Why A Pair of Pants?
“Pants” is an abbreviation for “Pantaloons,” originally a two-piece garment, with one sleeve for each leg, both tied around the waist. The codpiece was a polite, yet not-so-polite, appurtenance. Pantaloons (with or without codpieces) were a hit in France in the late 1600s. What a surprise.
The word “pantaloons” comes from the French pantalon, derived from Italian pantalone, named after San Pantalone, aka Saint Pantaleone, aka Saint Panteleímon.
That guy was pretty cool. He practiced medicine until he became a Faith Healer and was accused of witchcraft in 305AD. He survived being set on fire with torches, being dipped in molten lead, tied to a rock and thrown into the sea, fed to wild animals, torn apart on the rack, and a beheading. He freed a bunch of slaves, too. Once he agreed that beheading was usually lethal, he was beheaded a second time and he died.
But that’s not all.
In the Middle Ages he came to be regarded as the patron saint of physicians and midwives. A phial containing some of his blood has been preserved at Constantinople; on his Feast Days (he scored three – 27 July, 28 July, and 18 February) his blood boils. Pure awesome.
The origin of the taunt “Liar, liar, pants on fire!” is related.
Straatsen in the Netherlands [via].
Hexaflexigon burrito. Do it. Eat it.
Some of these DIY illusions are cool.
RHNB = Red Hot Nickel Ball. Nice video collection by a guy who knows what to do with one.
El Niño – He’s a-comin’ ta gitcha, and Google Maps has you covered.
We’ve all seen ’em. They’re called dickheads.
Don’t do this [via].
Do this instead. [Top image screen-capped from that video and doctored a tad.]
[Update: Added the Epilogue to the St. Pantaleone saga.]
Tacky Raccoons 