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."
I'm glad times have changed.
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.
Wow! I didn't know that.
The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
I know an older couple who have always slept in separate beds in the same room. They are very happy and healthy.
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
My kids lost all our Monopoly money.
Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
I can read and write very small print. I'm half deaf in one ear and can't hear good out of the other (too many screaming kids and loud music).
Coca-Cola was originally green.
They were smart to change it.
It is impossible to lick your elbow.
My oldest son is a contortionist. I'm going to see if he can do that. If anyone could it would be him.
The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
I wonder why that is.
The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...)
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
Cool!
The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
Crap, we have two.
The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
Amazing!
Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
Where can I get a hair analysis? Does that have anything to do with the color of your hair?
The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer
Never read all of that one. I don't like reading in dialects.
The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
Maybe I'll get to ride one someday.
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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
I always wondered about that.
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
My calculator doesn't have that many digits.
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.
I didn't know that.
Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence 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 did know that.
Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
I live about 35 miles from my birthplace.
Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession
We've never named our boats, but I guess redneck bass boats don't count.
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
Wow!
Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.
I didn't know about the fire escapes and laser printers.
Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
Yeah, but it will crystalize after a long time. You can liquify it again by heating it.
Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day
Typical!
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."
But they still had bedbugs.
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.
I've never tried mead.
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"
I did not know that.
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.
I did not know that either.
At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.
Yep, guilty as charged.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdgnieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh!
That was easier for me to read than normal writing. Maybe I'm dyslexic?
7 comments:
Did you mean, "Taht was esiear for me to raed tahn nramol wtirnig? Mbaye I'm dslxeiyc?"
Now I'm beginning to understand these word verifications.
I think it's less of a testament to the power of the human mind and maybe more of a result of all the bad spelling in the media. Have you read a newspaper lately? Who proofs that thing?
As for your boats, I'd name them Cletus and Brandine.
dh, you're talented! I siltl hvae a llitte trbloue wtih the wrod vericifatoins sotmeimes.
rainypete, LOL! And I'm always disappointed to see grammatical and spelling errors in papers and magazines. Not that I don't make mistakes though.
word ver. = xjeuvv (??)
Love the facts! Have you ever read Uncle John's Bathroom Reader? It is a collection of books filled with random facts, interesting stories and anecdotes.
Me again...lost last long comment..damn blogger.com!
GREAT POST! Love this type of info. Wish I would have known about the statues before leaving last week.
There were many ref:(s) to English phrases, saying, and word orgins it reminded me of some time I spent in London. I once went on a ALE/PUB TOUR...and we had a great guide that told us of hundreds of words and where they came from along our trip to each place and while we were there. You listed many of them, some not listed that remember was SPRING CLEANING, HANGOVER, etc. (drinking btw-mind blank)I wish to this day I would have recorded this, but did make notes..I think they may be in a box somewhere..always wanted to go again on that tour. So interesting where many of our everyday sayings came from and meaning behind it.
I highly recommend anyone going to London to take time to go on this tour...unbelievable what they reveal to you as well as what you witness...even the debtor prisons below the sidewalks and pub where the dictionary was written on the Thames.
That last paragraph, read straight through it...hummmm wonder myself.
Great post again......so much neat info....totally enjoyed it.
kristi, that sounds like a great book!
suzie, I'd love to go to London and take that tour. Sounds so fun and interesting.
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