Friday Fix #47 - Meet Sarah!

The Friday Fix is a takeover of my Friday blog post by other bloggers who have volunteered their time and energy to "star" in their very own guest post on Friday. Only one mandatory rule (you can't get out of it!) - you must answer five of the most random questions I throw your way. The rest is up to you. Remember, if you'd like to be featured on the Friday Fix, send me an email, and let me know! So, without further ado, here are the Sarah from Writer, Reader, Dreamer!

The Most Random Questions in the World...

1. Why is the cereal, Grape Nuts, called that when it contains neither grapes nor nuts?

Mr. Post, who created Grape Nuts, called sucrose "grape sugar" and believed that sucrose was formed in the baking process. Since he thought the cereal tasted a little nutty, he went with Grape Nuts. Then again, the people working for Post claim that the name was inspired by the fact that the cereal looks like grape seeds. It's one of those mysterious name origins. All I know for certain is this: Grape Nuts cereal is delicious.

2. If Jimmy cracked corn and no one cares, then who the heck wrote a song about him?

The song, from the mid-19th century, is actually an old slave song talking about a slave who's job it is to do all sorts of things for his master, including keeping a fly from biting his master's horse. Sometimes it's called "Blue Tail Fly." Dan Emmett is sometimes attributed to the song as songwriter, but this isn't necessarily fact as often, the first person to record a folk song took the credit as author. I'll be honest: I only know the chorus, but apparently there are several verses!

3. Can you buy an entire chess set if you go to a pawn shop?

Oh, the pun! I would imagine regardless of the name of the shop (seeing as, in this case, the word pawn is defined as depositing for money or security and a pawn shop is where unredeemed items are sold), and since you can find just about anything at a pawn shop, that yes, you can probably find an entire chess set. Though I have to admit, I just discovered that the word pawn also means "a person serving as security; hostage" and "to pledge; stake;risk" which makes perfect sense when it comes to chess, huh? I mean, my pawns are always the first to go. (All definitions taken from Dictionary.com.)

4. Why are softballs still hard?

When compared with a baseball, the outer lining of a softball is softer. I've only ever played with a softball, and I know that softballs are bigger, and they do give a little when pressed down on, but they're still pretty hard. I've had the bruises and pains over the years to prove it!

5. If Gilligan can make a radio out of a coconut, why didn't he fix the hole in the boat?

Well, then there wouldn't be a series, now would there? Also, it was technically the professor who made the radio out of a coconut, and he trained in science, not as a shipwright. Ha.

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Well then. Clearly, someone's been eating their Wheaties for breakfast (or Grape Nuts) because Sarah just bested me. She actually told me legit answers?! Who would've thunk it was possible?! In all seriousness though, Sarah is just brilliant, and you should all check out her sweet blog over at Writer, Reader, Dreamer for your daily dose of awesome!