From Dollar to the Giraffe's Tongue
Issue 24
The word dollar is derived from the Spanish dollar, which got its name because they were of similar size and weight to the German Thaler. The German Thalers were named after the mine they were first minted from in 1520 in Joachimsthal, Germany.
The Emmy awards were initially called “Immy” until Academy members changed it to Emmy, considering it more appropriate for a female statuette. The Emmy statuette was created by television engineer Louis McManus, who modeled it after his wife.
Natural and properly preserved honey never spoils. Honey contains sugar that is hygroscopic- containing very little water. It is also highly acidic, killing anything that tries to grow in it. When honey is heated and strained and sealed properly, it will not be able to absorb moisture and therefore will stay as it is forever. The oldest jar of honey ever found is stated to be over 5,500 years old.
A giraffe’s tongue is over a foot and a half long (21 inches). They use it to clean the their ears, and of course to get around tree branches to get to leaves they want to eat.
