Author Archives: Lior

Dead as a Doornail Origin: Why do I say something is As Dead as a Doornail?

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Lior

Since the 14th century1,2 people have declared things to be dead as doornails. It makes sense as doornails are indeed dead inanimate objects, but then so are diamonds, doughnuts, and doorknobs. So why were doornails chosen of all things? What … Continue reading →

Posted in Etymology | 7 Comments

Saturated fats: What is saturated fat?

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Lior

If you’re hearing about saturated fat in the news, it’s likely to be related to how they clog up arteries, increase risk of heart disease and generally make us all die! But is all this bad press fair? Why precisely … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Nutrition | 3 Comments

Saturated fats: Why saturated fats are bad

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Lior

The saturated fats have a reputation for being bad for you, but are they really that bad for you? What are the real negative aspects of saturated fats? And are these negative aspects true for all saturated fats? This article … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Nutrition | 5 Comments

Saturated fats: Benefits of saturated fats

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Lior

Saturated fats have a reputation for being bad for you, but is this fair? Are there any benefits to eating saturated fats? 

Posted in Health, Nutrition | 4 Comments

Conclusion on Saturated Fats: Is saturated fat bad for you?

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Lior

After reading the previous articles on what saturated fats are, the benefits of saturated fats, and on why saturated fats are bad for us, what can we conclude? Should saturated fats be included as part of a healthy diet? And … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Nutrition | Leave a comment

Origins of the Piggy Bank: Why do we have piggy banks? A piggy bank history

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Lior

You may have already met Rupert the pig on my donate page. Why a pig of all creatures on my donate page? Because he’s a piggy bank of course! (Well, that and because he gallantly offered to help me promote … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Etymology | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Shunning and Social Rejection: Why am I a social outcast?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Lior

There are many different forms of social rejection from parental rejection to peer social exclusion at school, romantic rejection, religious shunning and even rejection at a job interview. Whilst specifics vary amongst different types of social exclusion, they all have … Continue reading →

Posted in Psychology | Tagged | 34 Comments

Origins of Clapping: Why do we Clap?

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Lior

If you think about it, striking your hands together almost aggressively to emit loud slapping sounds is not an entirely intuitive mark of admiration and appreciation, and yet the clap has served this very role for centuries. So what is … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Language, Culture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Back Pat: Why do we pat on the back?

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Lior

Whether you’re giving someone a bro hello-hug, comforting someone or congratulating them, the pat on the back is a gesture that’s very much part of every day life. Why is back patting done?

Posted in Body Language | Tagged | 8 Comments

Meaning of RSVP: What does RSVP stand for?

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Lior

Since the days of Emily Post it’s been widely known that a prompt reply to an invitation’s RSVP is common courtesy. Whilst many of us are accustomed to seeing RSVP written elegantly on invitations, a surprisingly high amount of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Etymology, Weddings | Tagged , | 4 Comments