Things I didn't know before

Every day I learn new things, some of which I look for, some of which I discover by chance. This is some.

[idonelearnedthis]

To unknowingly know

Split infinitives sound like something complicated and requiring a sound knowledge of linguistics. No. It turns out, as with most grammar rules, I tend to instinctively use them correctly. Or incorrectly according to those who consider them to be wrong if used at all. But they don't like beginning a sentence with a conjunction either. So. An infinitive is simple: the perfect form of a verb: to act out a verb. "To be" being the most perfect. The splitting? Adding an adverb between the "to" and the verb. To unknowingly split, for example, or the most common example being to boldly go. Or to happily ignore. To joyfully acknowledge. What I learned today: a split infinitive is not complicated and I have indeed been known to cheerfully use them all over the place.

[idonelearnedthis]

Nonpareille

I adore capers. I’d add them to every dish I cooked if I could, they are splendidly good. It has oft puzzled me as to what the term “nonpareille” means, as most of the capers I buy are classed as nonpareille, or nonpareil.

While I haven’t established if the latter -le are required or not, I’m spelling it as per my jar of capers so forgive if that is incorrect, take it up with Tesco.

What I have discovered is that the term literally means “without peer”, or in other words: incomparable. Which is fabulously arrogant and makes me love them a little more. It doesn’t actually mean anything, other than they’re good. Brilliant. In fact I think they should be called brilliant capers, because everyone knows what that means.

I am slightly disappointed to learn that you can’t get pareille capers however. Ah well.

What I learned today: nonpareille means “without peer” but isn’t a valid scrabble word.

[idonelearnedthis]

Thomas Crapper neither invented the toilet nor the term crap. Who knew? Mr Crapper popularised the toilet, and patented many improvements to the toilets that he produced, but the flush toilet was invented by Alexander Cummings. And the term crap comes from various sources, the original one of which is Latin and means waste, and all of which predate Mr Crapper. An unfortunate coincidence of name, and he didn't even invent the actual toilet, just components. What I learned today: what I thought I knew about Thomas Crapper was in fact a load of crap.

[idonelearnedthis]

Power cleaners at war

Being obsessed with cleaning products, I felt compelled to try a contest. Cif Actifizz vs Dettol Power and Pure The contenders: Cif Actifizz, previously known as Cif Oxygel. Tried and trusted as the definitive organic (in the actual sense) mank remover. Dettol Power and Pure. The newbie. Claims to also have active oxygen superpowers and kill 99.9% of known germs. The setting: baked on pot overboiling spillage along with general cooker top ick. The application: the left side was sprayed with Dettol Power and Pure, the right was sprayed with Cif Actifizz. Ten minutes passed. A cloth was wiped over, in the manner depicted on adverts and which does not work in actual practice. Nothing happened, as per usual, so a brush was introduced. And the dirt vanished from the left almost instantaneously, wiping the completion out of the competition. One spill was on both sides and the Dettol side disappeared first. What I learned today: Dettol Power and Pure is the greatest kitchen cleaner ever.

[idonelearnedthis]

Billion

How much is a billion? Turns out that while a UK billion is theoretically a million million, or 1,000,000,000,000, since 1974 the UK government have been using the American billion, which is a thousand million, or 1,000,000,000. It's a lot less. It's also metric, saying as how metric systems do everything in thousands, so I don't know why the Americans had it first. What I learned today: a billion has nine zeros, not twelve.