1. There would be a lot more family pets and a lot fewer strays
2. Chickens would be acceptable household pets
3. All pills would be available in chewable form
4. Pajamas would be acceptable for most any occasion
5. Life would revolve more around eating and less around consuming
6. There would be more lists
7. You could check things off those lists
8. (It would give you a sense of fulfillment)
9. There would be more time for blogging
10. Honey would not count for calories
11. Everyone would have space for a garden
12. There would be fewer people
13. Economics would be taught more thoroughly than literature
14. Literature would still be taught thoroughly though!
15. Every student would graduate knowing how to balance a checkbook, change a tire, and make bread

I know lots of random stuff. That is just kind of me. It frequently annoys me. I’m sure it annoys other people a lot more. And yet I can’t help sharing things I learn that are interesting! So here we go.

You know the phrase “third world countries”? It’s used to talk about economically less successful countries with poor infrastructure and/or health problems. But you know what? THAT IS WRONG!

It actually came from world war two. “First world countries” were the allies (US, UK, France, you know the lot). “Second world countries” referred to the USSR and her buddies. This explains why we hear about first and third, but not second. “Third world countries” referred to those not allied with either group. This means most of central and south america, most of africa, and so on. Obviously, there are some economic trends there, which explains the rise of the new meaning. To be more politically correct, it is better to use “developing world” in place of “third world” and “developed world” for everything else.

(Picture from wikipedia. Blue would be first world, red second, and green third.)

Now see, wasn’t that interesting? (And hopefully not terribly obnoxious?)

“The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell