"I've got three wonderful random facts for you," I said to Mr SDS as I came into the kitchen after a long day working in my Shedio.
"Did you know about the word quark?" I began...
"I know it's something to do with atoms and particles..."
"Yes, but do you know where the name actually comes from?"
He didn't. Nor did I until earlier that day. Because every time I'm really busy with work like I have been lately, I also get the pleasure of picking up on a load of varied and unexpected facts through my choice of listening, BBC Radio 4.
Music is great, but I often need to feel more connected to the outside world too - to hear voices, discussions, facts and fiction. So Radio 4 it is, the station for grown ups!
It's a joy to be educated on surprising topics without even trying - like recently when I learned that there are scientific reasons why tea tastes better with milk added last and gleaned a wealth of info on earwax; I even gave 'The Archers' a listen although I don't have a clue who's who.
Anyway, where was I? Quark. Something to do with particles and atoms and my non-scientific brain didn't understand much more but what I did was far more interesting, I thought.
So I explained about the name quark - it's just a word from James Joyce's 'Finnegan's Wake' (specifically the line "Three quarks for Muster Mark!") and the bloke - the physicist, I mean (Murray Gell-Mann) - who assigned it here just thought it sounded right. He had in mind to call this particle-atom-thing something like "kwork" and then remembered that word and spelling in the book, one he'd leafed through as a child.
I also couldn't then help thinking of Hawkwind's 1977 'Quark, Strangeness and Charm'. I recall the album's cover and hearing it in my record shop days, when it still sounded really quite contemporary. I must revisit...
Yes! Still good!
"Ok, random fact number two... well, maybe not a fact as such but, anyway, there was a woman on Gardener's Question Time who said that if you talk to nettles before you pull them up they won't sting you"
"What?!"
I know! It sounds mad. Plus not many people are willing to try and prove it. But I don't mind, I talk to inanimate objects all the time anyway. And beetles and ants and stuff too. I decided to give it a go.
So I went out to the nettle patch at the end of the garden and had a little chat. You don't need to know what I said, that's between me and the nettles. Then I grasped one of the leaves tightly between thumb and forefinger and steeled myself for the sting. But - nothing! Could it be true? Apparently plants can respond to sounds through the vibrations they cause, and can transmit information to one another to warn of potential pest attacks (this also gleaned from the same GQT episode) so maybe there was something in it? It "sensed" my voice? I tried it again - same. I felt gloriously immune. Had I tapped into something mysterious?
To be more prosaic, it's most likely due to the way I grasped it - a firm touch can press down the tiny hairs which cause the sting and in grabbing it so deliberately I probably did just that. It's when you brush against them lightly that you get caught. Still, either way, I've learned something. Always handle nettles with a firm, assertive hold but, just to be on the safe side, why not have a few gentle words beforehand too, it's only polite. Or wear gloves.
Arctic Monkeys: Nettles
Ready for another?
"Last one! I just listened to this great programme on the Suffragettes and it was all about how it became a popular thing for women to practise martial arts - especially Jujitsu - as a form of self-defence in the early 1900s. Against the police, mainly, ha! - and even abusive husbands. It really took off in the Edwardian era, they ran classes and so on. Look, there are pictures..."
I'd had to check it out further after the programme, it was so interesting.
And there you have it, three random facts; I hope they've enriched your world (if they're new to you too) as much as they have mine. Even if not, I'll keep listening to Radio 4 and at least I'll always have something new to tell the nettles.
This song immediately sprang to mind on that last one too.
Three very interesting bits of info, C. I have heard of quarks actually but not about how they came to be named. That's a good one. As for talking to the nettles, like you I think it was that you deliberately grasped them that staved off the sting but who knows. I'll give it a try next time I find a patch. Those suffragettes in their long Edwardian costumes really don't look as if they are dressed for combat but the lady in the pictures certainly looks as if she has the moves. One of my bugbears in life has been that women's clothing inhibits them from competing on a level playing field with men. That has changed a lot of late but in the main, women's smart office wear still incorporates high-heeled shoes. They should be banned - bunion breeders!
Good point about women's clothing! The Suffragettes at least could hide a few basic weapons on their person apparently, under their hats and inside stockings, etc, but then I imagine it must've been quite a difficult fumble to get them out in time... But I love the principle that Jujitsu allows smaller framed/less muscular people to be able to overcome bigger opponents. Even smaller framed/less muscular people in corsets and long dresses! Perhaps we should all learn it for self-defence? As for high heels - I've never been very mobile in anything above 3 inches and don't know how anyone can walk in them for any length of time, let alone run - although at least if you can whip a shoe off in time you can use a long pointy heel to stab an attacker in the eye!
I wore a pair of shoes last summer with a three inch heel for the first time in ages and could barely make the short walk from the hotel to the car park. And to think I am of the generation that wore court shoes to work with our smart outfits for decades. Stopped wearing them about 10 years ago now and think I nipped the bunion (horrible word and horrible thing) risk in the bud.
Yes, Jujitsu certainly seems to to suit the smaller framed person. Are you going to take it up?
I'm with you on the heels and it wasn't long ago that I caught another snippet on R4 about looking after your feet - no prizes for guessing what's one of the biggest causes of problems for women...
You know, part of me would love to give the Jujitsu a little go but ideally in a small group of likeminded, similarly-aged women only, where my undoubtedly pathetic attempts wouldn't be too embarrassing. That might prove the hardest part!
All these things are interesting , the Suffrajitsu especially. There are lots of nettles int he alleyway behind our house but I'm not going out there to talk to them. Despite your advice.
I loved hearing and later reading about the Suffrajitsu. It centred around the British Suffragette Edith Garrud who was one of the first female Martial Arts instructors in this part of the world and opened up her own premises, a dojo, in London, for teaching and practice. She was only 4ft 11" too!
Every day's a schoool day!
ReplyDeleteI now feel a more informed and better person.
Thank you
That's good to know!
Delete"Suffrajitsu" is brilliant.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it? I love these little surprise snippets from history.
DeleteThree very interesting bits of info, C. I have heard of quarks actually but not about how they came to be named. That's a good one. As for talking to the nettles, like you I think it was that you deliberately grasped them that staved off the sting but who knows. I'll give it a try next time I find a patch. Those suffragettes in their long Edwardian costumes really don't look as if they are dressed for combat but the lady in the pictures certainly looks as if she has the moves. One of my bugbears in life has been that women's clothing inhibits them from competing on a level playing field with men. That has changed a lot of late but in the main, women's smart office wear still incorporates high-heeled shoes. They should be banned - bunion breeders!
ReplyDeleteGood point about women's clothing! The Suffragettes at least could hide a few basic weapons on their person apparently, under their hats and inside stockings, etc, but then I imagine it must've been quite a difficult fumble to get them out in time... But I love the principle that Jujitsu allows smaller framed/less muscular people to be able to overcome bigger opponents. Even smaller framed/less muscular people in corsets and long dresses! Perhaps we should all learn it for self-defence?
DeleteAs for high heels - I've never been very mobile in anything above 3 inches and don't know how anyone can walk in them for any length of time, let alone run - although at least if you can whip a shoe off in time you can use a long pointy heel to stab an attacker in the eye!
I wore a pair of shoes last summer with a three inch heel for the first time in ages and could barely make the short walk from the hotel to the car park. And to think I am of the generation that wore court shoes to work with our smart outfits for decades. Stopped wearing them about 10 years ago now and think I nipped the bunion (horrible word and horrible thing) risk in the bud.
DeleteYes, Jujitsu certainly seems to to suit the smaller framed person. Are you going to take it up?
I'm with you on the heels and it wasn't long ago that I caught another snippet on R4 about looking after your feet - no prizes for guessing what's one of the biggest causes of problems for women...
DeleteYou know, part of me would love to give the Jujitsu a little go but ideally in a small group of likeminded, similarly-aged women only, where my undoubtedly pathetic attempts wouldn't be too embarrassing. That might prove the hardest part!
All these things are interesting , the Suffrajitsu especially. There are lots of nettles int he alleyway behind our house but I'm not going out there to talk to them. Despite your advice.
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing and later reading about the Suffrajitsu. It centred around the British Suffragette Edith Garrud who was one of the first female Martial Arts instructors in this part of the world and opened up her own premises, a dojo, in London, for teaching and practice. She was only 4ft 11" too!
DeleteExcellent post, C. I'm especially interested in talking to nettles... but dare I give it a go?
ReplyDeleteThanks... they're fantastic listeners, I'll say that for the nettles. If you do dare - just go for it. Then a firm grasp.
Delete