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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sandwich on October 16, 2005, 06:27:13 pm

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sandwich on October 16, 2005, 06:27:13 pm

[q]    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"

     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.

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

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

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

    Coca-Cola was originally green.

    It is impossible to lick your elbow.

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

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

     The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

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

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

    Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

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

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

     

    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

     

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

     

    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.

    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.  

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

    A. Their birthplace

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

    A. Obsession

    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

    Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?

    A. All invented by women.

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

    A. Honey

    Q. Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?

    A. Father's Day

    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."

    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.

    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"

    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.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~

    At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow (now you can vote in the poll: Did you try?)

     Don't delete this 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 byistlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
     Amzanig huh?[/q]

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: neo_hermes on October 16, 2005, 06:42:18 pm

interesting sandwich. very interesting. i like the wet your whistle bit.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Singh on October 16, 2005, 06:47:45 pm

*is sorely tempted to try to lick his elbow after reading that you cannot.

*resists temptation realizing how disgusting it is.

Still, damn funny and interesting!

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: aldo_14 on October 16, 2005, 06:48:38 pm

Does elbow just mean the little nob of bone that sticks out?  Or does the side count?

either way..........ow.

[q]
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.[/q]

That's a myth, though.

 'Golf' comes from the Scots word 'golve' / 'goff', which in turn comes from the medieval Dutch 'kolf', which itself means 'club'.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Anaz on October 16, 2005, 06:53:36 pm

Actually, you can lick your elbow. Knew a guy who could. He could mostly-dislocate his shoulder on a whim, and could lick the very tip of his elbow.

Title: Re: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: StratComm on October 16, 2005, 06:58:47 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Sandwich
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%

Um, Canada? :p

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Martinus on October 16, 2005, 07:12:51 pm

[color=66ff00]Back in time to the period of the Napoleonic War, the great gunships of this time carried many cannons on various gun decks. As an efficient method of storage and delivery of cannon balls to the cannon for firing, a "Monkey" (this term is used to define a table and/ or a rail) made of brass was used to hold the balls. In very cold temperatures the brass would contract or even break thus allowing the cannon balls to roll off the Monkey onto the gun deck. Hence the sailors would say "it is cold enough to freeze the balls off a Brass Monkey".


During the Hundred Years' War between France and England, the English longbow archers proved decisive.

So adept were they at decimating the enemy's ranks, that captured English archers supposedly had their index and middle fingers amputated to prevent them ever taking up their bows again.

On the battlefield, English archers responded to this custom by offering the French a jeering two-finger salute before employing their bow fingers to more deadly effect.
[/color]

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Grey Wolf on October 16, 2005, 07:25:43 pm

Quote

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 byistlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh?

It is qitue azaming.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: FireCrack on October 16, 2005, 07:29:23 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Anaz
Actually, you can lick your elbow. Knew a guy who could. He could mostly-dislocate his shoulder on a whim, and could lick the very tip of his elbow.

Actualy, i know a guy that can too...

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: WMCoolmon on October 16, 2005, 07:31:37 pm

I know a girl. :p

Quote

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 cause

Now that's very interesting...I'll have to remember that next time I see a statue (in a TV show).

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Rictor on October 16, 2005, 07:38:42 pm

And if the horse has both hind legs in the air, it means the person died hilariously as a result of the horse kicking him off.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Hippo on October 16, 2005, 07:45:10 pm

I have a friend who can lick his elbow...

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Jetmech Jr. on October 16, 2005, 07:49:34 pm

I knew a lot of these already. The "lick your elbow" and the "jumbled letters" one are particularly old, IIRC.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: phreak on October 16, 2005, 08:16:46 pm

i bet gene simmons could lick his own elbow.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Martinus on October 16, 2005, 08:18:23 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Rictor
And if the horse has both hind legs in the air, it means the person died hilariously as a result of the horse kicking him off.

[color=66ff00]Probably some heinous accident whilst playing Buckaroo™.
[/color]

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: mikhael on October 16, 2005, 09:06:55 pm

The statue of the man on the horse thing has been debunked numerous times, merely by pointing out statues of people that died in circumstances other than was actually known to have happened.

Coca-cola was originally a dark caramel color. This color is added today, it was a natural by-product of the original recipe. Fearing that the color would be offputting, it was originally sold in opaque cups, or in glasses with a shot of red (not green) food coloring. My trip to Atlanta was not wasted after all.

I'm pretty sure there are other inaccuracies in the above list too.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Goober5000 on October 16, 2005, 09:30:02 pm

Yeah, a whole bunch of them are urban legends/myths.

I didn't try to lick my elbow this time, but I did the first time I read it. :D

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: IceFire on October 16, 2005, 09:40:09 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Grey Wolf
It is qitue azaming.

Yes I learned about that one in one of my communication classes.  Its really quite fascinating what the mind does with words once they are internalized.  Its why upper and lowercase is so important as well.  The shape of the words is more important than each letter.

So you really could just do a shape of a word with a couple of letters (first and last) and you'd be reasonably right about it all.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: kode on October 17, 2005, 02:23:16 am

Quote

Originally posted by IceFire

Its why upper and lowercase is so important as well.  The shape of the words is more important than each letter.

especially the shape of the upper part of the words. which part of this phrase is easier to read, the upper or the lower (cover the other one...)?

(http://img.theswe.de/wordshape.jpg)

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sandwich on October 17, 2005, 02:26:40 am

Quote

Originally posted by mikhael
I'm pretty sure there are other inaccuracies in the above list too.

Doesn't surprise me - I didn't go check everything up there. :p

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sesquipedalian on October 17, 2005, 02:28:23 am

I can lick my elbow.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Ace on October 17, 2005, 03:35:26 am

Quote

Originally posted by PhReAk
i bet gene simmons could lick his own elbow.

...and Richard Simmons would lick Gene's ;7

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: kasperl on October 17, 2005, 04:22:58 am

Quote

Originally posted by aldo_14
Does elbow just mean the little nob of bone that sticks out?  Or does the side count?

either way..........ow.

[q]
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.[/q]

That's a myth, though.

 'Golf' comes from the Scots word 'golve' / 'goff', which in turn comes from the medieval Dutch 'kolf', which itself means 'club'.

Kolf != club in modern day Dutch, but geweerkolf is the butt of a rifle, so in medieavel Dutch....

Also, honey isn't  the only consumable that doesn't spoil. Wine won't spoil soon either, and there are some very long-lasting conservative methods. Dried food can last for ages, if you keep it away from water.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: aldo_14 on October 17, 2005, 06:51:14 am

[q]Kolf != club in modern day Dutch[/q]

I said medieval anyways :confused:

wine can spoil too, IIRC.  Particularly with oxidisation.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: kasperl on October 17, 2005, 07:49:12 am

Not if you keep a proper cork on it... Not all wine will be good for long, but the Romans had stuff that would last for over a hundred years. Then it ran out, rather than spoil.

I must've missed you saying medieaval then, sorry 'bout that.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: TrashMan on October 17, 2005, 08:42:07 am

Quote

Originally posted by mikhael
The statue of the man on the horse thing has been debunked numerous times, merely by pointing out statues of people that died in circumstances other than was actually known to have happened.

I assumed it was a sculptures practice to make statues like that...unles some outside influence changed that (threat, great respect)
Alltouhg when a king dies and his son wants his statue, would you dare make one that makes him look less powerfull and honorouble?

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sandwich on October 17, 2005, 08:43:20 am

Quote

Originally posted by kasperl
Also, honey isn't  the only consumable that doesn't spoil. Wine won't spoil soon either, and there are some very long-lasting conservative methods. Dried food can last for ages, if you keep it away from water.

I think it's meaning under any circumstances... i.e. honey cannot go bad, period.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Singh on October 17, 2005, 08:45:02 am

Quote

Originally posted by Sandwich


I think it's meaning under any circumstances... i.e. honey cannot go bad, period.

Score one for the evil bees then.

:nervous: :shaking:

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: StratComm on October 17, 2005, 08:52:29 am

Quote

Originally posted by kasperl
Also, honey isn't  the only consumable that doesn't spoil. Wine won't spoil soon either, and there are some very long-lasting conservative methods. Dried food can last for ages, if you keep it away from water.

All hail the mighty Twinkie, whose shelf-life is greater than that of the plastic packaging in which it is contained.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: kasperl on October 17, 2005, 08:56:10 am

Well, if you dilute it with water, it can ferment for sure, and pure honey left in an open container will probably ferment too. Depending on your definition, that's spoiling too.

Also, sugar solutions won't spoil either, unless they start to ferment, wich is the same case as honey.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Carl on October 17, 2005, 01:22:35 pm

Water doesn't spoil.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: karajorma on October 17, 2005, 01:34:18 pm

Yeah it does. I certainly wouldn't drink stagnant water. Besides why do you think mineral water has a best before date? :D

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: ChronoReverse on October 17, 2005, 02:11:31 pm

Quote

Pemmican is a highly nutritious food that did not spoil and was compact and easy to carry on long trips. It was the first instant food in Canada. One pound was equal in food value to four pounds of fresh meat. The Red River Metis supplied the Hudson's Bay Company with buffalo products, especially pemmican. The Company, in turn, used these goods for the provisioning of its northern posts and York boat brigades. Although pemmican was not the only type of food used by the voyageurs who manned the brigades, it was, nonetheless the major item in their diet. No abetter food could be found to carry along with you. No fire was needed to prepare it for eating, a small amount would go a long way and it could be eaten for weeks at a time in order to sustain energy and health. It could be stored for times of famine as successfully in Manitoba as it could in Texas.

I heard that even if pemmican grew maggots, it'd still be edible without any problems.  And this is in any climate condition too.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Goober5000 on October 17, 2005, 02:50:15 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Sesquipedalian
I can lick my elbow.

Picture?

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: aldo_14 on October 17, 2005, 04:34:34 pm

Oooh, you filth mongerer, you.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: karajorma on October 17, 2005, 04:40:08 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Sesquipedalian
I can lick my elbow.

Shocking the skills you pick up when you practice abstinence isn't it? :p

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Ace on October 17, 2005, 04:43:51 pm

Quote

Originally posted by karajorma


Shocking the skills you pick up when you practice abstinence isn't it? :p

Nah, that one comes from giving up mastrubation. :blah:

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Grey Wolf on October 17, 2005, 07:27:48 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Goober5000
Picture?

No. You don't say "Picture?". The correct phrase is:
Pics or ban!

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: icespeed on October 17, 2005, 08:40:13 pm

i can lick your elbow... anyone who volunteers, really.... but i don't think i will

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sandwich on October 17, 2005, 09:57:42 pm

Quote

Originally posted by karajorma
Besides why do you think mineral water has a best before date? :D

Mineral Water = Evian, which, when reversed, is.....

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Martinus on October 17, 2005, 10:00:45 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Sandwich


Mineral Water = Evian, which, when reversed, is.....

[color=66ff00]Evian = Mineral Water.

Of course.
[/color]

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Osiri on October 17, 2005, 11:38:35 pm

I  can lick my elbows but it hurts.

Combination of a very long tongue ;7  and a semi bad shoulder.  :(

I can't quite touch the tip but gimme a minute.

RUNS off to prove the factoid wrong.   :warp:

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Galemp on October 17, 2005, 11:52:09 pm

I am sorely tempted to look up all these on Snopes to reduce the amount of Stupid on the Internet. There are a few true and neat ones in there, yeah... but generally there's enough genuine weirdness without having to make any up. :blah:

Dah well. We got 14+ people to try to lick their elbows, and that's good enough for me. :)

Spoiler:

Golf: False http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/golf.htm
Flintstones: False http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/marykay.htm
Green Coke: False http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/green.asp
Card Kings: False http://www.snopes.com/history/world/cardking.htm
Equestrian Statues: False http://www.snopes.com/military/statue.htm

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Mongoose on October 18, 2005, 04:11:35 pm

I've heard the honey claim before, and I'll always call bull. Unless, that is, you don't count a jar of honey turning all brown and developing huge chunks after sitting in a pantry for a few years as "going bad." :p

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: karajorma on October 18, 2005, 06:34:01 pm

All that's happened there is that the sugars have crystalised out. Warm it up and stir and they'll all go back into solution again eventually.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Col. Fishguts on October 18, 2005, 07:01:42 pm

Yeah, that's crystallisation, makes it easier to keep the honey on the bread.

But I've seen stuff grow on top of honey in jars, some sort of fungus probably.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Setekh on October 18, 2005, 10:55:19 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Galemp

Spoiler:

Golf: False http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/golf.htm
Flintstones: False http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/marykay.htm
Green Coke: False http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/green.asp
Card Kings: False http://www.snopes.com/history/world/cardking.htm
Equestrian Statues: False http://www.snopes.com/military/statue.htm

[/B]

I love Snopes. Virtually all the 'stories' I get by email are on there in some form. I wonder who makes up urban myths, anyway...

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Carl on October 18, 2005, 11:08:29 pm

The city, I would assume.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sandwich on October 19, 2005, 02:48:53 am

:lol:

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Mongoose on October 19, 2005, 02:34:18 pm

Quote

Originally posted by karajorma
All that's happened there is that the sugars have crystalised out. Warm it up and stir and they'll all go back into solution again eventually.

That may be technically true, but that didn't stop me from instantly throwing said jar of honey in the trash. :p

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sesquipedalian on October 19, 2005, 04:31:44 pm

I have trick shoulders.  I can pop them partially out of my sockets at will.  It also allows me to wrap my arm all the way around my head and  hold the earlobe on the same side as the arm.  When I was little and skinny I could wiggle my finger into the shoulder socket most of the way to the first knuckle (doesn't work as well now, since I started growing muscle mass as a teenager).

Pictures may or may not be posted.

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Martinus on October 19, 2005, 04:55:54 pm

Quote

Originally posted by Galemp
Dah well. We got 14+ people to try to lick their elbows, and that's good enough for me. :)

[color=66ff00]Your real aim should be to see how many girls you can get that will try to touch both elbows together behind their backs.

Tell them it's impossible and watch as they try to prove you wrong. :yes:
[/color]

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sandwich on October 19, 2005, 05:21:53 pm

You're terrible. :rolleyes: :lol:

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Martinus on October 19, 2005, 06:15:59 pm

[color=66ff00](http://www.theorlandobloomfiles.com/amusement/bodydoubles/westley2.jpg)
Thankyou, I've worked very hard to become so.
[/color]

Title: You Cannot Lick Your Elbow, and Other Intersting Factoids
Post by: Sandwich on October 19, 2005, 06:40:06 pm

I said "terrible", not "dread". :p