Random Facts You Probably Never Thought About...Until Now - Part 3

1. Random (some may even say "useless") facts -- some you may know and others, maybe not...until now. Did you know that even though they sound like random, made-up measurements, the cooking terms "smidgen", "tad", "pinch", "drop" and "dash" are actually real units of measurement? Which of these were you aware of...

A tad refers to approximately a quarter teaspoon (1/4 tsp)

A dash is approximately 1/8 tsp of half a tad

A pinch is approximately 1/16 tsp or half a dash

A smidgen is approximately 1/32 teaspoon or half of a pinch.

A drop is approximately 1/64 teaspoon, or half a smidgen

None of them -- thought they were all random made-up words!

Never heard these used

2. The electric chair was invented by Dr. Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, New York, in 1881. Inspired by witnessing a man's instant death from accidental electrocution, Southwick proposed using electricity as a quicker, more humane method of capital punishment than the common method of hanging. His experience designing dental chairs also influenced the design of the electric chair as a device to restrain a person during an electrical execution. The fear of going to the dentist is called dentophobia, or odontophobia. Do you have a fear of going to the dentist?

The electric chair was invented by Dr. Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, New York, in 1881. Inspired by witnessing a man's instant death from accidental electrocution, Southwick proposed using electricity as a quicker, more humane method of capital punishment than the common method of hanging. His experience designing dental chairs also influenced the design of the electric chair as a device to restrain a person during an electrical execution. The fear of going to the dentist is called dentophobia, or odontophobia. Do you have a fear of going to the dentist?

No

Somewhat

Yes!!

I have a fear of dental bills!

I do not go to the dentist

3. If you've ever had a "Famous Amos" brand cookie, you most certainly would thank Wallace "Wally" Amos for that treat. But, what you may not know is he is also responsible for discovering a musical duo you may also be familiar with -- Simon & Garfunkel. Before Amos started the cookie brand in 1975, he was the first Black talent agent for William Morris Agency. While there, he signed Simon & Garfunkel. He also helped sign The Supremes. Over the next few years, Amos headed the agency's newly formed rock 'n' roll department, where he worked with Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, and Sam Cooke. Did you know this about Famous Amos (who sadly passed away last year)?

No, only familiar with the cookie brand!

Yes, I knew this

Not familiar with Famous Amos at all

Never had a Famous Amos cookie, but knew about the connection