I did not know that yesterday!

The word "picnic" is especially interesting because many believe it originally referred to a horrifying and racist act.

A popular email forward claims the word refered to the act of lynching African Americans while spectators watched and ate packed lunches. It turns out this is just an ugly urban legend. Indeed, African Americans were the targets of lynch mobs, but the word "picnic" has nothing to do with that.

In reality, "picnic" is just a simple adaptation of the French word piquenique, which may have been based on the verb piquer, to pick or peck. And while nobody knows for sure, the "nique" may have been added simply because it rhymed.

All About History explains that the word originally meant an "outing with food" that was held indoors, much like a modern-day potluck. It wasn't until the 19th century that picnics moved outside.

Source: ask.yahoo.com

We find nail polish to be a good enough reason for having them but thought you might be looking for a more scientific answer. We set out to find one by consulting the always reliable Britannica.com.

According to the online encyclopedia, the human and primate nail corresponds to the claw, hoof, or talon of other animals. Human nails protect the tips of the toes and fingers, while fingernails help us pick up small objects and scratch ourselves.

On the other hand, the feet of primates are capable of gripping objects, just like their hands, so their toenails have much the same function as fingernails. However, human toenails seem to be an evolutionary leftover.

We searched the Web on " toenails fingernails" and "toenail purpose." Both of these searches turned up sites devoted to diseases of the nails, which provided more opinions. On one such site, podiatrist Michael Zapf agrees that nails are essential for manipulation and scratching (and he points out the importance of scratching in a primate or human's life).

But the doctor debunks the notion that nails exist to protect the tips of toes and fingers. He argues that your digits wouldn't be especially sensitive without nails. Dermatologist Mitch Bender appears to agree: "People can get along without nails -- toenails more than fingernails -- but they do make daily life a bit easier."

So, though there's some disagreement about whether or not toenails and fingernails serve to protect our digits, our resources all agree that our nails help us pick up little stuff like pencils, peanuts, and even bottles of nail polish.

Source: ask.yahoo.com