Episode # 31 - Pianists and Racers Words and Wonders

Ever wondered why someone who plays the piano gets a fancy title like pianist, while race car drivers don't get labeled with something quite as eloquent? Join us on the Scotty Don't X Show as we unravel this linguistic conundrum, diving into the fascinating etymology of words that shape our understanding and highlight the stark contrasts in cultural connotations. Our journey doesn't stop there; we hit the road (and the water!) to decode the mystery of how Hawaii ended up with interstate highways—a tale that stretches back into the annals of history when Hawaii was still just a twinkle in the United States' eye. 

Brace yourself for a nostalgia trip as we pit the tech of yesteryears against today's Google voice search, revealing surprising insights about which states truly cozy up to the Pacific Ocean. And just when you think you've got your fill of trivia, we tackle the pungent puzzle of why feet can smell while noses tend to run. With a perfect blend of humor, history, and science, this episode promises not just to entertain but also to leave you with some head-scratching facts to impress your friends.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is not a test of the emergency alert system, but instead of an emergency. It's a welcome to the Scotty Don't X Show. Get ready to be amazed. This is episode number 31. All right, we're going to dive right into it.

Speaker 1: 0:15

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a race car not called a racist? Well, I did some reading about this topic and it appears that maybe there are possible racist race car drivers racing in current races and see people who've been fined and other things taken against them for not quite proper activities regarding race relations. A nicer way to put this would be the answer lies in historical development of these terms. So pianist is derived from the Italian word pioforte, which means soft, loud. The instrument was originally called a pianoforte, before it was shortened to piano. Over time, the term pianist came into use to describe someone who plays said piano. Let's look at racism. The term racist is derived from the word race, which refers to a group of people with shared physical characteristics. The term racist came into use to describe someone who believes that one race is superior to another. As you can see, pianist and racist have very different origins and thus very different meanings. While both the terms describe a person who engages in a particular activity, the term racist carries a negative connotation due to its association with prejudice and discrimination.

Speaker 1: 1:57

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii? Two words. Money, budgeting Also projects the interstate highway system being funded and built across the us and hawaii was brought into the fold so everyone can be part of the build-out of the interstate highway system. Better explanation might be why is an island state? It does have interstate highways. This might seem a bit confusing, but there's historical reasoning. Before Hawaii became a state, it was a territory of the United States. During this time, the federal government began constructing a network of highways all across the country, so they included Hawaii. These highways were designated as interstate highways to connect the different parts of the territory, meaning Hawaii. So even after Hawaii became a state, these highways retained their interstate designation as likely due to their historical significance and the fact that they continue to serve as major transportation routes within the state. So while it might seem unusual for states surrounded by water to have interstate highways, their presence can be traced back to Hawaii's territorial days and their continued importance as major thoroughfares.

Speaker 1: 3:20

Okay, so for those of you who remember Schoolhouse, rock and Scooter Computer and Mr Chips, it's got a nice beat. I could get my chest hair waxed to that. Yeah, fair enough. Keyboard input for your query Pretty standard for the 1980s. And now we can do that. We can also do voice searches now. Yay, google Name the states that border on the Great Pacific Ocean and the results brought back by Mr Chips are Alaska, california, oregon and Washington as the states that border on the great Pacific Ocean. Aha, but you missed one, mr Chips. Seriously, early 80s cartoons were still stuffed full of CYA. All right, let's go to the master question answerer of 2024. Okay, google name the states that border on the Great Pacific Ocean. According to Quora, on the west side of the United States is the Pacific Ocean. Five states border it Alaska, hawaii, washington, oregon and California. Suck it. 1980s computer animation. Google voice search from 2024 totally rules.

Speaker 1: 5:04

And finally, why do feet smell and noses run? The same reason that feet run and noses smell anyway. Nicer way to do it is here's a breakdown of the two bodily functions. Why feet smell? Bacteria. The warm, moist environment inside shoes creates the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria break down sweat and dead skin cells, producing a foul odor Sweat. The feet produce a significant amount of sweat, which can also contribute to odor when it's trapped in the shoes. Now why noses run? Irritation the nasal passages become irritated, whether from allergies, cold, other factors. The body produces more mucus to flush out the irritant Humidity. Increase in humidity can also contribute to a runny nose, as it can cause nasal passages to swell and produce much more mucus. So while these two bodily functions may be unpleasant, they serve important purposes in maintaining our overall health and well-being. So feet smell, feet can run, noses can run, and your noses smell stuff from outside. Input.