Ask Rachel

Interesting fact: By “Benny” I, of course, mean $100 bills, not Benadryl tablets. Do allergy meds really need a street name?

Interesting fact: Mr. Phillips didn’t even invent the Phillips head screw. He bought the rights to a Mr. Thompson’s design and slapped his own name on it. Bet your dad didn’t know that.

Interesting fact: The more new information our brains process, the slower time moves. So really, all this endless “Star Wars’ content should be expanding our sense of time.

Interesting fact: Competitive air hockey requires reflexes comparable to hitting a 400 mph fastball. Non-competitive air hockey requires a lot of luck in flailing in the right direction.

Interesting fact: An X is a legally binding signature, though it is harder to prove in court without witnesses. Sucks, of course, if your name is actually X. 

Interesting fact: The U.S. tax filing date used to be March 15, but it’s possible that (unofficially, of course) the Ides of March made Congress antsy. 

Interesting fact: The Artemis II packing list included 58 tortillas, with which the astronauts could theoretically make better tortilla chips than the Mission tortilla chip factory does here on Earth.  Moon Mission Chips, anyone?

Interesting fact: Dogs can have up to 25 hairs growing out of each follicle. Blowing coats, blowing minds.

Interesting fact: At peak production, Cadbury produces 1.5 million creme eggs a day. Those poor, overworked bunnies.

Interesting fact: More than 25% of all moves take place within a single mile. But the beer required for a move is determined by weight, not distance.

Interesting fact: You all started asking this Rachel questions in September 2016. Pretty sure this year’s journalism graduates were in seventh grade at that point. 

Interesting fact: On average, homebuyers spend 30-40 minutes inside a house for their first visit. If the real estate agent puts out snacks, you should definitely help yourself. 

Interesting fact: So-called “Euro board games” usually create competition between players but no direct conflict between them. Aka, the inverse of American Valentine’s Day. 

Interesting fact: I am just now learning that there’s a whole documentary film, “Sit Stay Ride,” about sidecar dogs in America. This is the greatness we need to get back to.

Interesting fact: People have married AI companions in symbolic ceremonies, though as yet none of them are legally recognized.

Interesting fact: I thought “zaddy” was a new term, but it’s been around at least a decade now. I don’t know why anyone asks me for advice.