Interesting Amusing Tidbits

 

 

 

 

Origins of names as reported by Bill Bryson: Kennedy= ugly head, Campbell= crooked mouth. The same is equally true for other languages : Gorky= bitter, Tolstoy= fat, Macchiavelli= bad nail, Cicero= wart on the nose.

 Did you know that Leonardo DiCaprio was named while his pregnant mother was standing in front of Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting at the Galleria degli Uffizi? It was then that she first felt baby DiCaprio’s kick.

 It is illegal to be a prostitute in Siena, Italy, if your name is Mary.

 Cappuccino (coffee) derives from the Italian word cappuccino which means hood, which is itself derived from Latin “cappa”. A properly prepared cappuccino leaves a brown ring along the rim of the cup making it look like a capuchin (Franciscan monk) cowl.

 Did you ever think why the abbreviation for pound is “lb.”? Because in ancient Rome the value of a sack of coins was determined by weight which was measured in “libras”

 Where does the term “paparazzi”come from?

This term was popularized by Federico Fellini’s 1960 film “La Dolce Vita”. One of the characters in the film is  “Signore Paparazzo”a tabloid photographer. Since then photographers who stalk public figures and celebrities, such as athletes, politicians,  actors, singers etc. are called “paparazzi”.

 Don’t be surprised

In 2005 two etymologists from Cornell University dedicated the names of 3 new beetles (roaches) to George Bush, then President, Dick Cheney, Vice President, and Donald Rumsfeld,  secretary of defense at the time.  The 3 new species were given the names of Agathidium bushi, Agathidium cheneyi, and Agathidium rumsfeldi.

 For all lovers out there

A study done in England reveals that kissing causes the brain to release oxytocin, sometimes called bonding hormone. The study suggests that more oxytocin release did make easier for men to relax and act more lovingly toward their sexual partner.

 Here a short list of not too well-known and  humorous Italian sayings:

 Ama il tuo letto come te stesso.      Love your bed like yourself.

 Quando ti viene voglia di lavorare, metteti a sedere e aspetti che ti passa.

When  you feel like working, sit down and wait, it will pass.

 Di troppo riposo non è morto nessuno.  Nobody has ever died from too much rest.

 Si nasce stanchi  e si vive per riposare.  We are born tired and we live to rest.

 Quello che ha inventato la fatica è morto da un pezzo.

He who invented hard work died a long time ago.

 Se vedi qualcuno che si riposa aiutalo.  If you see somebody resting let him be.

 Non fare oggi quello che puoi fare domani.  Don’t do today what you can do tomorrow.