Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 220783 times)

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #100 on:** May 02, 2007, 05:08:59 PM »

Upper and lower case letters are named 'upper' and 'lower' because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the upper case letters were stored in the case on top of the case that stored the smaller, 'lower case' letters...

eclipse74569 · « **Reply #101 on:** May 02, 2007, 06:24:22 PM »

fact: If I'm not mistaken in Illinois it's illegal to speak English

(dumb state law...probably passed in the 17/1800s and meant for Brittish)

ACES_HIGH · « **Reply #102 on:** May 03, 2007, 03:22:18 PM »

on that note I read that it is illegal to bath in public in Vermont.

starfleetadmiral · « **Reply #103 on:** May 03, 2007, 06:39:40 PM »

In New York City it is illegal to make a window puppet show.

In San Diego, it is illegal to spit on the sidewalk.

Senator · « **Reply #104 on:** May 11, 2007, 07:38:53 AM »

Thats the red spot storm on Jupiter

Earth can fit 3 times inside it.

BIG storm.

Mustang · « **Reply #105 on:** May 14, 2007, 10:29:23 AM »

Also according to statistics, Wednesday is the least traveled day in the country. Great day for flying.

Senator · « **Reply #106 on:** May 18, 2007, 10:35:13 AM »

Most people can read the following text in quite a normal speed, showcasing the power of the human brain for error correction:

"i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."

starfleetadmiral · « **Reply #107 on:** May 18, 2007, 05:45:59 PM »

In Paris, it is illegal to stare at the Mayor.

MLeo · « **Reply #108 on:** May 20, 2007, 05:43:31 AM »

Potassium hydroxide is extremely dangerous to breathe and fatal to eat. It causes deep ulcers if it touches the skin and irreversible damage if it gets in the eyes. It is widely used to wash fruit and vegetables; in the manufacture of chocolate, ice cream, caramel, soft drinks, paper and textiles; to form a skin on pretzels before baking; and as a wart-remover. It is also used by vets for disbudding calves horns and for dissolving scales and hair and is a common ingredient of washing powder, denture cleaner, detergent, drain cleaners and soap.

Senator · « **Reply #109 on:** May 20, 2007, 03:55:17 PM »

This is the Great Eastern:

(steampunkishy cool, no?)

Although it was supposed to be a passenger ship, it is mostly known for laying the (4260 km long) Transatlantic telegraph cable.

Trim · « **Reply #110 on:** July 31, 2007, 08:26:42 PM »

Today In History
July 31, 1845
The French Army introduced the saxophone to its military band. The musical instrument was the invention of Adolphe Sax of Belgium.

JimmyB76 · « **Reply #111 on:** August 01, 2007, 08:22:15 AM »

Today In History
August 1, 1976

i was born...

Trim · « **Reply #112 on:** August 02, 2007, 10:31:26 PM »

Happy late birthday. 8)

Billz · « **Reply #113 on:** August 02, 2007, 10:37:12 PM »

Happy 2 days late birthday :king

Somewhat useful fact: Craig Charles and Danny-John Jules are the only 2 actors to appear in every single episode of Red Dwarf.

William T. Riker · « **Reply #114 on:** August 05, 2007, 03:02:50 PM »

Quote from: JimmyB76 on August 01, 2007, 08:22:15 AM

Today In History
August 1, 1976

i was born...

Perhaps we should rename this thread to Hardly Useful Fact Thread. :mrgreen:

Senator · « **Reply #115 on:** August 06, 2007, 05:53:07 PM »

From a BBC article about nectar eating bats this is... erm... a pole covered nectar eating bat.

Glempius · « **Reply #116 on:** August 06, 2007, 06:01:51 PM »

Some of Archimedes' greatest works were effectively rubbed out and the pages used to make a prayer book

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedes_Palimpsest

Turns out Archimedes had almost invented calculus almost 1800 early

Trim · « **Reply #117 on:** August 15, 2007, 06:55:05 PM »

Today in history:

August 15, 1987
In one high-profile promotional effort, Coca-Cola sponsors ICEE cups with the TNG cast faces in special collector's plastic cups that appear beginning this date in convenience stores nationwide.

Ambassador · « **Reply #118 on:** August 23, 2007, 11:41:36 AM »

The 130 horsepower V-6 equipped DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to The Future couldn't actually go 88 miles-per-hour.

(0-60 mph in 11 seconds. Woo.)

Trim · « **Reply #119 on:** September 15, 2007, 11:44:58 PM »

Lemon sharks grow a new set of teeth every two weeks. They grow more than 24,000 new teeth every year.

News:

Author Topic: Somewhat Useful Facts Thread (Read 220783 times)

starfleetadmiral

starfleetadmiral