A Bit Of Dis & Dot

A few random scribbles have been accumulating on my desk:

• NBC foreign correspondent Richard Engel — for my money, as good as anyone in that business — said during a special on ISIS that we are living in “a world where war is ordinary.” He was referring specifically to Syria, but I fear he also could be talking about the United States …

• Where, I wonder every time I’m cleaning window jalousies, does dust come from? Wind-blown dirt, road grit and dried organic matter (including dead skin), of course. But according to a story in the March 15 Star-Advertiser, a lot of dust comes from outer space. One study reported that 60 tons of cosmic dust falls on Earth every day. Fine, but why so much on my house? …

• Thanks to the readers who wrote to offer regards after seeing the column about the hellish night the roof of my former residence blew off (fortunately in mid-move). Your thoughts are appreciated, and I love the new place …

• I might not have gotten through school if I were a student today. Just learned that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not allowed at most schools because so many kids have peanut allergies. Back in elementary school, PB&J was a basic staple in my Roy Rogers lunch box …

• With all the concerns about head injuries in football — star 49ers linebacker Chris Borland retired recently after just one season in the NFL, citing his concern about concussions — it puzzles me why players slap one another in the head after making a good play. I’m not saying it’s time to go back to celebrating with butt slaps, but …

• Did you know buttons originated as fashion accessories and only later developed into fastening devices? …

• And did you ever notice the only word you can spell from right to left on a typing keyboard is poi (unless you count rew, an archaic variant of rue)? … dchapman@midweek.com