Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

Taste buds, cheesecake, the Pledge of Allegiance, etc.

Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Nurse Ann Perkins in the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation is played by Rashida Jones, daughter of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton.

We regenerate taste buds every 10 days. If we didn't, we'd lose our ability to taste.

The origin of today's cheesecake likely stems from the 11th century, when Franco-German Jews ate cheese fluden, pastries that over time grew denser with filling and lost their top crust. The Greeks made griddle cakes with cheese curd in the fourth century.

Francis Julius Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance, hoped it would be used by citizens in any country. It originally read, "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Hundreds of blondes recently marched through the streets of the Latvian capital, Riga, in a rally called the Go Blonde festival, to lift the spirits of the Baltic state.

The above is information that Mr. Smarty Pants read in a book, magazine, or newspaper; heard on the radio; saw on television; or overheard at a party. Got facts? Write to Mr. Smarty Pants. Why not visit mrsmartypants.com?

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

Mr. Smarty Pants, May 16, 2025

Mr. Smarty Pants Knows

Mr. Smarty Pants, May 9, 2025

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Keep up with happenings around town

Kevin Curtin's bimonthly cannabis musings

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle