Ask Rachel

Interesting fact: It doesn’t appear that “imperial-colonialism” is a common or recognized phrase, but compound nouns go as far back as Sanskrit, and I admittedly didn’t research back that far.

Interesting fact: In 1977, it became illegal in Quebec for businesses to advertise using English names. So rather than adopt separate branding, Tim Horton’s dropped its apostrophe worldwide and became Tim Hortons.

Interesting fact: U.S. pint glasses are 16 ounces to the brim. Factor in a half-inch of foamy head in a proper pour, and your actual liquid content is closer to 14 ounces.

Interesting fact: Rule 34 reportedly originated with webcomic writer Peter Morley-Souter’s shock at discovering the existence of Calvin and Hobbes pornography.

Interesting fact: The banal and cliche? phrase “to coin a phrase” is almost always used, ironically enough, to emphasize a banal or cliche?d phrase.

Interesting fact: The man who brought hashtags to Twitter in the first place says, “Used sparingly, respect- fully and in appropriate measure, I think that the value generated from the use of hashtags is substantial enough to warrant their continued use.” #blessed

Interesting fact: In 2017, 45 percent of Mother’s Day shoppers gave a gift card to Mum, and they spent a total of $2.5 billion to do so. Maybe babymaking is more lucrative than I suspected.

Interesting fact: Studies suggest up to a third of all customers have stolen items at self-checkout counters. And I can’t say I blame them.

Interesting fact: Mountain lions were among the smaller big cats in the Ice Age. They got so quiet to avoid being eaten themselves. Now, they’re the top predator left here, and they’re still hush hush.

Interesting fact: Elephants aren’t naturally afraid of mice. But circus elephants learned to fear them, because rodents often chewed on their feet and tails

Interesting fact: I actually use vinegar to get rid of ants. It may not work, but the smell sure keeps me far away from the problem, which means it doesn’t exist.

Interesting fact: Bluegrass music as we know it started around 1940 with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Ten minutes later, the first people got tired of listening to bluegrass and walked out.

Interesting fact: Pork shoulder is a self-explanatory slice of meat. Pork butt, however, is actually just pork shoulder. #mindblown

Interesting fact: I wasn’t really sure you could buy mountain lion pee. You can. It comes in squeeze bottles. And now, my Amazon search history is forever really, really boned.

Interesting fact: CDs and vinyl records outsold digital downloads in 2017. But it’s streaming services that keep the industry afloat now. MP3s are dead. Long live MP3s.

Interesting fact: Urine is, in fact, not sterile. So don’t use it to clean your wounds. And definitely don’t sit on it.

Interesting fact: The vomit in “The Sandlot” was made from split pea soup, baked beans, oatmeal, water, and movie gel. And the chewing tobacco was made from beef jerky and licorice. Yum.