CARDAMOM HARD TO FIND OUTSIDE OF MIDDLE EAST AND SCANDINAVIA

Some spices are closely identified with one particular region and one type of food within that region. For instance, cardamom is used to flavor coffee in Middle Eastern countries. And it is found in Scandinavian breads. But look for cardamom in other foods and other places, and you won’t be likely to find it.

Gerbils in the wild are found almost exclusively in Central Asia. Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, are the variety most commonly kept as pets.

When breeders mix species, the first portion of the new name comes from the male and the second come from the female. A lepjag is the product of a male leopard and a female jaguar. A zorse results when a male zebra is bred to a female horse.

The Lone Ranger, a radio-show hero of the 1930s, wore a black mask. He made the mask from part of a black vest that his older brother, Dan, had been wearing when he was murdered by members of the infamous Cavendish Gang. The Lone Ranger originally was part of a group of six Texas Rangers, who were ambushed by that gang. He was the only survivor.

In Sesame Street’s first season, Oscar the Grouch had orange fur.