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All external links last last verified 08/04/2006

Items on this page were researched by Bill Sanders (aka LYAO Editor or "-LE")

Each item in question is in a white box and listed first, followed by it's status, links to my sources (where I determined the fact was right, wrong, etc.), and any comments I might have on the subject in a light yellow box. ;-)

Any short notes written by me on quoted material are in square brackets ("[" and "]"]

NOTE: This page Under Construction/Conversion
This page has not been completely converted to OFPv2 Standards.
When this is completed, this paragraph will go away.
Meanwhile, all external links on this page open a new window.

AKA: Trivia - Verified/Refuted (see OFPv2's Teach Your Children Op/Rant piece)

 

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"

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 
 

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.

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 
 

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 
 

Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.

 

Status: (Probably) WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 
 

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

 

Status: (Probably) RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

This quote also appears as one of the "Fascinating facts" on various pages at Health24.com.

 
 

Coca-Cola was originally green.

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

It HAS been in a green BOTTLE ...

 
 

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

MOST people can't, though

 
 

The State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska

 

Status: RIGHT (2000-2004...)

Source(s):

Comment(s):

(Unless you consider DC a State - This complete table is for the FYI factor!)

Table 4-1: Commuting to Work: 2004
State Number of workers Percent Walked Mean travel time to work (minutes)
United States, total 130,831,187 2.4 24.7
District of Columbia 253,898 11.4 28.0
Alaska 294,731 6.7 18.0
Montana 444,381 5.7 16.3
New York 8,309,453 5.3 30.6
Vermont 315,232 5.3 21.4
North Dakota 322,631 4.1 15.4
Wyoming 253,989 4.1 17.3
South Dakota 382,707 3.8 15.8
Idaho 619,796 3.7 19.7
Maine 630,058 3.7 21.9
Massachusetts 3,058,926 3.5 26.4
Wisconsin 2,663,101 3.4 20.6
Washington 2,800,303 3.2 24.8
Pennsylvania 5,440,540 3.1 25.1
Hawaii 575,045 3.0 25.8
West Virginia 719,109 3.0 25.6
Oregon 1,603,299 2.9 21.4
Minnesota 2,562,390 2.8 22.3
Nebraska 874,980 2.8 16.5
Iowa 1,438,365 2.7 18.2
Nevada 1,072,900 2.7 22.6
New Jersey 3,915,995 2.7 29.4
Illinois 5,694,375 2.6 27.7
Colorado 2,206,223 2.5 23.5
New Hampshire 650,887 2.4 24.6
California 15,440,738 2.3 27.1
Utah 1,077,277 2.3 20.7
Kansas 1,324,617 2.2 18.0
Maryland 2,665,868 2.1 29.7
Arizona 2,427,059 2.0 23.4
Michigan 4,347,720 1.9 22.9
Missouri 2,671,219 1.9 23.3
Oklahoma 1,528,426 1.9 19.5
Connecticut 1,645,180 1.8 24.0
Indiana 2,834,649 1.8 21.8
New Mexico 823,958 1.8 20.1
Ohio 5,128,523 1.8 21.9
Arkansas 1,176,429 1.7 20.8
North Carolina 3,777,332 1.7 23.9
Rhode Island 492,837 1.7 23.1
Virginia 3,513,959 1.7 26.5
Delaware 383,007 1.6 23.2
Mississippi 1,176,194 1.6 21.7
South Carolina 1,845,763 1.6 22.4
Florida 7,490,353 1.5 25.4
Texas 9,763,122 1.4 23.8
Kentucky 1,751,782 1.3 22.7
Louisiana 1,874,914 1.3 23.9
Georgia 3,980,922 1.2 26.8
Tennessee 2,655,684 1.2 23.2
Alabama 1,930,841 1.0 23.8

NOTE: Data are for workers age 16 years and over. [Mean Travel Time will include driving, trains, bicycling, etc.]

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, available at http://www.census.gov/acs/www/ as of Dec. 21, 2005.

[My source: BTS (US Bureau of Transporation Statistics) | Table 4-1: Commuting to Work: 2004 (State Transportation Statistics 2005). Data was selected and copied from the page, dropped into an Excel spreadsheet, sorted by the WALKING column (descending), the Total US was moved to the top, unused columns where "hidden", and a couple of attempts were made to cut and paste from Excel to this page. When they didn't work, data was saved to a tab-delimited TXT file. THAT files was opened and tabs replaced with a tilde, then the data was cut and pasted here, and the table created using FrontPage "Convert Text to Table". Then borders were set, columns reformatted, and header and footers put back on. -bs]

 
 

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this ... )
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

"Wilderness" varies and is a LOT less, now (2006). To be sure, I could not find any real educational or government study links on this. As stated a number of places, it would help if we had "wilderness" defined -- Isn't Antarctica a "wilderness"?

So, if we include desert, jungle, mountains, etc. into the definition of wilderness, I believe the percentage for Africa is much higher. Again, we must know the definition before we can make any claims to a percentage.

And, remember, North America takes in Canada, the US, and Mexico. And depending on the definition, that percentage is probably wrong, too.

 
 

The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

First Link gives sizes, first year and annual thereafter costs. For Small-Medium dogs, $6400 is probably the low-end. This is assuming no sickness or emergencies, especially requiring hospitalization. I would guess this also does not include kenneling and grooming costs.

Second link shows yearly costs, first year cost and others. You will need a calculator and FLASH player.

 
 

The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000

 

Status: UNKNOWN/OUTDATED(?)

Source(s):

Comment(s):

Based on the date referenced in the link (bef 9/11/2001) and the problems the airline industry's currently having (01/2006), I'd say there are fewer, now.

 
 

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

 

Status: UNKNOWN

Source(s):

Comment(s):

First link says it's questionable. Second says it's "probably true". T hird says it's a "a subtle "blonde" joke".

YOU make the call!

 
 

The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

From "The First Typewriter", above:

"Among the first users was Mark Twain, who fiddled around with it before putting it aside. Yes, Twain did become the first person to submit a novel in typed form to the publisher, but that wasn't until much later ("Life on the Mississippi,"1883) , and he didn't type it himself... it was a typed copy of his handwritten manuscript. Twain fans, by the way, might cite his autobiography, which says "Tom Sawyer" was his first book submitted in typescript. Not so. The old fella remembered it wrong, and careful research by Twain historians has proven otherwise."

The second link, above, shows a sample (or two) of Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer" manuscript, with comments from the publisher.

 
 

The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.

 

Status: RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None.

 
 

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
 

Status: RIGHT [at one time]

Source(s):

Comment(s):

"Represents" may be the wrong word. Maybe at one time...

The last paragraph of the Wikipedia Link (#1 above) lists them differently: "... the kings of spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs are David, Alexander, Caesar and Charles (Charlemagne), respectively."

However, later, in the fourth paragraph of the Wikipedia Link (#2, above) says, "The United States Playing Card Company [see USPC link, above] suggests that in the past, the King of Hearts was Charlemagne, the King of Diamonds was Julius Caesar, the King of Clubs was Alexander the Great, and the King of Spades was the Biblical King David."

 
 

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

 

Status: RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

NOTE: The calculation shows the singles digit as "0", but 1x1 = 1, so ... It's a "rounding" error, huh?

 
 

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.

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 
 

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.

 

Status: (probably) WRONG

Source(s):

  • governpub.com: Founding Documents>>Declaration of Independence

    The full Declaration was rewritten somewhat in general session prior to its adoption by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House. This version was only signed by the President of the Congress John Hancock and the Secreatary [sic] Charles Thomson. A famous signing ceremony, often attributed to July 4th, actually took place on August 2nd.

    ...

    On July 19, 1776, Congress ordered a copy be handwritten for the delegates to sign. This copy of the Declaration was produced by Timothy Matlack, assistant to the secretary of Congress. Most of the delegates signed it on August 2, 1776, in geographic order of their colonies from north to south, though some delegates were not present and had to sign later. Two delegates never signed at all. As new delegates joined the congress, they were also allowed to sign. A total of 56 delegates eventually signed. This is the copy on display at the National Archives.

    My highlighting -bs

     
  • NARA | The National Archives Experience - "The Declaration of Independence: A History"

Comment(s):

As noted and highlighted in the quote from the first link, above, The Declaration was signed by only Hancock and Thomson on the July 4, 1776 when it was adopted, and the famous "signing ceremony" depicted in paintings and movies, occurred August 2, 1776. This is in line with the trivia piece.

HOWEVER, no where that I found (except in duplicate trivia lists), was it mentioned that the last signature was affixed five years later. After it was signed, it was printed and moved around the country with Congress (see the NARA link for more.) And, again, there's no mention of any signatures being affixed after the August 2, 1776 ceremony. (In fact, two delegates, apparently, never DID sign it.)

Personally, I would think that if the five year statement were true and verifiable, that the two links, above, would include that information.

If you find something about it I missed, or find proof from a reliable source elsewhere, please let me know.

 
 

Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace

 

Status: RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

It's also noted that a majority live on US Coastlines - see American Association of Petrolium Geologists - Division of  Professional Affairs - Testimony May 14, 2001 (See the "Implications for Natural Gas" item, last paragraph (2001).)

And about 66% live within 100 miles of a coastline - see Retirement Living News - April 2004 - Newsletter - "Many Retirees Plan to Live Near the Coast" (See paragraph #2)

 
 

Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession

 

Status: WRONG (OUTDATED)

Source(s):

Comment(s):

The Boat Owners Association of The United States (boatUS.net) seems to have the definitive list for boat names (Top 10 lists from 1991)

 
 

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

 

Status: RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

Think about it...

  • There are no "A"s in any of the single-digit or teen numbers (0-19)
  • There are no "A"s in any of the 10s digits (20-90) and these are hyphenated with the singles digits when spelling out (21-99)
  • "Hundred" doesn't have an "A" in it, and all numbers between 100-999 are spelled using prior spellings
  • The FIRST time you hit a number with an "A" in it is "one thousAnd".

It WAS pointed out on a board that it depends...

Technically, if you are counting...

  • ... backward from 0, then "negAtive whatever" fits the bill
  • ... between 0 and 1, "one thousAndth" would, too.

Then again, TECHNICALLY, if you are not using English ... smiley - wink

I think the "spirit" of the question is using "counting" numbers in English.

 
 

Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.

 

Status: TECHNICALLY FALSE

Original Source(s):

Original Comment(s):

This site says all of the items listed but laser printers were invented by women (see the page), though other sites say even this is so (without sources).

This one required MUCH more research (see below)

After the following research, the status was changed from POSSIBLY to TECHNICALLY FALSE (These "true" facts are listed in many women's articles, speeches, etc. However, I have found references that state that while women (and blacks) helped to significantly IMPROVE some of these items, they did not INVENT them. The word "invented" is what caused me to state this is FALSE. (See below)

Additional information:

There have always been women inventors who have solved problems and improved their lives and the lives of others with their inventions. In the past, however, many women were afraid of what others would think if they were independent--or if they said they had invented something. Many female inventors allowed men to use their ideas and receive patents and credit for their inventions. An example is Catherine Greene, who helped Eli Whitney invent the cotton gin in 1792, but allowed him to receive sole credit for the idea and the patent. Sybilla Masters, who invented a corn cleaning and curing machine in 1715, was only able to obtain a patent under her husband's name, because until the late 1800's most states maintained a married woman had no legal right or power to control her own property.

The first woman to receive a patent in her own name was Mary Dixon Kies. In 1809 Ms. Kies was granted a patent for inventing the process of weaving straw with silk or thread. Since then the number of women inventors receiving patents has grown steadily. Today, women hold nearly 10% of all patents worldwide.

Source: Invent Iowa - Women as Inventors

 

A woman invented the Bullet-Proof Vest

 

Status: UNKNOWN

Source(s):

Comment(s):

This article was posted 04/15/2003, and states:

"The Kevlar inside their vests was invented in 1965 by former DuPont chemist Stephanie Kwolek of Wilmington, Del."

Ms Kwolek is normally the person I've seen with this credit. And while I agree that the Kevlar she invented vastly IMPROVED bulletproof vests, she didn't invent THEM.

Bulletproof vests have been around since "The Untouchables" era and well before. Flak Jackets were used in WWII, and if I remember what I saw on the History Channel, tanks came into being in WWI (with steel helmets, etc.). I could not find any reference to who originally developed or actually invented the very FIRST bulletproof vest.

 

A woman invented the fire-escape.

 

Status: UNKNOWN

Source(s):

  • (see comments)

Comment(s):

Fire Escapes invented:

This one can be confusing.

  • If we define a "fire escape" as "an apparatus that will allow a human to 'escape' from a fire on an upper-level [and I'm talking only the 2nd-4th floor], then "D.Marie" did so in 1776. I could not find any other information about "D.Marie", like gender.
  • If we define "fire escape" as the more recent "iron skeleton" with ladders leading from floor-to-floor, I could not find who invented this. It might very well have been a woman.

Apparently, extension ladders, supported and otherwise, were considered "fire-escapes" and numerous people, some male, some female, invented their own versions. Yes. Females DID invent fire-escapes, but the FIRST fire-escape?

If you have information on this from a RELIABLE source, let me know, please.

 

A woman invented Windshield Wipers

 

Status: RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

Here there's no disagreement. Mary Anderson invented them, and that's that.

 

A woman invented the laser printer

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

About.com's Inventors guide says laser printers were invented by men.

 
 

Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey

 

Status: RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

Lumby Link also includes information on how to "bring back" honey that has crystallized.

 
 

Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
A: Father's Day

 

Status: RIGHT

Source(s):

Comment(s):

Second link - Nice article. (Main page version not laid out right.)
If it tries try to print, simply close the Print window and read.

 
 

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."

 

Status: (probably) WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

Are we SURE this didn't have to do with drinking? ;-)

 
 

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.

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 
 

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"

 

Status: POSSIBLE

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 
 

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.

 

Status: DOUBTFUL

Source(s):

Comment(s):

None

 

And Finally ...

At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow

 

Status: UNKNOWN

Source(s):

  • none

Comment(s):

Not I... I KNOW I can't do it! LOL
But don't you wonder what sampling they took to get the percentage?

 
 

Don't delete this [the following] just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read it.

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?

 

Status: WRONG

Source(s):

Comment(s):

While it's possible to read the paragraph, the item, itself, states a source (Cambridge), and the Matt Davis' article, says:

"[Mr Davis works in the] Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, in Cambridge, UK, a Medical Research Council unit that includes a large group investigating how the brain processes language. If there's a new piece of research on reading that's been conducted in Cambridge, I thought I should have heard of it before..."

With that being the case - the source being faked or wrong - this item is WRONG in my mind.

However, the writer also states:

"I've written this page, to try to explain the science behind this meme. There are elements of truth in this, but also some things which scientists studying the psychology of language (psycholinguists) know to be incorrect. I'm going to break down the meme, one line at a time to illustrate these points, pointing out what I think is the relevant research on the role of letter order on reading. Again, this is only my view of the current state of reading research, as it relates to this meme. If you think I've missed something important, let me know."

In an update, Mr Davis states he believes he has found the originator:

"I've found a www page that tracked down the original demonstration of the effect of letter randomisation to Graham Rawlinson. Graham wrote a letter to New Scientist in 1999 (in response to a paper by Saberi & Perrot (Nature, 1999) on the effect of reversing short chunks of speech). You can read the letter here, or in a link to New Scientist, here. In it Graham says:

"This reminds me of my PhD at Nottingham University (1976), which showed that randomising letters in the middle of words had little or no effect on the ability of skilled readers to understand the text. Indeed one rapid reader noticed only four or five errors in an A4 page of muddled text."

There's also proof that the theory is WRONG

 

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