Potassium

You've heard about sodium in water (for those of you that haven't, here's a hint: KABOOM!), but did you know that potassium also violently reacts with water? Potassium is highly reactive and to demonstrate, check out what happens to this poor gummy bear when exposed to potassium chlorate:

I've seen this done two or three times in person and watched it online a zillion times and it just never gets old.

As for stories from the Midwest, I do have a funny. I've been told that by moving out to the Midwest, I was going to be exposed to the "marriage virus" where people inexplicably meet and settle down...apparently it's the "Midwest thing." Don't get me wrong, there are certainly gorgeous guys here, many of whom (who? whom?) run shirtless or ride tricked out road bikes. However, my only interactions with men have been men in their late forties or men lacking teeth (here's to being a trophy wife...I guess).

While walking to the Artisan's Market (Farmer's Market minus the food plus the crafts), a man in his late forties let me pet his dog. Mind you the dog was ugly, but it was a puppy and it went gangbusters sniffing my ankle so I gave it a pat. Without even uttering a word to the man, he goes into this five minute lecture about the dog. I wanted to be like "really sir, I don't care," but as I've learned "Midwest etiquette" (listen, smile, nod, and then say something kind), I faked a smile and told him the dog was a real gem.

At the Artisan's Market, I headed toward the wooden spoon guy who was toting left-handed spoons. My curiosity was killing me: what the h*** is a left handed spoon and how does it make any difference? Apparently it does. But in my haste to get there, I got snagged by a little old man lacking most of his teeth who decided that he would sell me a candle. No way, Jose. Not falling for your "lure the young girl in" tactics. Needless to say, after smelling about 10 candles, I got away with my life and my wallet full.

Here's to you "marriage virus." Is there a vaccine?


Fun Fact: Bananas are radioactive (KEEP READING). Bananas contain potassium, which has a radioactive isotope (same number of protons, different number of neutrons). BUT only one hundredth of one percent of ALL potassium atoms are radioactive. Bottom line: keep eating bananas.