When I read Guns Germs and Steel I was surprised to learn that cheetahs might have almost trumped dogs as pets and hunting companions. Alas, their mating habits made breeding in captivity impossible.

1) Depends
2) WHY?!?
3) Dunno. It shrinks as girls age, possible it helps keep germs etc out before, you know, anything else might need to go there.
4) The same way as women prolly. Winky Face. I'd wager men have probably _seen_ about as much, or possibly more, hymen (Hang on, plural of hymen? Hymens?) than women given-
a) I don't imagine it's actually that easy for women to see their own hymen - feel free to correct me on this ladies.
b) Gynecology, as indeed almost all of the medical specialist areas, has been the domain of men until recently.

Oh, and I did google it and I don't regret it because of this entry on the wikipedia page:
"In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, medical researchers used the presence of the hymen, or lack thereof, as founding evidence of physical diseases such as "womb-fury", i.e. (female) hysteria. If not cured, womb-fury would, according to these early doctors, result in death."

One wonders what treatment they might have prescribed for WOOOMB-FURY!!!!

I read Guns Germs and Steel cover to cover, was fascinating

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)

I see what you're saying, but I'm assuming they controlled for this in their research. Epigenetics is really interesting, as people used to think the germ line was untouchable.

I don't see fist bumps much, but when I do, it's like @eric3579 said, they're usually between friends, after accomplishing something to express how awesome it was and a high-five just won't cut it. I've never personally seen anyone substitute a fist bump for a hand shake, but I have heard that people that have a fear of hand shakes and/or germs do substitute fist bumps for hand shakes.

As for your story, if the guy had been changing oil on cars all day, he may have offered the fist bump as an alternative to a high-five or hand shake out of courtesy because his hands were dirty.

I've become a master at avoiding angry thought germs. Thank you VideoSift. I would not have this skill if it wasn't for you

I think you're totally taking it in a different, deeper way than I meant. For others it may be different, but for me it's literally about the "dirt" in dirty, not anything about germs.

Your points about germs are ones I happen to agree with vehemently.

@lucky760
I think it's funny that being "clean" is where we all should be. As if somehow that so much better. People imo are way to freaked out by dirt and germs(what many call filthy). Compared to most id be considered filthy im sure, as i don't take showers as often as most, and i don't mind being in a "dirty" environment (Not dirty like unhealthy). I'll put my immunity up against anyone's. I rarely ever get sick and i attribute much of that to not worrying about being filthy. Also being around animals make for a stronger immune system for children me thinks.
http://videosift.com/video/How-Pets-Can-Protect-You-Before-Youre-Born

Kids stink and are filthy animals...much much worse than most dogs. I don't understand how people live with them. I mean that literally. Lately I've been trying to understand. Do people really just let their kids, all smelly and dirty climb into bed, couches, car seats, laps, public places, etc. without ever cleaning them first? It just seems like such a filthy way to live, tracking dirt, germs, and kid smell all over everything everywhere they go.

I asked my wife about it and she just tells me people love their kids, so they aren't bothered by it. Is that really all it comes down to, ignoring it? The answer I wish to be true is that they somehow aren't as dirty or smelly as I believe they are, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

;-)

(That said...not all dogs are dirty and smelly, at least not as you seem to think they are. Mine has short 'teflon' fur that doesn't hold dirt or smells, and I wash her at least twice monthly (more if she gets into something stinky) so she has little smell. What smell she does have, I enjoy. Her teeth are good, so her breath doesn't stink...yet. She still has puppy smell, even though she's 3. I'm sure some people hate that smell, but I'm not one of those people. I do however strongly dislike the smell of unwashed, snot nosed/handed, Cheetos covered, poo pants children! I mean that literally!) ;-)

" What is it that we do that strikes them as funny?"

One of them is using wads of paper to wipe our asses...
Here's a few more...

Absence of topless beaches in the U.S.
Our often obsessive pre-occupation with germs and the west's plethoric use of "products" for grooming
Kissing anyone besides a lover on the mouth
Leaving home at 18 to "live on one's own" (unlike Americans, family units enjoy an enduring and innate cohesion-Most other cultures also have a healthy respect and prominent place for their seniors that the west has forgotten as well)
Halloween (the U.S. is the only country that celebrates this like Americans do)

*happy

Ew, germs!

Oh, you have a bullet in your forehead? Let me grab this rusty, germ covered pair of needle-nose pliers and get that out for you.