Stuff You know...or didn't know...or didn't care to know - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 02-11-2006, 08:08 PM

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.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and
purple.

Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people
without killing them used to burn their houses down - hence the
expression "to get fired."

Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village".

There are two credit cards for every person in the United States.

Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on 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.

"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

The term "the whole 9 yards" came from WWII fighter pilots in the South
Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber
machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded
into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it
got "the whole 9 yards."

Steve M. · 02-11-2006, 09:17 PM

"Detroit" is a French word meaning "strait," a reference to the Detroit River. Antoine La Mothe Sieur de Cadillac, the Frenchman who founded Detroit in 1701, called the la place du detroit, and the pronunciation (day-TWA) got anglicized when the British, then the Americans, took it over.

James Buchanan is the only U.S. President who never married.

"Sleep tight" refered to colonial times, when beds had rope underpinnings to support mattresses. Thery were tightened regularly.

Nebraska is the only state with a one-house (unicameral) legislature.

Pope John XXIII was actually the twenty-first pope to take the name John. John XVI was an antipope, and there never was a John XX.

Jean Baptiste Pont du Sable, a Haitian mulatto, was the first permanent settler of what is now Chicago, establishing a trading post there.

Robert E. Lee never posed for paintings. Paintings of the Civil War general were all done from still photographs.

No one knows where Oregon's name came from.

Steve M. · 02-11-2006, 09:25 PM

Sources of GM brand names:

Chevrolet refers to its founders, two French brothers named Arthur and Louis Chevrolet.

Pontiac was named for a Michigan town, which in turn was named for an Ottawa Indian chief.

Buick was named for its founder, David Dunbar Buick.

Cadillac, of course, was named for the Frenchman who founded Detroit.

Saturn was named for the planet, not the god, because Saturn is a different kind of planet (those huge rings). Saturn was meant to be a different kind of division.

GMC Truck. . . Uh, that's pretty obvious.

Hummer is short for "humvee," which refers to the initials referring to the class of vehicle (I don't know what they mean!

).

Gone but not forgotten:

Oldsmobile was named for its founder Ransom Eli Olds, who later founded REO (his initials).

LaSalle was named for rthe French explorer who paddled down the Mississippi River in 1682.

theshark8777 · 02-11-2006, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve M.

Oldsmobile was named for its founder Ransom Eli Olds, who later founded REO (his initials).

And was the namesake for REO Speedwagon.

Also one again, the only state capital without a McDonalds is Montpelier, VT.

YoliUSA · 02-11-2006, 10:50 PM

Nintendo originally manufactured playing cards before moving on to making video games.

Volkswagen means "people's car".

Play-Doh was originally invented to serve as a wallpaper cleaner.

Ireneparalegal · 02-12-2006, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve M.

"Detroit" is a French word meaning "strait," a reference to the Detroit River. Antoine La Mothe Sieur de Cadillac, the Frenchman who founded Detroit in 1701, called the la place du detroit, and the pronunciation (day-TWA) got anglicized when the British, then the Americans, took it over.

James Buchanan is the only U.S. President who never married.

"Sleep tight" refered to colonial times, when beds had rope underpinnings to support mattresses. Thery were tightened regularly.

Nebraska is the only state with a one-house (unicameral) legislature.

Pope John XXIII was actually the twenty-first pope to take the name John. John XVI was an antipope, and there never was a John XX.

Jean Baptiste Pont du Sable, a Haitian mulatto, was the first permanent settler of what is now Chicago, establishing a trading post there.

Robert E. Lee never posed for paintings. Paintings of the Civil War general were all done from still photographs.

No one knows where Oregon's name came from.

I knew the third one abt "sleep tight"...i like these!

PZelda · 02-12-2006, 01:43 AM

Stewardess is the longest word that can be typed on the entire left side of the keyboard. Try it - pretty neat!

dawsongirl · 02-12-2006, 02:27 AM

A human being loses an average of 40 to 100 strands of hair a day.

A person will die from total lack of sleep sooner than from starvation. Death will occur about 10 days without sleep, while starvation takes a few weeks.

A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph.

According to German researchers, the risk of heart attack is higher on Monday than any other day of the week.

Nighthawk76 · 02-12-2006, 03:57 AM

I learned in one of my college biology courses that over the course of one night a person swallows like five spiders. This is no joke, I'm afraid. Not to mention totally gross.

Mr. Stefani · 02-12-2006, 04:24 AM

I didn't care to know that my mother and stepfather get "intimate" sunday nights.

welcome to my home

dawsongirl · 02-12-2006, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIM087

I didn't care to know that my mother and stepfather get "intimate" sunday nights.

welcome to my home

aww damn. need any earplugs?

Cactus Jack · 02-12-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoliUSA

Play-Doh was originally invented to serve as a wallpaper cleaner.

OMG that inspires me

Kid : MOMMYYYYY WHERE'S MY PLAY DOH?
'

MOm : Honey, IM using to clean the wallpaper, Ill get you some more

Penny Lane · 02-12-2006, 12:15 PM

The owl is the only animal that will eat a skunk.

Frost will only occur on a clear morning. If it is overcast, none.

If it is windy after sunset it will be windy the next day.

theshark8777 · 02-12-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack: Texas Smurftractor

OMG that inspires me

Kid : MOMMYYYYY WHERE'S MY PLAY DOH?
'

MOm : Honey, IM using to clean the wallpaper, Ill get you some more

Jack, that sounds like a personal experience!

David · 02-12-2006, 01:10 PM

Wow those are actually pretty interesting

02-11-2006, 08:08 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Stuff You know...or didn't know...or didn't care to know 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. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and purple. Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired." Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village". There are two credit cards for every person in the United States. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on 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. "I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. The term "the whole 9 yards" came from WWII fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

02-11-2006, 10:50 PM	#5
YoliUSA Fan of the Classics Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 13, 2002 Location: In a galaxy far, far away... Posts: 5,290	Nintendo originally manufactured playing cards before moving on to making video games. Volkswagen means "people's car". Play-Doh was originally invented to serve as a wallpaper cleaner.
	__________________ "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them". ~Walt Disney "Sometimes I just don't understand human behavior"- C-3PO My DVD's

02-12-2006, 12:15 PM	#13
Penny Lane Butter Pie Forum Icon Join Date: Jul 03, 2001 Location: Beneath the blue suburban skies Posts: 51,270	The owl is the only animal that will eat a skunk. Frost will only occur on a clear morning. If it is overcast, none. If it is windy after sunset it will be windy the next day.
	__________________ Vulgarity is no substitute for wit- Lady Violet Crawley

02-12-2006, 01:10 PM	#15
David mcphee. Forum Superstar Join Date: Jan 30, 2003 Location: jacksonville, FL. Posts: 28,115	Wow those are actually pretty interesting
	__________________ v. 39 - katharine and chris elliott, you rock.

02-11-2006, 09:17 PM	#2
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	"Detroit" is a French word meaning "strait," a reference to the Detroit River. Antoine La Mothe Sieur de Cadillac, the Frenchman who founded Detroit in 1701, called the la place du detroit, and the pronunciation (day-TWA) got anglicized when the British, then the Americans, took it over. James Buchanan is the only U.S. President who never married. "Sleep tight" refered to colonial times, when beds had rope underpinnings to support mattresses. Thery were tightened regularly. Nebraska is the only state with a one-house (unicameral) legislature. Pope John XXIII was actually the twenty-first pope to take the name John. John XVI was an antipope, and there never was a John XX. Jean Baptiste Pont du Sable, a Haitian mulatto, was the first permanent settler of what is now Chicago, establishing a trading post there. Robert E. Lee never posed for paintings. Paintings of the Civil War general were all done from still photographs. No one knows where Oregon's name came from.

02-11-2006, 09:25 PM	#3
Steve M. Back on the road to reality Forum Superstar Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 33,307	Sources of GM brand names: Chevrolet refers to its founders, two French brothers named Arthur and Louis Chevrolet. Pontiac was named for a Michigan town, which in turn was named for an Ottawa Indian chief. Buick was named for its founder, David Dunbar Buick. Cadillac, of course, was named for the Frenchman who founded Detroit. Saturn was named for the planet, not the god, because Saturn is a different kind of planet (those huge rings). Saturn was meant to be a different kind of division. GMC Truck. . . Uh, that's pretty obvious. Hummer is short for "humvee," which refers to the initials referring to the class of vehicle (I don't know what they mean! ). Gone but not forgotten: Oldsmobile was named for its founder Ransom Eli Olds, who later founded REO (his initials). LaSalle was named for rthe French explorer who paddled down the Mississippi River in 1682.

02-12-2006, 01:43 AM	#7
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Stewardess is the longest word that can be typed on the entire left side of the keyboard. Try it - pretty neat!

02-12-2006, 02:27 AM	#8
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	A human being loses an average of 40 to 100 strands of hair a day. A person will die from total lack of sleep sooner than from starvation. Death will occur about 10 days without sleep, while starvation takes a few weeks. A sneeze can exceed the speed of 100 mph. According to German researchers, the risk of heart attack is higher on Monday than any other day of the week.

02-12-2006, 03:57 AM	#9
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I learned in one of my college biology courses that over the course of one night a person swallows like five spiders. This is no joke, I'm afraid. Not to mention totally gross.

02-12-2006, 04:24 AM	#10
Mr. Stefani Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jul 15, 2001 Posts: 20,757	I didn't care to know that my mother and stepfather get "intimate" sunday nights. welcome to my home