Who is really being depicted in the famous painting, “American Gothic?”

Less than two weeks to go until summer 2021 arrives!

Think back to the summer of 2020. (I know, it’s scary, it’s frightening, but humor me for a moment.) Most were stuck inside, not able to enjoy ourselves, not able to do what we normally do, during the “long, hot summer.”

It’s different this year.

Worth celebrating, don’t you think? I am celebrating it every day!

How, you wonder? Well, in this case, I’m celebrating the arrival of summer with some specially crafted trivia.

Be sure to check this space next week, too, for the promised “all silly laws” edition of the column. Laws are written against having that much fun!

Did you know …

… the term for a group of porcupines is very appropriate? As we all know, collective plural words for animals can be very elegant – a parliament of swans, for instance – or very sinister, such as a murder of crows. But when you get to porcupines, it gets very descriptive and accurate. A gathering of porcupines is called … a prickle. (That could explain all the porcupines in Congress, couldn’t it?)

… your credit score affects more than just loans and mortgages? Some insurance companies consider credit scores when determining rates for life and auto insurance in states where it is legally allowed. Employers and landlords can also pull credit reports on those who want to work or rent from them. (Wonder what a credit score with a “–” in front of it means? Asking for a friend.)

… women have a better sense of smell than men do in odor detection, discrimination, and identification? (Especially if their significant other is wearing someone else’s perfume!)

… a baby octopus is about the size of a flea when it is born, depending on the type of octopus? (Talk about a growth spurt!)

… a man who won the world’s Scrabble™ championship in French does not speak the language? In 2015, Nigel Richards (born 1967) won the French Scrabble championship tournament despite not being able to speak or read French. Richards, a native of New Zealand, spent nine weeks memorizing the game’s French dictionary before the tournament began. Richards also won the world’s English Scrabble tournaments in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2018 and 2019. (I can say, “C’est la vie” to him and he won’t know what I said!)

… a king of England initially could not speak English? King George I (1660-1727) was originally from Hanover, Germany. George – who was also ruler of Hanover in the Holy Roman Empire – spoke fluent German and French, but not a word of English until much later in his reign, when he was able to speak, write, and understand it. (He did not, however, speak German with a British accent.)

… most people have misinterpreted a classic American painting? “American Gothic,” painted in 1930 by Grant Wood (1891-1942), features two individuals – one a man holding a pitchfork, the other a woman – in front of an old-fashioned farmhouse. Most people who view the painting think of it as a midwestern farmer and his wife, but the woman is not supposed to be the farmer’s wife. According to the artist, it’s supposed to be his daughter. Additional trivia note: The models who posed for the painting were Wood’s dentist, Dr. Byron McKeeby (1867-1950) and Wood’s sister, Nan Wood Graham (1899-1990). For a long time, Dr. McKeeby wanted nothing to do with the painting, even going so far as to deny having been the model for the farmer. Eventually he accepted his part in the classic, though he admitted that it made his friendship with Wood “a little bumpy” for a time. (Gee, you do something nice for someone …)

… the U.S. Mint has nothing to do with the creation of paper money? The Mint produces coins only. Paper money comes from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. (And I wish I had more of both!)

… Americans don’t know much about their own history? A recent survey showed, for instance, that 40% of Americans believe humans and dinosaurs existed at the same time. (I blame The Flintstones, myself.)

… in the average six-pack of canned cola, the cans cost more to make than the soda does? (I guess it really does pay to buy in bulk!)

… pandas spend at least twelve hours each day eating bamboo? Pandas eat about 84 pounds of bamboo daily. (And they spend the rest of the day sleeping … what a life!)

… game shows almost never became a television staple, thanks to the government? In 1954, as television networks were beginning more daytime programming, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sued ABC to stop the network from producing and airing game shows. The FCC held that game shows were a form of gambling, and gambling was not going to be allowed on television. The suit made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the network, allowing the production and airing of game shows, which continues to this day. (Since I always wanted to be a game show host, I’m rather glad the Supreme Court ruled as it did.)

… the person who has owned a Ford Mustang the longest was the first person to purchase one? On April 15, 1964, Gail Brown Wise (born 1942) purchased the first production Mustang to come off the Ford assembly line. She still owns the car to this day. (Loyalty. You can’t beat it.)

… a survey turned up the fact that 45% of Americans do not realize that the Sun is actually a star? (That’s not very bright.)

Now … you know!

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