This Week's Randomness...

Writers are fact-gatherers. We can’t help ourselves. You never know when certain facts will be useful in your writing and sometimes, through the course of research, they just get lodged in your head like  splinters. This week, I’ve decided to share with you some of the random facts I've encountered. Enjoy.

Random Blog Fact
Clicking on the title of your latest post in Blogspot and then copying the URL allows you to post the latest post/photo on Facebook or anywhere else. YES! I found this info absolutely nowhere on the internet but was clued in by a fellow author. Take that, Blogspot! Take that, Facebook! Screw metadata and all the rest of the stuff I’ve been messing with for the past month when I didn’t have the option to just “Share.”
Random Fact on Education
Homework has absolutely no bearing on test scores. Data supporting this comes directly from the Center of Public Education. Private reports suggest a 1-2% increase in test scores and argue that homework helps students develop responsibility and ability to manage tasks outside of the school atmosphere.I constantly battle the schools over this. The schools get my kids for 6 hours a day, I want what's left of our family time. And personally, I could give a rats behind whether my kids get 96% or 97% on their test scores. They'll get their diplomas like anyone else.
Random Fact on Grocery Loyalty/Membership Cards
I have yet to try all my cards out, but most of them work at any grocery store. Can't find your Harris Teeter card? No worries, you can get the same coupon savings by using your Food Lion card.
Random Television Fact
Laugh tracks you hear on sitcom television shows are from fifty years ago. Which means you may be hearing the laughter of dead people. Creepy.   8 Random Food Facts
1. It takes about a week to make a jelly bean. Makes you appreciate the cost of Jelly Bellies, doesn’t it?
2. You would have to walk for seven hours to burn off a super-sized Coke, french fries and Big Mac. As if you needed another reason to hate fast food.
3. The warriors of Attila the Hun (A.D. 450) preserved their meat by placing it under their saddles. The    horse's sweat salted the meat and the pressure removed the moisture. When the warrior stopped to eat, they had a dried and salted meal. The vegetarian me is cringing, but the anthropologist me is thinking, "Rock on!"
4. A row of corn always has an even number. Nature is just cool.
5. From 1885 to 1903, Coca-Cola used to contained cocaine (approximately 9mg per glass).
6. The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma. Okay, I looked this up to clarify and yes, in a pinch, it can be used for intravenous rehydration.
7. Coffee drinkers have sex more frequently than non-coffee drinkers. Aaaand, I’m seriously biting my tongue to not say something snarky in response to this.
8. Among older men, vanilla is the most erotic smell. Um, once again, I'm biting my tongue on this one. 
...flavored coffee creamer, anyone? 

Have a great week.