365 Days of Knowledge #15, 16 and 17

Everyone is familiar with The Little Mermaid. I myself love the movie, when I was little I wanted to be Ariel. Anytime I was swimming I re-enacted the scene where Ariel is singing "Part of your World" and launches herself up on a rock. Anyway, I learned that in the original, Hans Christian Anderson tale, Ariel wanted to be human for two reasons. The first being, like in the movie, to marry and love prince (who doesn't want that?). In the original however, Ariel also wants an eternal soul. Apparently merfolk don't have souls, when they die they turn into sea foam.

Last night I went to this Rocky Horror Picture Show party/movie showing/play. Now, I have NEVER seen this film. I have heard about it and get the cult classic-ness about it but am unfamiliar with the movie in general. My friend called and asked if I wanted to go. I said sure and she said, "People dress up." Hhhhmmm I thought, what do people dress up as? So, what did I do? I googled "Rock Horror Picture Show costumes". What came up is a whole lot of transvestites in lingerie and corsets. Now, we're experiences below zero temperatures here in Wisconsin and the last thing I'm going to be donning is nylons and booty shorts. Tossing that idea I continued to surf the internets until I came across this character.

His name is Riff Raff. What drew me to this character was not his striking good looks or his winning smile, it was his clothes, he was actually wearing some. I threw on some black pants, white shirt, and suit coat, slicked back my greasy hair, darkened my eyebrows and threw on some dark lipstick. I didn't have to paint my face white because it's the middle of winter and I already look like a ghost.

So I get to the theater and it takes half a second to realize that I made a mistake. Instead of dressing up as characters, people just dressed up. The sluttier the better. I ordered a beer and sat by the bar listening to some shitty new age music and waiting for my friend who showed up a half hour late. I think people thought I was a dominatrix.

My friend finally showed up and we ended up having a really really good time. I still don't know what the movie is about. So, what did a learn? I learned how to dance the Time Warp.

Finally, today I learned that the word "toast," when people are cheersing <----made up word , means a wish of good health. This tradition originated in Rome, where a piece of toasted bread was dropped into wine.

365 Days of Knowledge #8

Sadly, what I learned today wasn't happy news. The legendary sexual revolutionist, Bettie Paige died on December 12th, 2008. While many don't condone Bettie Paige's lively hood, I can only speculate that she helped a lot of folks living in the depression and post-depression era escape reality for awhile and just fantasize. And I think that's quite alright. Thanks Bettie!


rest in peace

365 Days of Knowledge #5

Today I learned that you cannot order the Atomic Wings at Quaker Steak and Lube without first signing a release form.....true story.






On a more educational note, I learned that the basset hound was bred to have a white tip at the end of their tail in order to help hunters see them while tracking animals.