Cat Nationality

You might have laughed at Amrish Puri talking about the nationality of pigeons and the difference between the British and Indian pigeons in DDLJ but I believe there is some truth in there.

I am sure that you must have noticed that cats will ALWAYS make an attempt to cross your paths whenever they can. I always believed that it is natural for a cat to do that and this tendency of theirs has made people believe in the famous superstition about cats that we have. However, here in Switzerland you will never see the same. Whenever you come across one, either it will keep sitting as it were or walk off from the side but not once have I ever been crossed by one.

Its strange how social training can affect a whole species....

"Into" -- is it just me?

I was having an academic discussion with my (PhD) advisor yesterday when I used the phrase "A into B" for "A times B" (what A and B were is not relevant) and he was like 'What???' I immediately 'corrected' myself but I was wondering what it really means. It does sound strange if you think about it. We just grew up using that word in this context. If I remember correctly, even the teachers did that at school. Does anyone know how or where it comes from? I am still puzzled about this one. Strange I never thought about this earlier. And is it just Indians who do this?
Now I know why 3*9 came out to be 3 in Taare Zameen Par, btw... the kid used the correct interpretation of the word 'into' ... but unfortunately the exam was objective type... poor him

It is funny how we grow up speaking words that we understand and know what they mean but don't know why they mean what they mean! I distinctly remember I used to think '2 twos are 4' as '2 two zaa 4' or something like that for a long long time.