DAILY DIRT: Next time you go to use a particular mouthwash, you might be interested in knowing its history 

Daily Dirt for Monday, Nov. 25, 2024

Viagara has an interesting background, too … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,123 of The Daily Dirt.

1. It’s the end product that counts, right?

With that in mind, here are a few things you might not have a realized were quite different when they first arrived in our world:

• Frisbees were originally made to be pie containers. Go figure.
• Listerine was invented in 1879 and was originally a surgical antiseptic that was also used as a cure for gonorrhea, the common cold and dandruff. An article once noted that Listerine would also be good for sweaty feet and corns developing between the toes. Not until the 1920s did it become associated with dental hygiene.
• Bubble wrap was originally designed to be used as wallpaper back in 1957.
• Speaking of wallpaper, Play-Doh was initially used as a wallpaper cleaner (under another name) in 1933. Vinyl wallpaper, however, soon made it obsolete, but in the late 1950s it was rebranded as Play-Doh and the rest, as they say, is history.
• Sanitary napkins were  specifically designed for treating wounded soldiers during WWI. They eventually started being used as they currently are in the early 1920s.
• Viagara was originally a failed heart drug, but one of its side effects was unexpected.

2. Did you know (Part 197)

• That Pepsi Gingerbread Zero Sugar is due in a limited number of stores Dec. 4. Hmmm … I’d say questionable, at best.
• That Dunkin’ is planning a Spiked Peppermint Mocha Iced Latte for those 21-and-over.
• That M&Ms is now offering Peanut Butter M&Ms Ice Cream Sandwiches. This could be colossal.
• That Pittsburgh is the only city where all major professional sports teams share the same primary colors: black and gold (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins).
• That if a vulture gets too hot it will urinate on its own body to cool down.

3. According to multiple reports, these are the leading things that repeatedly shock Americans when they are eating in European restaurants:

• Seeing mayonnaise used on French fries.
• European portions of food are much smaller than in America.
• European pricing is often determined by where a customer is sitting. Higher pricing is common for the “better seats,” most commonly those with a view.
• Waiters do not expect tips in Europe. They are on a salary and do not expect customers to supplement their paychecks.
• Customers are expected to eat all of their food. Waste is not approved in Europe.
• Europeans prefer lukewarm beverages, so rarely is ice ever served in glasses.
• Water in European restaurants is not free (and, yes, it will be iceless).

And yet more reasons to not travel. If I were to go abroad (which I never will), the very least I would expect is ice in my glass of Mountain Dew, no extra charge to sit by a window and absolutely no mayonnaise anywhere near my fries. But I do like that no tipping thing.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Speaking of European ways of life, in Italy the “lunch hour” is traditionally 1 to 4 p.m. And dinner is never served any earlier than 6:30 p.m., but mostly closer to 8 p.m. and continues for up to three hours.

Steve Eighigner writes daily for Muddy River News. He believes in the European lunch hour.