Smaller Than Expected. Stranger Than Fiction

Culture

Ever noticed your pup staring at absolutely nothing in the corner of the room? Or perhaps your furry friend suddenly starts barking at an empty hallway? Before you dismiss it as a squirrel-induced daydream, you might want to brush up on some delightfully peculiar dog superstitions from around the world.

In Scotland, for instance, tradition warns that if a strange dog follows you home, it's a sign you'll soon make a new friend or possibly gain an admirer. So next time a mysterious pup trails behind, you might want to tidy up that guest room.

Travel down to Mexico, and you’ll find a more spectral take. Here, it's said dogs can sense wandering spirits. If your dog stares blankly into space or barks at nothing, locals whisper they're chasing away unwelcome ghostly visitors. Might be wise to thank your pup with a few extra treats because they could be saving you from a supernatural roommate.

Speaking of mysterious signs, in India, a dog's howl is considered an omen. But here’s the catch: the meaning changes based on timing. A nighttime howl signals approaching bad luck, while a morning howl could bring prosperity. It’s a bit like canine astrology and timing is everything.

Not all doggy superstitions are about fortunes and phantoms. In Korea, folks believe stepping over your dog will stunt its growth forever. To avoid eternally pint-sized pups, better watch your feet around Fido during nap time.

Meanwhile, in France, accidentally stepping in dog poop with your left foot is actually a lucky charm promising great fortune! But beware: stepping in the same mess with your right foot spells impending doom. Clearly, the French appreciate nuance in their canine predictions.

And then there’s Norway, where legend has it that a dog's sneeze signals impending rain. Forget about weather apps - just watch your dog’s snout. "Bless you" could mean "Better grab an umbrella."

While these quirky beliefs vary wildly, they all highlight humanity’s enduring bond with our dogs and perhaps our desire to explain their peculiar behaviors. After all, our pups can't exactly clarify their quirks with words, so a superstition or two adds a sprinkle of mystery and fun to everyday life.

So next time your dog acts a little odd, take a second to ponder these global beliefs. Maybe there’s wisdom hidden behind those floppy ears—though it's probably safer to assume your furry pal is just angling for extra snacks.

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The dollar: Traditions fade
Gone: Shockingly true
Sentimental: Heck of a name

Culture

Imagine a language where you can’t ramble, there’s no corporate jargon (oh, praise everything!), and nobody can mansplain the stock market. Welcome to Toki Pona - a minimalist language built on the idea that less is more... like, way less.

Toki Pona has only around 120–137 root words (depending who you ask), and yet people use it to talk about everything from breakfast to the meaning of life. Invented in the early 2000s by a Canadian translator named Sonja Lang, this tiny tongue was designed to make your brain chill out. It’s a kind of linguistic mindfulness. Instead of “I'm overwhelmed with deadlines and existential dread,” you might say something like “mi pilin ike”—which roughly translates to “I feel bad.” Clean. Simple. Honest.

In Toki Pona, there’s no word for “car.” Instead, you might say “tomo tawa”—literally, “moving building.” A computer? That’s “ilo sona” or “thinking tool.” And your ex? Maybe just “jan pi pilin ike” (a person who made you feel bad). You get the idea.

It’s not just a cute brain game, either. People write poems, conduct therapy sessions, and even play tabletop games in Toki Pona. There’s an official book, an online course, and an entire subreddit of wildly enthusiastic speakers. One guy translated the opening of Star Wars into it: “tenpo suno pini la, mun suli li lon...” (Translation: "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...").

Learning Toki Pona is kind of like Marie Kondo-ing your vocabulary. You’re forced to cut the fluff and focus on what actually sparks meaning. No one’s going to ask you to define EBITDA in Toki Pona. Ever.

So if you’re tired of emails with phrases like “touch base” or “circling back” (I abhor these phrases) maybe it’s time to switch to a language where the only meetings are “toki pi jan mute” - just “talk with many people.” And that’s enough.

Is Last Year’s Sun Damage Showing Up As This Year’s Dark Spots?

You can’t go back in time and prevent sun damage from last year, but you can do something about it this year.

Chuckle

The fib is A. Your stomach gets a new lining every few days.

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