Ask Rachel

Interesting fact: “To the nines” is a reference to the nine Muses, unless it’s a corruption of some Scottish phrase “to then eyne,” meaning “to the eyes.” Me, I like to dress to the fives. Occasionally the sevens.

Interesting fact: When the U.S. acquired the Mexican Cession in 1848, Durango was considered part of New Mexico. There but for la gracia de dios go we.

Interesting fact: The first Harley-Davidson is indeed more than 100 years old, rolling off the line in 1904, the same year the first biker shaved for the last time.

Interesting fact: Johnny Appleseed was actually a real estate speculator: planting trees to claim land, which he later sold to tech bros at a ridiculous profit.

Interesting fact: You know that smell of a jar of pennies? That’s actually human body odor: sweat interacting with metal. Yum.

Interesting fact: Face mask sales generated $743 million on Etsy in 2020. Bat Masks would have doubled that, easy

Interesting fact: The word “golf” actually derives from the Dutch word “kolf,” meaning “club.” So a five-iron is in fact a “club club.” And a rich man owns a whole bag of good old boy’s club clubs.

Interesting fact: Pickleball’s popularity is growing more than 20% a year and is the fastest-growing sport in America. Maybe the U.S. Postal Service should get involved.

Interesting fact: An infectious disease expert with the Mayo Clinic says you are more likely to catch a bug in the airport than on an airplane. Except, where do you think all the people on the airplane came from, hmm, Dr. Mayo? 

Interesting fact: Soy lecithin is an emulsifier, sure, but it’s a food lubricant? Not two words I usually put together outside the ol’ love shack.

Interesting fact: Coasters are also referred to as beermats in other parts of the English-speaking world, where clearly they do not drink lemonade or iced tea on warm, humid days.

Interesting fact: A recent report reports that there are, reportedly, other pencil numbers besides #2. And that the number refers to the hardness of the graphite. Someday, if I’m very lucky, I’ll meet a pencil with a #5 or #6.

Interesting fact: Bocce is reportedly the world’s third most popular sport, behind soccer and (this is why I say “reportedly”) golf. But you sure don’t hear Simon & Garfunkel lamenting long-lost bocce players.

Interesting fact: We burn about 100 calories running a mile. An avocado can have 200-300 calories. A $2 avocado therefore is still a worse bargain than gassing up your car.

Interesting fact: The service life of the Motorola bag phone ended in 2008 when the networks went extinct. Long live the bag phone

Interesting fact: Durango.org has an entire section on visiting town with your dog, but no mention of hiking with your cat or visiting the 5-acre cat park.

Interesting fact: The Rock started his wrestling career as Rocky Miavia, and like me, he learned to drop his last name for public appearances.

Interesting fact: The average business will hear from about 4% of its dissatisfied customers. Not me; I never survey people about how I’m doing.