The Nose Knows

We just received a new question for our Ask Doc & The Mountain Cat Advice Section.

The question comes from fellow blogger Micky-T (http://malihinitennessee.blogspot.com/).

He asks: Would like to know if there is a difference between snot and boogers. Are they one and the same, or is snot the juicy stuff and boogers the chunky bits?

It is a wonderful question Micky-T which has a long history behind it.

Firstly, yes snot is more of a liquid substance per the research I found in Encyclopedia Britannica. The scientific term of snot is actually called Snotseptum Membranus. Hence, snot for short. A booger is more of a solid substance. The word booger is Latin for nasal blockage per Wikapedia.

Snot is more likely formed in lower elevations and damp climates while boogers are more like formed in higher mountainous areas with lots of dry air per Health Weekly.

But snot and boogers have a very long history. Per National Geographic, the ancient Incas used to save their snot and boogers as seasoning for their celebratory feast when they slaughtered ox and cattle.

However, the turn of the century American Industrial Revolution saw a snot and booger famine. Too much saw dust and steel iodine in the air prevented people from producing snot and boogers. Which eventually led to the Great Depression. (This is per the research I found in the Ladies Home Journal).

Finally, snots and boogers have been the subject of many novels and poems. Ernest Hemingway was supposedly fascinated by snots and boogers and once wrote in his initial draft of his novel To Have and Have Not that, ‘To snot is human but to booger is divine.’

- The Mountain Cat

Ask Doc and the Mt. Cat 1/30

This question comes sorta non-anonymously:

My question is... How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop??

LeapOFaith

Dear Leap O' Faith:

We feel that we are not quite qualified to answer your question but instead refer you to that wise old sage Owl:

His answer is (all together now) A ONE..... A TWO..... A THREE (CRUNCH) - THREE LICKS!

Hope that answers your question. Please keep them coming and we will do our best to answer them. Until next time


-Doc and the Mt. Cat

And it's time to change, it's time to re-arrange....

A new question from a reader for the 'Ask Doc and The Mountain Cat' portion of this program:

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the idea of “Change.” Some of us thrive on it, even seek it out, while others avoid it, and fear it. One thing is for certain, change is inevitable. The Ebb and Flow of life. I read last night the classic, silly, yet important book titled, “Who Moved My Cheese?” In it is asks…”What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” So I send the question out to Mt. Cat and Doc and invite all fellow bloggers to answer. Thanks fellas.

Sincerely,

The Google Doll

Ask Doc and the Mt. Cat 1/19

Here is a question recently sent to us:

My tread mill is set in front of of a set of windows so that I can enjoy sunshine and a sense of the outdoors without having to actually subject myself to an environment ravaged by global warming. I have two questions. First, is it still important to wear a sun screen and can you tell me what the S.P.F. is for grape jelly? Secondly, I'm inside the privacy of my own home so what business is it of my neighbors whether I'm wearing pants or not?The jelly pretty much covers up the naughty bits so whats the big deal?

Sincerely,
Grape Nutz


Dear Grape Nutz:

First of all we really appreciate your concern about global warming. Each of us has to do our part to help however we are not sure that exercising in the comfort of your home "either heated or air conditioned" is going to help with that. As for your main question about sunscreen we think that in today's world one can never be too careful. Remember the Boy Scouts motto "Be prepared"? this not only applies to prophylactics but to sunscreen as well. Make sure that you apply liberally to any area that might even have the slightest chance of seeing sunlight. As is in stick it where the sun do shine. As far as the grape jelly goes we are a little perplexed on this one. We always thought that orange marmalade worked better. But what do we know??

Your neighbors are a different matter all together. Unless you live across the street from Ozzy Ozbourne then you are probably what is referred to in the normal world as the "weirdo on the block" and even though you may have embraced this as your community role you have to understand that people will tend to stare and say hurtful things about you behind your back. We suggest more marmalade and a good privacy fence. We hope this has been helpful to you. Best of luck with that exercise plan.

Doc and the Mt Cat

(If you are in need of some advice please e-mail us your question and you may see it answered here. Information is over on the right hand side of the page.)

UPDATE!! - The Absolutgator checked in and also has some advice for our friend in need:

Dear Grape Nutz,

Your going to have to apply something better than jelly to protect yourself from the rays of the sun coming through yonder window. The best way to prevent this is by using some type of window film. However, as the cost of this is not cheap, sunscreen is probably your best bet (remember, the stuff only has a shelf life of a year). As for doing it in the buff, I have two thoughts on this: 1) You are in the privacy of your own home and, unless you have neon signs outside pointing to your window, should be able to do what you want; 2) Why in the hell would you want to? If you are a chick, I'm sure the funbags have got to be a wee bit upset w/ your decision to let them go under that kind stress for 30 minutes or more. If you are a guy, doing cardio commando style is just cruel on the boys.

Unlike my esteemed colleague, I do not appreciate your concern about the global warming hoax. I've never before seen a theory so contested in the science community taken as fact so easily as this hogwash (except the whole world is flat thing). I wouldn't be so upset about it if proponents of the theory didn't keep spewing the same bad science and examples to support their position. Spend your time worrying about real environmental issues like pollution, water contamination, etc.

Keep exercising your body and try to start exercising your brain every once in a while by doing some research.

-The AbsolutGator

Ask Doc and the Mt. Cat

We meant to introduce this yesterday but got caught up in The great won ton caper of '08. We are going to have a new segment from time to time here called "Ask Doc and the Mt. Cat" If you have an issue that you need advise on please submit an e-mail to docmtcat@gmail.com and we will endeavour to give you our best advice "Dear Abby" style. Of course your identity will be kept anonymous and hopefully we can help. This is just our little way of giving back to the community that has been so good to us.

There is a box that will stay on the right hand side of the page with the e-mail address and some information.

Help us help you!

-Doc and the Mt. Cat