigation, none of this amateur junk dealing with small time crime. This is for serial killers and organized crime and international drug smuggling. Yep, the FBI are the…
Making movies isn’t always fun and games. Actors are often put through the ringer and have to endure extreme conditions. James Cameron famously pushed his actors so hard on the set of The Abyss that they broke down in tears and Ed Harris punched him after a scene in which he almost drowned. Stanley Kubrick…
Evolution is a trip in more ways than one. That life can adapt to its environment, to make a series of improvements to help it thrive in the world is amazing. Even more incredible is the way the same destination can be reached from different starting points. It makes sense that more than one creature…
Let there be light. Someone or other said that once and all things being equal, humans and other living things have benefited from having light. There wouldn’t be much life without it. And while the sun was our big provider for a long time before we mastered fire and then electricity, these are far from…
Let’s start this one with an acknowledgement that a characteristic of a lot of fads is that they rarely make sense. Fidget spinners, for instance, were just things that spun. They were huge for about a month and then they weren’t. The Pet Rock was another one. It was legitimately a stone, and you kept…