Who likes randomness?

[Kyle Raiden]

I feel like releasing my random energy. Here are a few facts that you might not know, but will be of absolutely no benefit to you whatsoever...


- If you feed calcium carbonate to a pigeon, it will explode. Also, if you feed it rice, it will suck up all the moisture inside the bird...it doesn't really like that.

- If you drop a mashmallow on a neutron star, it will release the same amount of energy upon impact as a one megaton hydrogen bomb exploding on Earth.

- Fish have a memory span of 3 seconds. Thats why they don't go insane in goldfish bowls.


- This was entered on a history exam paper:
Marco Polo circumsized the world with a 100-foot clipper.
Should be circumnavigated

- This was entered on a car insurance claim:
Type of accident: Collision with a cow
Warning given by you to other driver: Horn
Warning given to you by other driver: Moo


- German Shepherd dogs are not allowed in the Spanish army. You require an IQ of 100 to join up...Alsatians, on average (if memory serves), only have an IQ of 86.

- Because the Equator is approximately 24 000 miles around, and the world rotates once every 24 hours (approximately), a person standing on the Equator is, technically, travelling at 1 000 mph.

- If you spred the population of China evenly across the face of the Earth, two-thirds of them would drown.


= = = = =

Anyone else got anything random to add?

[Jedieb]

The first president of the United States was not George Washington, it was John Hanson. He was our first President under the Articles of Confederation. Presidents under the Articles of Confederation served 1 year terms. Hanson was responsible for the Seal of the President that is still used today.

[Figrin D'an]

Originally posted by Kyle Raiden

- Fish have a memory span of 3 seconds. Thats why they don't go insane in goldfish bowls.

This has been proven to be a fallicy. Animal behavior specialists have tested this with many different types of fish, including goldfish, and there is clear evidence that they do remember their surroundings for longer than 3 seconds. This was also shown to be false on the show Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel.



- This was entered on a history exam paper:
Marco Polo circumsized the world with a 100-foot clipper.
Should be circumnavigated


Not to mention that Marco Polo never circumnavigated the globe. He traveled from Venice to Imperial China and back several times by passing through Greece, modern-day Turkey, the Middle East and India.




- German Shepherd dogs are not allowed in the Spanish army. You require an IQ of 100 to join up...Alsatians, on average (if memory serves), only have an IQ of 86.


The average IQ of humans is 95-105. Mentally handicapped humans have IQs ranging from the mid 70's to upper 80's, depending upon the condition. A big part of measuring one's intellgence quotient is comprehension and problem solving. While dogs can be trained to perform certain tasks, they do not have the cognitive abilities of even a "slow" human.




- Because the Equator is approximately 24 000 miles around, and the world rotates once every 24 hours (approximately), a person standing on the Equator is, technically, travelling at 1 000 mph.


Velocity is always relative to your point of reference. If you set your point of reference to, say, a fix point along the Earth's solar orbit, then we're all travelling much faster than 1000 mph. If you set it as the center of the galaxy, we're traveling faster yet. It's all about how you define the situation.

[JMK]

On a dry human tongue, sugar has no taste.

[darth_mcbain]

Beethoven's favorite meal was Macaroni and Cheese

[Mitch]

Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai never lost a single battle with the theme ingredient being fish in the Japanese show's entire run.

Also, in that run, he had a record of 74 wins to eight losses.

[Kyle Raiden]

Not to mention that Marco Polo never circumnavigated the globe. He traveled from Venice to Imperial China and back several times by passing through Greece, modern-day Turkey, the Middle East and India.
So? Someone still wrote it as part of their answer on an exam paper, and its still kinda funny.


The average IQ of humans is 95-105. Mentally handicapped humans have IQs ranging from the mid 70's to upper 80's, depending upon the condition. A big part of measuring one's intellgence quotient is comprehension and problem solving. While dogs can be trained to perform certain tasks, they do not have the cognitive abilities of even a "slow" human.
Don't blame me...just the messenger. I'm not stating these facts as my own...there are ones that I've got from elsewhere.


Velocity is always relative to your point of reference. If you set your point of reference to, say, a fix point along the Earth's solar orbit, then we're all travelling much faster than 1000 mph. If you set it as the center of the galaxy, we're traveling faster yet. It's all about how you define the situation.
Yeah...I thought I defined the situation pretty well, though.


Don't nitpick...be random. ;) :D


= = = = = =

Just for continued randomness...here are some of my lame jokes. Part 1.


What do you call a...

- man with a seagull on his head? Cliff

- man with a spade in his head? Doug

- man without a spade in his head? Douglas

- man with a rabbit up his rectum? Warren

- man with a car on his head? Jack

- woman with a food processor on her head? Blenda

- married woman with a river on her head? Mrs Hippy

[Dae Jinn]

Originally posted by Darth McBain
Beethoven's favorite meal was KD

Edited for our Canadian readers :)

Did you know that my pet goldfish, Pubix, likes to sleep on his back and often has trouble swimming? I think he has mental problems, but I don't think I'd be able to take him to the vet without being laughed at. :cry

[Mitch]

The average drag racer would consume the contents of a common car's gas tank in under ten seconds.

[Kyle Raiden]

Did you know that my pet goldfish, Pubix, likes to sleep on his back and often has trouble swimming? I think he has mental problems, but I don't think I'd be able to take him to the vet without being laughed at.

*BIG-UBER-MEGA-ULTRA-SUPER-CUDDLE-SNUGGLE-HUG*

Send Pubix by porcelin express...then no one will be able to laugh. He's a big fish...is he allowed to cross the street on his own?

[Dae Jinn]

He's not a big fish, he's a little fat goldfish. I thought about flushing him, but he's not dying. He's just...special.

[Kyle Raiden]

I didn't mean that he was dead...but all drains lead to the sea. You could free him...or send him to a fish-doctor that could help him.

As we're talking about pets, I used to have a miniature giant space-hampster called Homer. He lives underground in a little box now though. :cry

[Figrin D'an]

Originally posted by Kyle Raiden
So? Someone still wrote it as part of their answer on an exam paper, and its still kinda funny.

Yeah, but the correction wasn't completely right.




Don't blame me...just the messenger. I'm not stating these facts as my own...there are ones that I've got from elsewhere.

I'm not blaming anyone. I'm merely dispelling any "facts" that happen to be false or incorrect




Yeah...I thought I defined the situation pretty well, though.

There was no stated point of reference from which to observe the situation. Observation from different points yields different results. Just a simple fact of physics.


Half the fun of this type of thread is to find out what people believe is "fact," then seperate what is true and untrue. We've done this little game before, and many many myths and urban legends end up getting tossed into the mix. Knowing what is and isn't "fact" makes us each a little more knowledgable.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Hey hey! If you eat pop rocks and drink Pepsi you'll DIE!

;)

[Sejah Haversh]

In ancient Greece, throwing an apple to a girl was a way to propose for marriage.. If the girl caught it, that would mean she accepts.

During the 16th century, newly married couples in France had to stand naked outdoors while the groom kissed the bride's left foot and big toe as part of traditional customs.

Arabic numerals were not invented by Arabs, but were invented in India by the Hindus.

Hitler was voted Time Magazine's man of the year in 1938

In 1755, the first Canadian post office opened in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The fist Deputy Postmaster General was American inventor Benjamin Franklin who was later dismissed for sympathizing with the American revolutionary cause.

In 1926, a waiter in Budapest committed suicide. He left his suicide note in the form of a crossword and the police had to get help from the public to solve it.

In the Great Fire of London in 1666, only six people were killed.

In the spring of 1975, a baby in Detroit fell 14 stories and landed on Joseph Figlock, who was walking below. A few years later it happened again. Figlock and both babies survived.

The "Star Spangled Banner" did not become a national anthem until 1931. It was designated by an Act of Congress.
(Interesting note that I know about this: Ripley, of Ripley's Believe It Or Not, brought up the fact that America did not have a National Anthem. The country became outraged, and congress passed "The Star Spangled Banner" into law as the national anthem only a few weeks later. -Mitch)

The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.

There was an army general during the Liberia Civil War who used to lead his army into battle naked. His nickname was "General Butt Naked." Joshua Milton Blahyi (his real name) is now an evangelical preacher in Monrovia.

In ancient Rome, it was considered a sign of leadership to be born with a crooked nose.
(Hooray! I could be a Roman leader if only I could go back in time!)

Urine from men’s public urinals was sold as a commodity in Ancient Rome. It was used as a dye and for making clothes hard.
(Well, maybe I don't want to go back to ancient Rome after all)

In World War II, the German submarine U-120 was sunk by a malfunctioning toilet.
(Oh, it's always good to go out on a hight note.)

(I'm sorry, I just HAD to add this one!)
In the 13th century, quality standards for paste were assigned by the Pope.

[Razielle Shadana]

Originally posted by Lilaena De'Ville
Hey hey! If you eat pop rocks and drink Pepsi you'll DIE!

;)

:eek

I think I remember that one going around.. Freaked me out in school too.

[Dasquian Belargic]

http://meras.org/forum/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=15523&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

Ah, random facts. An age old tradition.

[Sun Zao]

A .357 magnum revolver can fire both the .357 magnum cartridge and the .38 special cartridge, making it the most flexible pistol class by design.

[CMJ]

Back in the 1500's, most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and thus they were still smelling relatively good. Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to mask any personal odors.
**********

The bath was a giant tub of hot, clean water. The man of the house got it first, followed by any other men. Next, the women, the the children, and finally the babies. By then, the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
**********

Houses had thatched roofs made of thick straw. Animals - dogs, cats, mice - would nestly into it to keep warm. During hard rains the roof would become so slippery that larger animals often slipped off. Hence, "It's raining cats and dogs."
**********

The wealthy had slate floors which became slick when wet. They often spread thresh in front of the doorway and attached a piece of wood to the floor under the door to keep the thresh from being kicked out of the opening. Hence, a "threshold".
**********

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf , the family got the middle, and the guests got the golden top, or the "upper crust".
***********

To save precious space, the English would dig up old graves, empty the coffins, and reuse the plot. One out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside. To prevent themselves from accidently burying anyone else alive, they began tying a string to the wrist of the deceased, leading it up through a hole in the coffin to the surface, where it was tied to a bell. Someone would sit out all night in the graveyard to listen in case the bell rang. Hence, the "graveyard shift". Anyone lucky enough to be saved and returned to their old life was known as a "dead ringer".

[JMK]

To save precious space, the English would dig up old graves, empty the coffins, and reuse the plot. One out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside. To prevent themselves from accidently burying anyone else alive, they began tying a string to the wrist of the deceased, leading it up through a hole in the coffin to the surface, where it was tied to a bell. Someone would sit out all night in the graveyard to listen in case the bell rang. Hence, the "graveyard shift". Anyone lucky enough to be saved and returned to their old life was known as a "dead ringer".

LMAO!!!!!!!! Didn't they think of poking them with a stick, or *gasp* check for a heartbeat before tossing them underground?


Tobacco was once considered a cure for headaches, toothaches, arthritis, stomach aches, wounds, and bad breath.

[CMJ]

Originally posted by JMK
LMAO!!!!!!!! Didn't they think of poking them with a stick, or *gasp* check for a heartbeat before tossing them underground?


Well, if you're barely alive that may not be of much use. I mean these folks obviously were near death if they "looked" dead for long enough to be buried. :cool

[CMJ]

This is actulally one of my favorites...

Germans torpedoed the S.S. Lomond in 1942, leaving only one survivor, Poon Lim, who floated in a life raft for 133 days - more than a third of a year. He drifted to Brazil, where he was rescued by a fisherman. King George VI awarded him the British Empire medal, the highest civilian honor. Of his incredible record Poon said, "I hope no one will ever have to break it."
:lol :lol :lol

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Originally posted by Sejah Haversh
In ancient Greece, throwing an apple to a girl was a way to propose for marriage.. If the girl caught it, that would mean she accepts.

What happens if the guy beans the girl in the head because she isn't paying attention?

[Corias Bonaventure]

In England, some escaped convicts would drag a dead red herring on a line behind them as they fled the police. The strong scent of the fish would mask the convicts' scent and confuse the police's bloodhounds. Thus, a deceptive line of logic that leads away from the truth is sometimes called a "red herring."

2004 is the emerging year for the seventeen-year cicada "Brood X" (10). In just a few weeks, billions of the cicadas will emerge in the eastern half of the United States, from New York to Georgia, from Illinois to Virginia. They don't eat plants, but dogs, cats, birds, and fish love eating the two-to-three-inch bugs. The cicadas will breed, lay their eggs, and die within a month. When they hatch, the nymphs will burrow under the ground until the seventeen-year cycle is complete again.

The record for the most lopsided football victory is 237-0 in a game between Georgia Tech and Cumberland College, a school of about twelve hundred students in Tennessee. Georgia Tech never threw the ball. Cumberland never made positive yardage.

[Rhea Kaylen]

Originally posted by CMJ

To save precious space, the English would dig up old graves, empty the coffins, and reuse the plot. One out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside. To prevent themselves from accidently burying anyone else alive, they began tying a string to the wrist of the deceased, leading it up through a hole in the coffin to the surface, where it was tied to a bell. Someone would sit out all night in the graveyard to listen in case the bell rang. Hence, the "graveyard shift". Anyone lucky enough to be saved and returned to their old life was known as a "dead ringer".

Further to this, the saying "saved by the bell," which would also refer to anyone rescued from an early grave.

Also:

Rats cannot vomit.

Newborn babies cannot shed tears.

The phenomenon of applause was, as so much else on this list, born in ancient Rome. However, it originally had a much more depressing connotation: the audience would only clap when it disapproved of the players on stage.

Remember the kids' rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie?"

Ring around the rosie--A circle of family members and local herb doctors gathered around a victim of fever, such as scarlet fever

Pocket full of posie--Herbs thought to be able to heal the sick individual

Ashes, ashes--The systematic burning of all potentially infected clothing, bedding, or possessions belonging to the sick person

We all fall down--The family all manage to catch the disease, anyway, and die.

And two things I feel certain you all already know:

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was originally nothing of the kind--it was Tolkien's intent that the story be released as one massive volume consisting of six books.

Why do Americans call the dollar a buck? During the days of the frontier, a standard of trade was a buckskin, which was taken to equal one dollar.

[Rhea Kaylen]

*EDIT*

Horses can't vomit, either. Or release trapped air through their mouths. Cribbing, the equine habit of gnawing on things like fenceposts, can therefore be quite harmful, as the horse intakes a large amount of air while chewing. If they cannot release it, they can become bloated and die.

[CMJ]

In 1882, New York's Williamsburg Athletic Club held an unusual race: it would be 24 hours long, and the winner would be he who ran the farthest. James Saunders ran 120 miles and won a whopping $100.

Well, to be fair 100 bucks was worth more like acouple of grand back then...but still. :cool

[imported_Firebird1]

I could use $100?

Anyone want to give it to me?