“This slide-looking thing on the playground. It’s raised in the middle, and clearly not a slide.”
Answer: "From what I understand, newer playgrounds have these things to encourage free play, it’s not a set thing like a slide or ladder. It’s just a shape that encourages movement and interaction."
“Pottery found at the thrift store. Artist doesn’t have social media. It has metal hooks inside.”
Answer: "Something to dip their brushes into and then squeeze out the excess water between the wires."
“What is this pile of pink and yellow 1/2 inch strips.”
Answer: "Dog food Purina Moist and Meaty Burger With Cheddar Cheese Flavor Dry Soft Dog Food Pouches."
“What are these compartments for on this bottle opener?”
Answer: "I believe they’re extra bottle caps so you can recap your drink."
“These small recesses found all over our house.”
Answer: "There used to be open flame burners that connected to gas as a heat source in the early 1900s before forced air, and sometimes they would be set into the wall like this."
“Green, translucent substance found on the beach, looks like glass but has gel or jello like consistency.”
Answer: "It might be sodium polyacrylate. It’s the stuff commonly used nowadays in diapers to absorb moisture. It starts out more solid and turns into a jelly texture after being exposed to water."
“Had this when I was younger, small cylinder tightly wrapped tissue paper all different lengths and color.”
Answer: "Paperoni! There was a plastic machine that cut different lengths, and you stick them together to make things."
“My neighbors shared an unsettling video of a woman holding this device up to their ring doorbell. She walked up, held it directly in front of the camera while it made a clicking/buzzing noise and then left quickly.”
“My many-years-old rain jacket has a smooth, somewhat flexible, seemingly plastic object sewn into the upper arm of the right sleeve only. What is it?”
Answer: “It’s a Recco reflector. Basically a transponder that allows ski patrol and mountain rescue teams to detect and locate it under snow.”
“Green plastic scissor handle with metal loops and plastic teeth. No identifying marks.”
Answer: “It’s some sort of herb stripper. Sprigs go in the loops; teeth are closed, and stalks are pulled out.”
“Small, light blue, rubber capsule with a tear-off end.”
Answer: “It’s a cosmetics serum capsule.”
“Someone has gifted this for a new baby with no note on what it is.”
Answer: “It is a door silencer. It wraps around and covers the latch on a door so that it doesn’t latch, and the rubber also makes the door open and close silently. The straps go around the doorknob on each side.”
“It’s rubber/silicone, the size of a fingertip, doesn’t erase, about as hard as a bouncy ball, but doesn’t bounce like a bouncy ball. It also doesn’t light up.”
Answer: “It’s an 80s light bulb eraser without the metal bottom.”
“What are these weird crystals growing on my 5 or 6-year-old wax-type highlighter?”
Answer: “Your wax highlighter has gone through varying changes in temperature in the past years and has destabilized causing oil to separate and crystallize. Same thing happens in crayons.”
“A toilet I saw in a women’s restroom.”
Answer: “It’s a raised squat toilet. Squat toilets are pretty common in a lot of places. These are easier for those that can’t manage the full squat.”
“Plastic strap on cotton swabs. They are rubbery plastic. No markings.”
Answer: “It’s a gag. You put the rubber part around your ear, and it looks like you have a cotton swab sticking out of your head.”
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I have one that has been in use for over 80 years, there is nothing missing on it.
Driveway marker