...that if you are traveling at 55 mph, your car will go 56 feet before you can shift your foot from the accelerator to the bake?
...that frank oz provided the voice for jedi master yoda in "star wars?" the puppeteer also gives cookie monster, bert and ernie, and miss piggy (to name a few) their voices.
...that "happy birthday" was the first song to be performed in outer space, sung by the apollo ix astronauts on march 8, 1969?
...that the best way to find a rainbow is on summer evenings when rainstorms are breaking up? turn your back to the sun and look in the direction of your shadow. scan the sky in a forty-two degree angle.
...that in ancient japan, public contests were held to see who in a town could fart the loudest and longest? winners were awarded many prizes and received great recognition.
...that karate actually originated in india, but was developed further in china?
...that a healthy man who is good physical shape has about 12% to 15% body fat, and a woman in good shape has between 15% to 18%? the models used in most of the advertising for abdominal machines, on the other hand, have less than 10 percent body fat.
...that a typical bed usually houses over 6 billion dust mites?
...that there are no clocks in las vegas casinos?
...that a giraffe can go without water longer than a camel can?
...that about 50 bibles are sold every minute?
...that picasso could draw before he could walk and his first word was the spanish word for pencil?
...that it is not true that the great wall of china is the only man-made structure that can be viewed from space? many man-made objects, including the Ddutch polders, can be viewed from space.
...that auguste rodin died of frostbite in 1917 when the french government refused him financial aid for a flat, yet they kept his statues warmly housed in museums?
...that julius caesar was known as a great swimmer?
...that an exocannibal eats only enemies? an indocannibal eats only friends.
...that the bible, the world's best-selling book, is also the world's most shoplifted book?
...that earth is not round? it is slightly pear-shaped. the north pole radius is 44mm longer than the south pole radius.
...that a diamond will break if you hit it with a hammer? 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.
...that all the planets in the solar system rotate anticlockwise, except venus? it is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
...that leonardo da vinci could write with the one hand and draw with the other simultaneously?
...that george washington and thomas jefferson both grew hemp? ben franklin owned a mill that made hemp paper. the u.s. declaration of independence was written on hemp paper.
...that on average, you speak almost 5,000 words a day - although almost 80% of speaking is self-talk [talking to yourself]?
...that unless food is mixed with saliva you cannot taste it?
...that the names of the three wise monkeys are mizaru [see no evil], mikazaru [hear no evil], and mazaru [speak no evil]?
...that due to earth's gravity it is impossible for mountains to be higher than 15,000 meters?
...that seven suicides are recorded in the bible?
...that if you were to rub garlic on the heel of your foot, it would be absorbed by the pores and eventually show up on your breath?
...that there are more than 300 references to sheep and lambs, more than any other animal, in the bible's old testament, one of the earliest records of sheep?
...that residents of hawaii outlive residents of all other states, while louisianans are the most prone in the u.s. to die an early death?
...that it is not against the law in the u.s. to be a drug addict? in 1962, the supreme court called imprisonment for being an addict cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the bill of rights.
...that the first video game was pong, introduced in 1972 by noel bushnell, who then created atari?
...that the average bra size sold at frederick's of hollywood in 1966 was a 34B? today, it's a 36C.
...that natural gas has no smell? the odor is artificially added so that people will be able to identify leaks and take measures to stop them.
...that tarantulas can survive on a diet of one large insect a month?
...that the declawing of a pet cat involves surgery called an onychectomy, in which the entire claw and end bone of each toe of the animal are amputated? cat owners considering it should know that it's a controversial operation, with potential adverse physical and psychological effects on the cat.
...that antarctica has been declared an area for scientific studies?
...that edgar rice burroughs wrote 26 "tarzan" books without ever visiting Africa?
...that martial artist/actor jackie chan has broken his nose three times, most of the fingers in his hand, both cheekbones, his ankle, and his skull, due to his insistence in doing his own stunts?
...that raindrops aren't actually teardrop shaped? they're rounded at the top and flat on the bottom. [it's called gravity.]
...that the length of the finger dictates how fast the fingernail grows? for instance, the nail on your middle finger grows the fastest, and on average, your toenails grow twice as slow as your fingernails.
...that months that begin with a sunday will always have a "friday the 13th?"
...that most lipstick contains fish scales?
...that in the course of an average lifetime one will consume 70 assorted insects and 10 spiders while sleeping?
...that increased use of herbicide has created a jungle of at least 48 "super-weeds" that are resistant to chemicals?
...that studies show 45.5% of all murders occur as the direct result of arguments, notably arguments between family members and friends?
...that 35% of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married?
...that by law, every child in belgium must take harmonica lessons at primary school?
...that wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times?
...that rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, 2 rats could have over a million descendants?
...that "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the english language?
...that oscar wilde's last words were "this wallpaper is killing me?"
...that it is impossible to lick your own elbow?
...that orson welles made "citizen kane" when he was only 25 years old? the film is considered the greatest ever made by many critics.
...that if you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib? if you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die.
...that it is physically impossible for a pig to look up into the sky?
...that some men get turned on by the thought of their daughter's lactating breasts?
...that the standard u.s. dime has 118 ridges around its edge?
...that worcester, ma is the birthplace of the smiley face? resident harvey ball created the yellow icon in 1963 to help raise the spirits of those affected by a messy corporate takeover.
...that the dreidel wasn't always a hanukah toy, but once had a serious purpose? when the syrians forbid the study of the torah, jews would always try to keep a dreidel on hand. this way, if they were found studying, they could quickly pretend that they were merely playing a game with a spinning top.
...that industrialist robert ilg built a replica of the leaning tower of pisa outside chicago in 1931 and lived in it for many years? the replica is half the size of the original and still standing.
...that the red airplane-warning light on top of the vapitol records building in L.A. flashes out the word "hollywood" in morse code every 20 seconds?
...that the first new year's eve ball descended upon new york times square in 1907?
...that if it weren't for food coloring, coca-cola would be green?
...that "yo-yo" means "come back" or "return" in tagalog, the native language of the philippines?
...that the word "tip," as in a gratuity, is actually an acronym for "to insure promptness?"
...that edy's grand ice cream created the ice cream flavor rocky road after the stock market crash in october 1929? the company hoped the ice cream's whimsical name "would give people something to smile about."
...that in 1973, illinois was the first state to adopt martin luther king, jr. day as a state holiday, and new hampshire was the last state to adopt it in 1999?
...that the mona lisa has no eyebrows? her lack of brows is really just a sign of the times. it was common in renaissance florence to shave them off.
...that restaurants often use red as their primary decorating color because it's an appetite stimulant?
...that if you were to count continuously, 24 hours a day, it would take 31,688 years to reach a trillion?
...that the best selling girl scout cookie is the thin mint?
...that edgar allen poe can be considered the Godfather of the detective story? before the murders in the rue morgue and the mystery of marie roget were published, the genre was nonexistant in english or american literature.
...that al gore did not create the Web, but he did coin the phrase information superhighway in 1981?
...that the phrase "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" is a quote from chinese mythology? it refers to hiding your strength from others.
...that chocolate contains a chemical that helps counteract depression?
...that at one time, donald duck comics were almost banned in finland because he doesn't wear pants?
...that the glue on israeli postage stamps must be certified as kosher?
...that mount everest grows about 4 millimeters a year?
...that the phrase something fits to a "t," originated in the 1600s as "to a tittle"? a tittle was the dot over the letter "i," so the phrase actually meant "to a dot."
...that on the u.s. insterstate highway system if a route runs north and south, it is given an odd number, and if a route runs east and west it receives an even number?
...that peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite?
...that there are 293 ways to make change for a dollar?
...that a shark is the only fish that blinks with both eyes?
...that there are more chickens than people in the world?
...that on a canadian 2-dollar bill, the flag flying over parliament is an american flag?
...that almonds are a member of the peach family?
...that all 50 states are listed across the top of the lincoln memorial on the back of the $5 bill?
...that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear?
...that winston churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance?
...that an ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain?
...that tigers also have striped skin?
...that a dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours?
...that a goldfish has a memory span of 3 seconds?
...that it's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open?
...that in england, the speaker of the house is not allowed to speak?
...that mr. rogers is an ordained minister and was a sniper in vietnam?
...that 'stewardesses' is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand?
...that the albatross can sleep while flying and an eagle will mate while airborne?
...that the sound heard when one holds a seashell to one's ear does not come from the shell? it is the echo of the blood pulsing in the listener's ear.
...that the odds a person will be struck by a meteorite are 10 trillion to one?
...that prince vlad, also known as dracula, ruled walachia and transylvania, areas that are both part of modern day romania, from 1448-1476?