How did the Mercedes Benz automobile get its name?

The Daimler Corporation were commissioned to design and manufacture a special racing car to add to the collections of a wealthy Austrian named Emil Jellinek in the 1900.

Mr. Jellinek were so impressed with the car and gave it a special name as "Mercedes". The name was after his daughter, Mercedes. In 1926, when Daimler Corporation merged with the Benz, the two combined companies decided to keep the name and market a commercial car as the Mercedes Benz.

Where did the energy drink "Gatorade" get its name?

A doctor named Dr. Robert Cade was studying the effects of heat exhaustion in 1963. He made the study on football players at the University of Florida.

He analyzed the the amount of body liquids lost during sweating of the players while playing football. After analyzing the lost liquid (sweat), Cade quickly came up with a formula for a drink to replace the lost liquid. In as early as two years, Gatorade became a 50 million US dollar business.

Dr. Cade named his invention after the football team he used in his study, the Florida Gators.

Why is a newcomer called a "rookie"?

A rookie is anyone new to an organization requiring teamwork and whose lack of experience may cause errors. The word originated in the American military during the Civil War when massive numbers of young and untrained soldiers were rushed into battle, causing major problems with discipline.

The veterans called these incompetents "reckies", an abbreviation of recruits, which through time became "rookies".

Why do we call Academy Awards "Oscars"?

The Academy Awards, since 1928, have been issued by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science for excellence in film making.

The statuettes were nicknamed "Oscar" in 1931 by Margaret Herrick, a secretary at the academy who, upon seeing one for the first time, exclaimed, "Why it looks just like my uncle Oscar?"

Her uncle was Oscar Pierce, a wheat farmer.

Who was Mona Lisa in Da Vinci's masterpiece?

Although it is known as the Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting was originally titled La Gioconda.

Painted on wood, it is a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant. X-rays reveal that Leonardo sketched three different poses before settling on the final design.

The painting of Lisa has no eyebrows because it was the fashion of the time for women to shave them off.

Why is Chicago called the "Windy City"?

Most people believe that Chicago got its name from its windy wind but that is not the case.

The reason was that, in 1893 Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition, celebrating the 400th anniversary of America's discovery.

The city's aggressive promotional campaign for the event offended the people of New York, whose press nicknamed it the Windy City to mock its bragging ways.

The moniker stuck, but, fortunately for Chicago, its original meaning has been forgotten by most.

Top 10 Best Tips to Improve your Memory

The Top 10 Best Secrets to improving your memory is the first post here in GET SMARTER MIND.

Many are asking, is there a magic pill or a magic trick to enhance your memory? Researchers and respected doctors say that it is not medicine that you need but simply Memory Tips.

Many books and paid memory enhancement trainings are present right now but basically the ideas are the same. Here in GET SMARTER MIND, I will give you the Top 10 Best Memory Tips distilled from known research and experiences. So, let's get started and GET SMARTER MIND today!

1. Imagine it and Draw it. Your imagination is your best memory tool. An illustration or picture is worth a million thoughts. Visualize them in your mind and use your imagination. Stick figures are good. Draw your thoughts, play them in your mind until they are embedded in your memory. The memory holds thoughts longer if the mind can visualize it. It is also nice to keep your illustration in an index card which is now the second tip below.

2. Go for Index Cards. Get your Index Card and write the summary and important points that you need to remember. A 4 by 6 Index Card is advisable but you can always use the size you are comfortable with. For example, you can make diagrams for mnemonics and secret codes you made up. Write and organize them in your index cards. Later, file them in an index box. You can grab it anytime, anywhere for a quick review. These quick tools of wisdom are handy as memory joggers. Remember, the thoughts in your mind may fade through time but you can always grab your index card as reminders. Now, how will go about your index card to be effective? Read tip #3.

3. List it Down.
For some reason, our brain remember things that are listed. Our brain remembers things better in 3's, 5's and 10's. For example, what are the 3 components of a Balance Sheet? One, Assets; Two, Liabilities; and Three, Equity or Capital. Then for each components, list down again their sub-components. For example for assets, it has two sub-classifications; One, Current Assets; Two, Non-current Assets. Learn to prioritize and list them down. This orderly approach will function like a peg in your memory. Now you may ask how will you go about long lists of things to remember. Mnemonic is the answer. (Tip #4 below)

4. Go for Mnemonics.
Mnemonic is a method older than you are, so it has been tested through time and experience. Mnemonics are basically self-created codes in order to easily remember long lists of subjects. You can adopt other people's mnemonics or make your own code. The benefit of creating your own is that it will stick in your mind because it has a personal connection to you. In accounting for example, in order to remember the functions of a comptroller you must remember P.R.E.TA.G.P.E (P- Planning and Control; R- Reporting and Interpreting; E - Evaluating and Consulting; TA - Tax Administration; G - Government Reporting; P - Protection of Assets; E - Economic Appraisal.)

5. Use your book well. Mark them!
Books are meant to be personalized so don't be hesitant to mark and highlight the crucial thoughts you found in them. Books are meant to be read not displayed. Another great method to utilize properly your books is to write short-page summaries at the top of the page, and brief notes of the paragraphs on the sides of the page. You can use Post-it Note if you want or just plain and small neat paper. This is efficient specially when you have to read again your book to review. It's like a personal quick index, just by flipping your book. For important page numbers, you can draw something connected to the topic and put some emotions to it. This is the next memory tip we shall discuss.

6. Put emotions into it.
The idea here is, those things that have personal connections to us are those that are easily remembered. For example, can you forget the name and face of your crush? I do not think so! Right? Why? Because you have put so much of emotion in it. The same with embedding thoughts in your memory through putting emotion into it. Another example, how can you ever forget the answer to a question which almost made you cry in your class when you were not able to answer the question. Your brain's amygdala is working overtime with lots of cross-circuitry in your neurons. It takes no effort to remember.

After being put into shame for being not able to answer the question of your instructor, you decided to read you books again. You've made the right decision for exactly that is the next memory tips I will share to you.

7. Read and Review again and again.
Practice makes perfect. Repeating makes it so. New to you? Of course not! Research study shows that men tend to forget things in their mind in a week or two. Therefore, continuous and consistent relearning is crucial. You need to relearn the same thing again and again to remember it. Experts say that we need at least two "imprints" on the brain to make it stick. So why not make it tens or hundreds or more? Simply, the idea here is that we have to study again and again. Now that you know, your battle plan is to have at least two runs on each subject for the examination ahead. You have to decide to remember.

8. Decide to Remember.
Be positive. Having the will power and thirst to remember is more powerful than having mnemonics! Train your mind. A doctor said, there is nothing like using your will power and again your emotions to make yourself remember. Do anything you want just to remember. Say it loud, put emotions into it and promise to the high heavens that you will remember. Make yourself believe that you will remember.

9. Utilize your subconscious mind.
Do you know that studying before sleeping is more effective than getting up early in the morning and cramming to review? Research shows that studying before sleeping is effective in imprinting what you have learned in your brain. Plus, the study said that it is even better if you dream about it. Your subconscious mind do the work in imprinting the details of what you have studied while you are asleep. Many say that though you thought your mind was not absorbing what you have read, you will be surprised that you can remember every detail when you wake up.

But of course, the idea here is in focusing and not letting any distractions (like watching movies, chatting with someone, worst getting into arguments) get in between your learning and your subconscious mind especially before you sleep. Also, do not over study and deprive your self and your brain a quality rest and sleep.

10. Prioritize healthy lifestyle.
Having a healthy lifestyle is having a healthy mind. This is the most important tip and yet often neglected. Eat healthy food, exercise regularly, get quality sleep (eight hours of sleep is recommended) and you will get more from your body and your mind. Although vitamin supplements can be essential, there is no definite brain-booster pill yet. Some doctors recommend taking omega-3 fish oil supplements or multivitamins. Fish oil vitamins increases blood flow to the brain. Finally, drink coffee moderately too.

So, those are the Top 10 Best secrets into improving your memory. Just remember that discipline and will power to learn are the key components and traits that you should have initially before taking your next step to learning. Learning is fun, and having a good memory make it funnier. Keep reading and GET SMARTER MIND today!