Inquiring Minds

Welcome to another edition of Inquring Minds, in which I tell you the answers to some of the random questions that have popped into my mind recently.

1. What kind of fur is Afghan President Hamid Karzai's signature hat made of?: It's called a qaraqul (a.k.a. karakul) and made from the fur of the qaraqul breed of sheep, which are common in Central Asia. The hats aren't made from just any sheep, though, but rather are fashioned from the supersoft fur of newborn qaraqul lambs or aborted lamb fetuses. (photo source)

2. What does "lazaretto" mean? (A word I encountered in the novel I'm reading right now, "Moloka'i" by Alan Brennert.): According to dictionary.com, a lazaretto is "a hospital for those with contagious dieseases, especially leprosy" or "a building or ship set apart for quarantine purposes."

3. What exactly is happening when you crack your joints (i.e. back, neck, knuckles)?: The web has a variety of (sometimes conflicting) information on this topic. Some of the more reputable websites I looked at suggested that cracking joints is rarely harmful and that the cause of the popping sounds is not completely understood. Some theories are that the noise comes from ligaments, or that it's the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles in the joint's fluid, or that it's two bones clicking back into place after being temporarily separated. All sound gross to me. The only area I ever intentionally crack is my back, after a night of sleeping like a log or a long day of sitting in a chair. And it's almost always a pleasure. Why is this? Most sites suggest that pressure in the joints is relieved upon cracking.

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.