A squark is a sfermion. According to Wikipedia, in particle physics, a sfermion is the spin-0 superpartner particle (or sparticle) of its associated fermion. In supersymmetric extensions to the Standard Model (SM) each particle has a superpartner with spin that differs by 1⁄2. Fermions in the SM have spin-1⁄2 and therefore sfermions have spin 0. … Read More
You can’t deduct non-payment of an invoice as ‘bad debt’ if you’re a freelancer
According to publication 535 from the IRS, you must show you claimed a ‘bad debt’ as income first, and since freelancing is a done as a cash basis where you do the work first, then record it in a ledger upon payment (rather than recording it in the ledger upon billing), the income hadn’t happened … Read More
The Sylacauga meteorite is the first documented extraterrestrial object to have injured a human being
Commonly called the Hodges meteorite because a fragment of it struck Ann Elizabeth Hodges, the grapefruit-sized object crashed through the roof of a farm house near Sylacauga, Georgia on November 30, 1954, bounced off a large wooden console radio, and hit Hodges while she napped on a couch. The 34-year-old woman was badly bruised on … Read More
A group of bald eagles flying together on thermals is called a “Kettle”
America’s symbol, the bald eagle, mates for life; and generally returns to the same nesting site (and nest) every year. At one time on the endangered species list, the bald eagle has made a comeback. So much so, that it’s been off the endangered species list since 2007. The bald eagle is also the only … Read More
The OTHER “Girl Scout Cookies”
It’s January, so it’s Girl Scout Cookie time. This brings in visions of Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas, Shortbread cookies, and (if you’re one of the test markets each year), gluten-free varieties. But… there is a “dark side” version of “Girl Scout Cookies”. According to this article in High Times Magazine, “Girl Scout Cookies” is also … Read More
Despite its low ratings, why did “Bonanza” stay on the air after its first year?
It was one of the first series to be filmed and broadcast in color and was sponsored by RCA – the maker of color TV sets. RCA was so into promoting its new color TVs that it put out a press release titled “RCA-NBC Firsts in Color Television, a Chronological List of Significant Firsts by … Read More
Why is a word starting with “#” a “hash”-tag and not a “pound”-tag or “number”-tag?
The # symbol means different things depending on where in the world you are. It’s generally only in North America that it can mean “number” – as in #5 – or “pound” – as in “dial the pound symbol” or “5#” to mean 5 pounds. In the UK, it can’t mean pounds because they have … Read More
Space Mountain is the oldest operating roller coaster in Florida
Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain celebrates its 40th birthday this month (it opened on January 15, 1975 sponsored by RCA), making it the oldest operating roller coaster in Florida. The first “official” riders were Lucie Arnaz and Tommy Tune who hosted the grand opening festivities on a nationally broadcast TV special called “Welcome to the … Read More
Why we have a shamrock as the symbol of St. Patrick’s Day
According to legend, St. Patrick was credited with teaching the Irish about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity by showing them the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, and using it to represent the Christian teaching of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in one God.
Rapscallion: Has nothing to do with music or onions
Meaning a playfully mischievous person, the word originated from “rascal”, which became “rascallion”, then rapscallion.