Inquiring Minds

I'm a very curious person by nature and always find myself turning to either my wise husband or the infinite knowledge of the internet to answer my (admittedly random) queries. So I thought it would be fun to have a recurring feature on the blog in which I tell you some of the things I've looked up lately and the answers I found.

• What kind of white wine is best for cooking?: (Googled on my handy-dandy new smartphone while staring blankly at the overwhelming wine aisle at the store.) The answers varied widely, but it seemed the most common choice is sauvignon blanc. I can't argue -- it was delicious and much better than the pretend "cooking wine" I used in the past.
  
  
• Why do alcoholic products always get placed in those long, skinny paper bags when you check out at the store?: (Wondered at the checkout when I was buying my sauvignon blanc.) Many people suggested it has to do with the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure. No one can see what kind of drink you have hiding behind the brown paper. The police are supposed to have probable cause to search your paper bag, so theoretically you could get away with violating an open container law.
  
  
• What's the definition of "brinksmanship?" (Heard in a President Obama speech, referring to Congress and the debt ceiling debate): "The art or practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the limit of safety especially to force a desired outcome," according to Merriam-Webster. Ah. Makes perfect sense.
  
  
• Where is the new fall TV show "Terra Nova" filmed?: (Wondered when we saw a commercial for it and the scenery greatly resembled Hawaii, where we currently reside.) Not Hawaii! Queensland, Australia. I had no idea it was so scenic!
  
  
• What is gout?: Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid. It most commonly affects the joints in the feet. So of course...
  
  
• What is uric acid?: From MedlinePlus, a website by the National Institutes of Health: "Uric acid is a chemical created when the body breaks down substances called purines. Purines are found in some foods and drinks such as liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas, beer, and wine. Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys, where it passes out in urine."
  
  
• What is the HTML code for a bulleted list?: Answer found on this blog.