Answers to Outside the Box Puzzles from page 50 1. Nuts over her 2. Back in a flash 3. Blood is thicker than water 4. What’s the point 5. Worldwide web 6. Great minds think alike Fast Facts The Cat’s Meow This may surprise some, but cats are currently more popular pets than dogs in Canada, with felines outnumbering canines by roughly 7.9 million to 5.9 million. Following, are a few characteristics that make cats so darned interesting. ▶▶The ridged pattern on a cat’s nose is as unique as a human fingerprint. ▶▶Neutering a cat is said to add about two or three years to its life. ▶▶Most female cats are right-pawed, while most males favour their left. ▶▶Cats sweat through the pads on their paws. ▶▶Pussycats purr at the same frequency as an idling diesel engine (26 purrs per second). ▶▶A group of cats is called a “clowder.” ▶▶Over a short distance, a cat can travel at a top speed of approximately 31 mph (50 km/h). ▶▶Some cats have survived falls of more than 65 feet (20 metres). ▶▶A cat can jump up to five times its own height in a single bound. ▶▶On average, cats spend about two-thirds of the day sleeping. ▶▶A cat lover is called an ailurophile (Greek cat + lover). ▶▶The technical term for a cat’s hairball is a “bezoar.” 2019 Anniversaries Significant in Canadian History 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. On June 6, 1944, Allied troops stormed German defences on the beaches of Normandy (France) to open the way to Germany from the West. The task was formidable. The Germans had turned the coastline into a continuous fortress of guns, pillboxes, razor wire, mines and beach obstacles. Facing difficult odds, the Canadian contingent advanced from Juno Beach against the best troops the enemy had. Victory in the Normandy campaign, however, came at a terrible cost. The Canadians suffered the greatest number of casualties of any division in the British Army Group. 175th anniversary of the birth of Louis Riel and the 150th anniversary of the Red River Resistance. When the Government of Canada bought the land of the Red River Colony from the Hudson Bay Company in 1869, the Metis were worried about their future and their rights. Louis Riel, born in October 1844, led a resistance against the Government. As a result, the province of Manitoba was created. Riel remained a controversial leader – to some a rebel, to others a hero. He was eventually charged with treason and hanged. Mental Floss The human body is an awesome vessel with a host of fascinating characteristics. Here are some which you may not know. ▶▶It’s physically impossible to lick your own elbow. ▶▶Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different. ▶▶Your heart beats more than 100,000 times a day. ▶▶A sneeze travels at more than 100 mph (161 km/h). ▶▶Women blink nearly twice as often as men. ▶▶Most dust particles in your house are dead skin. ▶▶The average person falls asleep in seven minutes. ▶▶The longest known bout of hiccups lasted for 69 years. ▶▶It takes approximately 12 hours to fully digest a meal. ▶▶It’s impossible to keep your eyes open during a sneeze. ▶▶Your brain uses about 20% of the total oxygen and blood in your body. ▶▶It’s impossible to tickle yourself. Note: After reading the foregoing segment, how many of you tried to lick your own elbow? WhoKnew? ▶▶None of the Beatles could read music. ▶▶Elvis Presley didn’t write any of his music. ▶▶Barry Manilow didn’t write his song called, “I Write the Songs.” ▶▶The Beatles used to be called Johnny and the Moondogs. ▶▶Jimi Hendrix couldn’t read or write music. ▶▶Led Zeppelin got its name from a fellow musician who said that the band would go down like a lead balloon. ▶▶Mozart sold more CDs in 2016 than Beyonce did. ▶▶John Lennon started his music career as a choir boy. ▶▶Freddie Mercury wrote “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” in 10 minutes as a tribute to Elvis. 54 | www.snowbirds.org
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