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Nice read I think I should have become a weed farmer lots of weeds out in the world.
Trivia Today
- Thread starter historylover
- Start date
Nice read I think I should have become a weed farmer lots of weeds out in the world.
RANDOM TIDBITS
In 1831, Squire George Osbaldeston rode 200 miles in eight
hours, 39 minutes. Osbaldeston used 20 horses. His
speed/distance record still stands.
***
On December 29, 1945, the record for the slowest time for
a winning horse was set by Never Mind II. During a 2-mile
steeplechase, Never Mind II refused the 4th jump and his
rider gave up and returned to the paddock. Then the rider
was told that all the other horses had fallen or been
disqualified. Immediately he "raced" Never Mind II back
to the field and finished in 11 minutes 28 seconds.
***
The Tetrarch, called by many Englishmen the fastest horse
of all time, was so swift that he couldn't control his legs.
His hind hooves cut and bruised the fetlocks and shins of
his front legs. At the end of his two-year-old season in
1913, during which he was undefeated, The Tetrarch had to
retire because his legs were so badly damaged.
***
Jockey Levi Barlingume, rode until 1932 when, at age 80, he
fell and broke his leg at Stafford, Kans., thus ending the
longest recorded career of any jockey.
***
The owners of the speedstar, Alsab, made one of the finest
deals in history. The horse they bought for $700 earned
$350,015 during its career.
***
History's greatest breeder was Darius of Persia (522-485
B.C.), who had more than 50,000 brood mares. Darius's
horses were half the size of today's.
In 1831, Squire George Osbaldeston rode 200 miles in eight
hours, 39 minutes. Osbaldeston used 20 horses. His
speed/distance record still stands.
***
On December 29, 1945, the record for the slowest time for
a winning horse was set by Never Mind II. During a 2-mile
steeplechase, Never Mind II refused the 4th jump and his
rider gave up and returned to the paddock. Then the rider
was told that all the other horses had fallen or been
disqualified. Immediately he "raced" Never Mind II back
to the field and finished in 11 minutes 28 seconds.
***
The Tetrarch, called by many Englishmen the fastest horse
of all time, was so swift that he couldn't control his legs.
His hind hooves cut and bruised the fetlocks and shins of
his front legs. At the end of his two-year-old season in
1913, during which he was undefeated, The Tetrarch had to
retire because his legs were so badly damaged.
***
Jockey Levi Barlingume, rode until 1932 when, at age 80, he
fell and broke his leg at Stafford, Kans., thus ending the
longest recorded career of any jockey.
***
The owners of the speedstar, Alsab, made one of the finest
deals in history. The horse they bought for $700 earned
$350,015 during its career.
***
History's greatest breeder was Darius of Persia (522-485
B.C.), who had more than 50,000 brood mares. Darius's
horses were half the size of today's.
RANDOM TIDBITS
The "invention" of language is not known except for
references in the Bible. It is not known what language Adam
and Eve spoke. The first mention of different languages is
the reference to the tower of Babel when different tongues
were bestowed.
***
The invention of writing, however, is credited to the
Sumerians of Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC. Their
descendants, the Sumero-Babylonians, developed the time
system that we use today: an hour divided into 60 minutes,
which are divided into 60 seconds.
***
Today, there are more than 2,700 different languages spoken
in the world, with more than 7,000 dialects. In Indonesia
alone, 365 different languages are spoken. More than 1,000
different languages are spoken in Africa.
***
The most difficult language to learn is Basque, which is
spoken in north-western Spain and south-western France. It
is not related to any other language in the world. Mandarin
is the most spoken language in the world, followed by
English. But as home language, Spanish is the second most
spoken in the world.
***
The youngest language in the world is Afrikaans, spoken by
South Africans. Dutch and German Protestants fled
persecution from the Roman Catholic Church in the 17th and
18th century to settle in the Dutch colony of Cape of Good
Hope on the southern point of Africa. By the early-20th
century Afrikaans had developed from Dutch, German and other
influences into a fully fledged language with its own
dictionaries.
***
The smallest country in the world is the Vatican. It also
is the only country where Latin:thumbsup: is the official language.
The "invention" of language is not known except for
references in the Bible. It is not known what language Adam
and Eve spoke. The first mention of different languages is
the reference to the tower of Babel when different tongues
were bestowed.
***
The invention of writing, however, is credited to the
Sumerians of Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC. Their
descendants, the Sumero-Babylonians, developed the time
system that we use today: an hour divided into 60 minutes,
which are divided into 60 seconds.
***
Today, there are more than 2,700 different languages spoken
in the world, with more than 7,000 dialects. In Indonesia
alone, 365 different languages are spoken. More than 1,000
different languages are spoken in Africa.
***
The most difficult language to learn is Basque, which is
spoken in north-western Spain and south-western France. It
is not related to any other language in the world. Mandarin
is the most spoken language in the world, followed by
English. But as home language, Spanish is the second most
spoken in the world.
***
The youngest language in the world is Afrikaans, spoken by
South Africans. Dutch and German Protestants fled
persecution from the Roman Catholic Church in the 17th and
18th century to settle in the Dutch colony of Cape of Good
Hope on the southern point of Africa. By the early-20th
century Afrikaans had developed from Dutch, German and other
influences into a fully fledged language with its own
dictionaries.
***
The smallest country in the world is the Vatican. It also
is the only country where Latin:thumbsup: is the official language.
I beg to differ. I had read elsewhere that Chippewa is the hardest language to learn because, to speak fluently, one must master the more than 10,000 verb tenses.
PlasmaTwa2
The Second-Hottest Man in my Mother's Basement
Well, no wonder I never heard of it :1orglaugh
Historylover, I'm not too sure, but I think the whole name of the country is actually 'Vatican City'.
:yesyes:
RANDOM TIDBITS
Americans eat more bananas than any other fresh fruit,
averaging about 26.2 pounds/person/year.
Apples are a distant second at 16.7 pounds/person/year.
***
There are 5 million more women than men in America! The
US is 49.1 percent male and 50.9 percent female.
***
At any given moment, there are 61,000 people airborne over
the U.S.
***
OUCH!
The normal static electricity shock that zaps your finger
when you touch a doorknob in the winter is usually between
10,000 and 30,000 volts!
You get "shocked" by static charge more in the winter be-
cause it is less humid and humidity usually helps to dis-
sipate static charge.
***
Alum, Alum, Aluminum
Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth's
crust. However, since it's never found in a pure state the
refining process makes it one of the more expensive metals.
***
According to Mythbusters...
if you fall/jump from 160 feet, your body experiences
285 G's, or 285 times the normal force of gravity, when
you hit the water.
To put this in context, the force your body experiences
in a normal car crash is 70 G's
Americans eat more bananas than any other fresh fruit,
averaging about 26.2 pounds/person/year.
Apples are a distant second at 16.7 pounds/person/year.
***
There are 5 million more women than men in America! The
US is 49.1 percent male and 50.9 percent female.
***
At any given moment, there are 61,000 people airborne over
the U.S.
***
OUCH!
The normal static electricity shock that zaps your finger
when you touch a doorknob in the winter is usually between
10,000 and 30,000 volts!
You get "shocked" by static charge more in the winter be-
cause it is less humid and humidity usually helps to dis-
sipate static charge.
***
Alum, Alum, Aluminum
Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth's
crust. However, since it's never found in a pure state the
refining process makes it one of the more expensive metals.
***
According to Mythbusters...
if you fall/jump from 160 feet, your body experiences
285 G's, or 285 times the normal force of gravity, when
you hit the water.
To put this in context, the force your body experiences
in a normal car crash is 70 G's
Wow! very interesting hodgepodge for today! :thumbsup:
This caught my eye:
Great news for all those single guys out there! :nanner:
This caught my eye:
Great news for all those single guys out there! :nanner:
RANDOM TIDBITS
A diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth, but
if it is placed in an oven and the temperature is raised
to about 1405 degrees Fahrenheit, it will simply vanish,
without even ash remaining. Only a little carbon dioxide
will have been released.
***
Diamonds are formed over a period of a billion or more
years deep within earth's crust - about 90 miles deep -
and is pushed to the surface by volcanoes. Most diamonds
are found in volcanic rock, called Kimberlite, or in the
sea after having been carried away by rivers when they
were pushed to the surface.
***
A diamond is 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral
on earth, corundum, from which rubies and sapphires are
formed. It was only during the 15th century that it was
discovered that the only way to cut diamonds was with other
diamonds. Yet, diamonds are brittle. If you hit one hard
with a hammer, it will shatter.
***
The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan, found in
South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It
was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2
carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40
carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless color
and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels.
***
Not all diamonds are white. Impurities lend diamonds a
shade of blue, red, orange, yellow, green and even black.
A green diamond is the rarest. It is not the rarest
gemstone, however. That title goes to a pure red ruby.
Diamonds actually are found in fair abundance; thousands
are mined every year. 80% of them are not suitable for
jewelry - they are used in industry. Only diamonds of
higher clarity are sourced to the jewelry stores.
***
A diamond carat differs from a gold carat. The gold carat
indicates purity - pure gold being 24 carats. One diamond
carat is 0.007055 oz. The word carat derives from the carob
bean. Gem dealers used to balance their scales with carob
beans because these beans all have same weight.
A diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth, but
if it is placed in an oven and the temperature is raised
to about 1405 degrees Fahrenheit, it will simply vanish,
without even ash remaining. Only a little carbon dioxide
will have been released.
***
Diamonds are formed over a period of a billion or more
years deep within earth's crust - about 90 miles deep -
and is pushed to the surface by volcanoes. Most diamonds
are found in volcanic rock, called Kimberlite, or in the
sea after having been carried away by rivers when they
were pushed to the surface.
***
A diamond is 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral
on earth, corundum, from which rubies and sapphires are
formed. It was only during the 15th century that it was
discovered that the only way to cut diamonds was with other
diamonds. Yet, diamonds are brittle. If you hit one hard
with a hammer, it will shatter.
***
The world's largest diamond was the Cullinan, found in
South Africa in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats uncut. It
was cut into the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.2
carats, the Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.40
carats, and 104 other diamonds of nearly flawless color
and clarity. They now form part of the British crown jewels.
***
Not all diamonds are white. Impurities lend diamonds a
shade of blue, red, orange, yellow, green and even black.
A green diamond is the rarest. It is not the rarest
gemstone, however. That title goes to a pure red ruby.
Diamonds actually are found in fair abundance; thousands
are mined every year. 80% of them are not suitable for
jewelry - they are used in industry. Only diamonds of
higher clarity are sourced to the jewelry stores.
***
A diamond carat differs from a gold carat. The gold carat
indicates purity - pure gold being 24 carats. One diamond
carat is 0.007055 oz. The word carat derives from the carob
bean. Gem dealers used to balance their scales with carob
beans because these beans all have same weight.
Whoever was the first person to do each of these things must have been really, really rich to go about destroying their diamonds!
When you're right, you're right.:glugglug:
RANDOM TIDBITS
In English tradition, Wednesday is considered the "best
day" to marry, although Monday is for wealth and Tuesday
is for health. Saturday is considered the unluckiest
wedding day!
***
A Swedish bride puts a silver coin from her father and a
gold coin from her mother in each shoe to ensure that she'll
never do without. Moroccan women take a milk bath to purify
themselves before their wedding ceremony. For good luck,
Egyptian women pinch the bride on her wedding day.
***
Diamonds set in gold or silver became popular as betrothal
rings among wealthy Venetians toward the end of the
fifteenth century. Seventeen tons of gold are made into
wedding rings each year in the United States!
***
Queen Victoria started the Western world's white wedding
dress trend in 1840 -- before then, brides simply wore their
best dress.
***
The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome,
where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride's head
for fertility's sake.
***
In many cultures around the world -- including Celtic, Hindu
and Egyptian weddings -- the hands of a bride and groom are
literally tied together to demonstrate the couple's commit-
ment to each other and their new bond as a married couple
(giving us the popular phrase "tying the knot").
In English tradition, Wednesday is considered the "best
day" to marry, although Monday is for wealth and Tuesday
is for health. Saturday is considered the unluckiest
wedding day!
***
A Swedish bride puts a silver coin from her father and a
gold coin from her mother in each shoe to ensure that she'll
never do without. Moroccan women take a milk bath to purify
themselves before their wedding ceremony. For good luck,
Egyptian women pinch the bride on her wedding day.
***
Diamonds set in gold or silver became popular as betrothal
rings among wealthy Venetians toward the end of the
fifteenth century. Seventeen tons of gold are made into
wedding rings each year in the United States!
***
Queen Victoria started the Western world's white wedding
dress trend in 1840 -- before then, brides simply wore their
best dress.
***
The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome,
where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride's head
for fertility's sake.
***
In many cultures around the world -- including Celtic, Hindu
and Egyptian weddings -- the hands of a bride and groom are
literally tied together to demonstrate the couple's commit-
ment to each other and their new bond as a married couple
(giving us the popular phrase "tying the knot").
Finally want to make an honest woman of me, huh?
Ooh! Ooh! When's that shindig going down?!? I'd LOVE to crash it!
Funny, you always struck me as the type to crash the honeymoon.
RANDOM TIDBITS
Created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914, the Olympic flag
contains five interconnected rings on a white background.
The five rings symbolize the five significant continents
and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be
gained from these international competitions. The rings,
from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and
red. The colors were chosen because at least one of them
appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The
Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games.
***
The Olympic medals are designed especially for each
individual Olympic Games by the host city's organizing
committee. Each medal must be at least three millimeters
thick and 60 millimeters in diameter. Also, the gold and
silver Olympic medals must be made out of 92.5 percent
silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams of gold.
***
During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the
procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team,
followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (in
the language of the hosting country), except for the last
team which is always the team of the hosting country.
***
In 1921, Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic
Games, borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father
Henri Didon, for the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius
("Swifter, Higher, Stronger").
***
James B. Connolly (United States), winner of the hop, step,
and jump (the first final event in the 1896 Olympics), was
the first Olympic champion of the modern Olympic Games.
***
In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from Marathon
to Athens (about 25 miles) to inform the Athenians the
outcome of the battle with invading Persians. The distance
was filled with hills and other obstacles; thus Pheidippides
arrived in Athens exhausted and with bleeding feet. After
telling the townspeople of the Greeks' success in the battle,
Pheidippides fell to the ground dead. In 1896, at the first
modern Olympic Games, held a race of approximately the same
length in commemoration of Pheidippides.
Created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914, the Olympic flag
contains five interconnected rings on a white background.
The five rings symbolize the five significant continents
and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be
gained from these international competitions. The rings,
from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and
red. The colors were chosen because at least one of them
appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The
Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games.
***
The Olympic medals are designed especially for each
individual Olympic Games by the host city's organizing
committee. Each medal must be at least three millimeters
thick and 60 millimeters in diameter. Also, the gold and
silver Olympic medals must be made out of 92.5 percent
silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams of gold.
***
During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the
procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team,
followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (in
the language of the hosting country), except for the last
team which is always the team of the hosting country.
***
In 1921, Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic
Games, borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father
Henri Didon, for the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius
("Swifter, Higher, Stronger").
***
James B. Connolly (United States), winner of the hop, step,
and jump (the first final event in the 1896 Olympics), was
the first Olympic champion of the modern Olympic Games.
***
In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from Marathon
to Athens (about 25 miles) to inform the Athenians the
outcome of the battle with invading Persians. The distance
was filled with hills and other obstacles; thus Pheidippides
arrived in Athens exhausted and with bleeding feet. After
telling the townspeople of the Greeks' success in the battle,
Pheidippides fell to the ground dead. In 1896, at the first
modern Olympic Games, held a race of approximately the same
length in commemoration of Pheidippides.
Were they hoping for more dead?
I never knew the gold medal was made primarily of silver.
I used to know this one, but I forgot. Who was it that changed the length of the Marathon from ~25 miles to 26.2 miles? I know that it's the distance from one place to another, but I'm having a brain fart and I can't think of the details. :helpme:
RANDOM TIDBITS
The first frozen dessert is credited to Emperor Nero of
Rome. It was a mixture of snow (which he sent his slaves
into the mountains to retrieve) and nectar, fruit pulp and
honey. Another theory is Marco Polo, 13th century bard and
adventurer, brought with him to Europe from the Far East
recipes for water ices....said to be used in Asia for
thousands of years.
***
Italo Marchiony sold his homemade ice cream from a pushcart
on Wall Street. He reduced his overhead caused by customers
breaking or wandering off with his serving glasses by baking
edible waffle cups with sloping sides and a flat bottom. He
patented his idea in 1903.
***
In 1983, Cookies 'N Cream, made with real Oreo cookies,
became an instant hit, climbing to number five on the list
of best-selling ice cream flavors. It also holds the
distinction of being the fastest growing new flavor in the
history of the ice cream industry.
***
The biggest ice cream sundae ever made was 12 feet high and
made with 4,667 gallons of ice cream and 7,000 pounds of
toppings in Anaheim, Calif., during 1985.
***
During the stuffy Victorian period, drinking soda water was
considered improper, so some towns banned its sale on
Sundays. An enterprising druggist in Evanston, IN,
reportedly concocted a legal Sunday alternative containing
ice cream and syrup, but no soda. To show respect for the
Sabbath, he later changed the spelling to "sundae."
***
Dolly Madison created a sensation when she served ice cream
as a dessert in the White House at the second inaugural ball
in 1812.
The first frozen dessert is credited to Emperor Nero of
Rome. It was a mixture of snow (which he sent his slaves
into the mountains to retrieve) and nectar, fruit pulp and
honey. Another theory is Marco Polo, 13th century bard and
adventurer, brought with him to Europe from the Far East
recipes for water ices....said to be used in Asia for
thousands of years.
***
Italo Marchiony sold his homemade ice cream from a pushcart
on Wall Street. He reduced his overhead caused by customers
breaking or wandering off with his serving glasses by baking
edible waffle cups with sloping sides and a flat bottom. He
patented his idea in 1903.
***
In 1983, Cookies 'N Cream, made with real Oreo cookies,
became an instant hit, climbing to number five on the list
of best-selling ice cream flavors. It also holds the
distinction of being the fastest growing new flavor in the
history of the ice cream industry.
***
The biggest ice cream sundae ever made was 12 feet high and
made with 4,667 gallons of ice cream and 7,000 pounds of
toppings in Anaheim, Calif., during 1985.
***
During the stuffy Victorian period, drinking soda water was
considered improper, so some towns banned its sale on
Sundays. An enterprising druggist in Evanston, IN,
reportedly concocted a legal Sunday alternative containing
ice cream and syrup, but no soda. To show respect for the
Sabbath, he later changed the spelling to "sundae."
***
Dolly Madison created a sensation when she served ice cream
as a dessert in the White House at the second inaugural ball
in 1812.