Curious Mind Blowing Facts - 54

From Newsletters to Shoe Getters, from Aging Pets to Guitar Frets.

Mar 10, 2025

“20 years from now you’d give anything to be this exact age, exactly this healthy, in this exact moment.

Take a second to enjoy it.” — Richard Webster

Just the right amount - Swedish idea of lagom (lah-gomm)

Lagom translates as “just the right amount.” It means knowing when enough is enough, and trying to find balance and moderation rather than constantly grasping for more. Lagom is that feeling of contentment we all get when we have all that we need to make us comfortable. It’s neither a millionaire’s splurge in Vegas, nor a pauper’s cold winter night. It means having a roof over your head, food in your belly, friends at your back, and money — just enough money — in your pockets. If Goldilocks had a catchphrase, it would be “let’s lagom this bear house.”

“Doctor, I’m afraid my 14 year old has developed scrolliosis.”

Top 3 ways that high performing newsletters make money:

Most have a sponsor.
Sell a course. Cohort or Evergreen based.
Paid Subscriptions

Listen to the podcast "Growth in Reverse" hosts are Chenell Basilio and Dylan Redekop

All the countries:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMk3gbUqE/

Real estate transaction fees in Canada make up about 2% of the country's GDP. Real estate commissions, land transfer taxes, and other fees contribute to this figure. And real estate is the largest economic sector in Canada, contributing more than 20% of the GDP.

Firefighter poles became a standard in firehouses, but their origin stems from an unusual issue—horses. Before motorized trucks, fire engines were horse-drawn, and the horses lived downstairs while firefighters worked upstairs. The horses, drawn by food, would climb the stairs but struggled to descend, causing problems. To stop this, firehouses used spiral staircases horses couldn’t climb, but these slowed firefighters during emergencies.

In the 1870s, a Chicago firefighter in an all-Black firehouse found sliding down a wooden hay pole was faster. The station installed a permanent fire pole, helping them respond quicker. The idea spread, and poles became iconic, even appearing in pop culture like Ghostbusters. However, they proved dangerous, leading to injuries. Today, many firehouses are built without poles, as modern stations often have living quarters on the same level as trucks, making poles unnecessary. From Dan Lewis, Now I Know newsletter archives.

“IN 1971 RICHARD NIXON listed the qualifications for a chief of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
‘I want to be sure he is a ruthless son of a bitch,’ he said, on tape. ‘That he will do what he’s told, that every income tax return I want to see I see, that he will go after our enemies and not go after our friends.’ In the end the man he appointed, Johnnie Walters, did not comply. His copy of Nixon’s ‘enemies list’ went into a safe until it was eventually delivered as evidence to Congress. Walters later argued that using the tax system to settle political scores would have threatened the very basis of America’s democracy.“

From The Economist (North America) 22 Feb. 22 2025 “DOGE’s war on fraud”

Eleanor Roosevelt’s maiden name was also Roosevelt. She was Teddy Roosevelt’s niece and her husband’s (FDR’s) fifth cousin once removed. Franklin Delano Roosevelt also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States.

KEYTRUDA, a cancer drug, is one of the best-selling medicines ever. Since its release in 2014, it has earned over $130 billion for its American manufacturer, Merck, including $29.5 billion last year.

In September last year, an experimental drug achieved something unprecedented. In late-stage trials for non-small cell lung cancer, it almost doubled the time patients lived without their disease worsening—11.1 months compared to 5.8 months with Keytruda.

The results were remarkable. Equally surprising was the fact that the biotech company behind this breakthrough, Akeso, is Chinese.

RARE `TOOTH-IN-EYE' PROCEDURE

Gail Lane, 74, has been blind for ten years and has never seen her partner of eight years or her newer friends. Once an active volunteer, she now uses a cane to get around and can’t move independently. But starting Tuesday, (a couple of weeks ago) she has a chance to regain her sight. Lane will be the first Canadian to undergo a unique procedure: one of her teeth will be removed, a lens will be inserted into it, and the tooth will be sewn into her left eye, potentially restoring her vision. (I’ll keep an eye out for the results for you).

Today, the guitar is the world’s second most popular musical instrument, after the piano, and has evolved tremendously over centuries. The First Guitar-like instrument was invented In Ancient Egypt around 3500 years ago. It was made from cedar and had a rawhide soundboard, had three strings, and even featured a plectrum device (a pick) attached to the instrument by a horse hair rope.

"The Matrix" movie came out in 1999 and completely changed action movies. Even today, over 20 years later, people still talk about it. But did you know many famous actors said no to playing Neo, the role that made Keanu Reeves a huge star? Names like Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Val Kilmer, and Nicolas Cage all passed on the chance to be part of this iconic film. Do you think they regret that decision today?

Forty percent of toddlers have their own tablet device by the time they are 2 years old, according to a report released Wednesday by Common Sense Media.

For the movie ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000), the prosthetic make-up Jim Carrey wore took 3 hours to apply. Carrey felt so horribly confined and uncomfortable in the latex skin he needed counselling from a Navy SEAL who taught him torture-resistance techniques.

“We all know that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are among the most common conditions humans can encounter as they age,” said Stephanie McGrath, associate professor of neurology at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “What people don’t realize is that our pets — dogs and cats — can get it, too, and it’s probably also very common.”
“Estimates range from 14 to 35 percent of the pet dog population age 8 and older. Another study suggests nearly one-third of cats ages 11 to 14 and 50 percent of cats 15 and older are affected. Many experts believe these numbers are conservative.”

Some signs are:

Confusion and disorientation.
Forgetting things pets have learned, such as house training or using the litter box.
Changes in their sleep-wake cycle.
Among cats, an increase in vocalization, meaning more crying or howling — an obvious and frequently reported sign. “With cats, there is excessive vocalization and disorientation and changes in interaction with humans or other animals, such as hissing and swatting,” said Starr Cameron, clinical associate professor in small animal neurology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine, who studies cat dementia. “Some cats are up all night and vocalizing. They go outside the litter box or can’t find it.”

If you suspect your pet has some of the above signs, check with a vet. As with the human condition, pet treatments are regularly being studied at all the top veterinary colleges around the world.