There is a stigma attached to the quest for trivia, the thirst for useless information, the knowledge of lots of stuff. People with an unquenchable desire for knowledge are portrayed in movies and on TV as spectacle-wearing misfits, spewing detailed unrelated facts at a mile a minute, oblivious to those around him staring openmouthed with disbelief. These, the nerds, are fascinated with knowledge, the need to know what makes things work, how far one heavenly body is from another, how two birds which look alike can be different species, and assume anyone around them is equally interested in this sort of random information. Some of these are the people who paid attention in class, asked the teacher more detailed questions, got scholarships to top schools, and genuinely, passionately, enjoy learning. Some of these are just everyday people, closet nerds, who whoop tail at Trivial Pursuit parties, actually get all of the bizarre jokes on the Simpsons, and keep their ears open for any useless random trivia so soak up for use for a more appropriate time. Such as, making a webpage entirely devoted to the pursuit of useless knowledge.

I find that I need outlets for this thirst for trivia. We play Trivial Pursuit, You Don't Know Jack, and Mad Trivia. Sometimes I'll watch VH1, which is unbeatable for musical trivia with the develpment of Pop-Up videos, and Behind the Music, which is a biographical account of bands and musicians. MTV has followed suit with BioRhythm, which is another useful trivia input if you like biographical documentary programs (I do). In order to learn about a broader range of subjects I've gone back to school, I design webpages which brings me into close contact with different aspects of small businesses, and read books like a maniac. My only outlet when a Trivial Pursuit game is not forthcoming is to spew this knoweldge to uninterested parties, and so to save them the boredom of my interest in so many things I have created this page. Enjoy.

Don't miss my A Rose by Any Other Name page for some celebrity real names, to empower you with more useless trivia to spew as you go through your day. Feel free to send me your own favorite party-halting random trivia, the kind that starts out, "Did you know...?" Also, I add here that I cannot guarantee any of the following to be correct. As in life, this is information I pick up all over the place and frankly, I could get someting wrong and can't begin to remember all of my sources. If you want to disprove or correct anything please e-mail me and I'll be glad to look into changing it. Now, let the useless knowledge begin.

• The last day of the 20th century will be December 31, 2000. The new milennium will actually begin on January 1, 2001. There is no year 0. The current calendar began with 1 A.D., the year immediately following 1 B.C.
  
  
• The 60-atom C₆₀ carbon molecule is called Buckminsterfullerine, because its shape is closely reminiscent of the geodesic domes used so often in Buckminster Fuller designs. The shape of this molecule is referred to as a Buckyball.
  
  
• Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz toured for a year with a series of comedy routines and skits to promote the idea of a comedy show starring the two of them for doubtful TV executives. Astounding reviews and sold-out audiences proved to the producer he should shoot a pilot.
  
  
• Irish-born actor Pierce Brosnan's late wife Australian actress Cassandra Harris played the role of a James Bond girl, Countess Lisl, in For Your Eyes Only. Brosnan had been sought for the role of James Bond since 1986, but was not eligible until his release from his contract with the popular TV series Remington Steele. He finally took the role of James Bond in Goldeneye in 1994, and since then in Tomorrow Never Dies in 1998. Cassandra died after a battle with ovarian cancer in 1991.
  
  
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was knighted in 1902. The official reason given for this honor was that ot was for his work on a pamphlet in war propaganda regarding the war in South Africa. Some think he may have actually received this honor for the publication of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
  
  
• Also in 1902, and related to the above, is that 92% of all cocaine sold in major US cities was in the form of an ingredient in over-the-counter tonics and medications. Sherlock Holmes did both morphine and cocaine. Both were legal at the time and often included in the patent medications found at your local drug store.
  
  
• Sickle-cell anemia is a serious genetic blood disease in which red blood cells develop in a shape which cannot carry oxygen properly. In any area where malaria is prevalent, malaria is passed from person to person by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes prefer oxygenated blood over anemic (who wouldn't?), and therefore anemic individuals don't suffer from mosquito bites or contract malaria. Unfortunately, instead of malaria they die from sickle-cell anemia. It is the carriers of this disease who benefit. Their red blood cells are a mixture of normal-- enough to live normally at sea level, and sickle-cell-- enough that they are less likely to be bitten by mosquitoes and can live comfortably in a malaria-prone region. Since the non-carriers die (they either have-sickle cell anemia and don't live to reproduce, or they have healthy blood but contract malaria and don't live to reproduce), there are regions in Africa where nearly every adult is a carrier for sickle cell anemia. If they weren't, they couldn't live there amongst the malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
  
  
• Similarly, you won't find sickle-cell anemia in places of high altitude. Anemia of any sort, even the combined blood cells of carriers, means that the blood can't transport enough oxygen at high altitudes. An individual who comes into a high altitude region with a blood amemia will die, including carriers. This effectively wipes out sickle-cell anemia in high-altitude populations. It is also why your blood should be tested before you can join any mountain-climbing expeditions, since you could live comfortably in many parts of the world with combined blood (meaning you are a carrier) and never know it.
  
  
• President Calvin Coolidge once invited friends from his hometown to dine at the White House. Worried about their table manners, the guests decided to do everything that Coolidge did. This strategy succeeded, until coffee was served. The president poured his coffee into the saucer. The guests did the same. Coolidge added sugar and cream. His guests did, too. Then Coolidge bent over and put his saucer on the floor for the cat. (Erik Oleson, Copyright 1996.)
  
  
• Mr. Wrigley's chewing gum was originally seen as a free promotional item for his regular product-- Wrigley's Baking Powder.

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