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When I was a young man, someone I worked for told me, “You think too much.”

“There’s no such thing,” I replied.

Then he fired me.

I still believe I was right, and working on the Now You Know series has reaffirmed that conviction. We may not need to know much more than how to catch a bus or start a car to get to work, but when we get there, it’s a good idea to have an idea (even if your boss doesn’t).

The “Almighty” has generally allocated three original ideas for each human being, so learn how to use them well. All of life is an internship: watching, learning, and then challenging.

As children, we live within dreams, and though these can be either woven or altered by adults, they can never be totally destroyed. It is through this time of innocence that we discover all that will ever be important to us — our minds. You don’t live in a nice house, a rundown apartment, or even a mansion; you live in your mind!

All around us, and yes, even within each of us, is the living evidence of the great minds from history. It’s in the architecture and monuments, the libraries and galleries, and the marvels of our electronic conveniences. It’s in the decaying isolated homes of early settlers and in the walls of ancient forts and castles. It’s in our fairy tales, our fashion, our customs, and our art, but most important, it’s within our languages, our everyday speech.

This book is the fourth in which I have explored everyday language and customs, and those who have become collectors of these volumes will notice a subtle expansion in content and format. For example, interspersed throughout this book are short features that I call “Odds & Oddities,” which present the odds or chances of something. Also scattered throughout the book in relevant places are what I call “Quickies,” bite-size bits of information taking the form of “Did you know …?” And from time to time you’ll encounter other boxed items such as bumper stickers for baby boomers. Lastly, at the end of this volume, I’ve answered a selected sample of questions posed by readers of my books.

All of these new elements stay true to the theme of this book’s predecessors and comply with my editorial criteria: if it interests me, if it’s fun, then it will hopefully amuse and interest you.

Once again I remind you that each gem in this book has been thoroughly researched and is intended to entertain anyone of any age, and who knows, maybe you’ll learn something. I did!

Doug Lennox

Toronto, Ontario

June 2006

www.douglennox.com