Factoid Friday

“Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy”


I’ll be hurtling through the air at great speed in a pressurized aluminum tube today, so just time to do this quickie for the blog. (Probably nothing on Saturday or Sunday either – relief all round!)

I’ve called this one factoid Friday, one, because it’s Friday and two, because the list below are supposed to be factoids. How accurate they are is another thing, but they make an interesting read none the less.

Hope you enjoy.



Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only...Ladies Forbidden"
...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.



In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.
Hence we have "the rule of thumb"



The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.



99 percent find it impossible to lick their elbow.



Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair  -  I don’t what that means for smart bald people.



The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.



Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
-Spades - King David
-Hearts - Charlemagne
-Clubs -Alexander, the Great
-Diamonds - Julius Caesar



If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.



Only two people signed the Declaration of Independenceon July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.



Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?

A. Their birthplace



Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?

A. Obsession



Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?

A. One thousand



Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?

A. All invented by women.



In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on.
Hence the phrase......... "goodnight, sleep tight."



It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.



In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts... So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."
It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"



Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service.
"Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.



AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST



At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow

Did you?