I don't know if it's a quirk ... or an eccentricity. I prefer knowing scientific trivia, over knowing the latest celebrity gossip.
Did you know ... sunflowers are among plants that communicate with each other? They will actually agree to share resources. Though - even among plants, there are jerks. Some "jerk" sunflowers will "hog" nutrients. EG: when located in close proximity, SunflowerA will prevent SunflowerB from getting enough nutrients by increasing the rate at which SunflowerA absorbs nutrients from the ground.
What do you consider "celebrity gossip" Walt? If George Clooney is involved with some cause and has a benefit concert would that fall under "gossip"? If you see on the news coverage of say Brad Pitt or Sean Penn up to their chests in floodwaters helping folks however they can is that "gossp"? How about Audrey Hepburn or Princess Diana when they were alive going among the poor to publicize their plight? I think some celebrities use their celebrity to do good. They sell it to the highest bidder and use the money for charitable purposes. That is what Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie did when they got married. CHARGED photographers for the pictures and then put all that money into use to benefit others. The info about sunflowers is "interesting" but honestly I have no emotional reaction to it whatsoever. It doesn't make me happier or sadder. But when I read of a celebrity hugging a person with AIDS which was unheard of decades ago or going to homeless shelters and taking their kids with them to feed the hungry at Christmas I do react to that. Positively. Now a skeptic would say it's all for the publicity. But seriously would YOU take your kids to a homeless shelter to feed the homeless on Christmas? Thank you for your reply Walt! :)
Quirks. I think the weirdest one of mine is that I have nightmares about being late. If we are running late to an appointment I can get physically affected. Nauseated. I don't know why. I don't remember ever being punished for being late but it is a phobia or obsession or whatever. I'd rather be an hour early and just sit in the car and wait than be ONE MINUTE LATE! Now that is totally nuts. SIGH. There are others but that's the biggie I think. I may not be the best judge of it. Thank you for your reply Sharon and Happy Tuesday! :)
True story: A colleague of mine was waiting in the lobby of the office building where I work, waiting for her husband to pick her up. She remarked, "I hope he's not much longer, I'm hungry." Without thinking, I replied automatically, "Hi Hungry, I'm Dad!"
I then apologised for a knee-jerk dad joke. Completely reflex - and said colleague is almost exactly the same age as my daughter.
Walt O'Reagun 