Weird facts/myths/urban legends of the day - 12/8/05

Antmeister · 12-08-2005, 11:13 AM

Discover the truth for yourself. Some of these are true and some are not.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great;Hearts-Charlemagne and 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 he 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.

Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired."

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.

"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

The term "the whole 9 yards" came from WWII fighter pilots in the Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."

Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.

The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law that stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain.

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds.

The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

David Prowse was the guy in the Darth Vader suit in Star Wars. He spoke all of Vader's lines, and didn't know that he was going to be dubbed over by James Earl Jones until he saw the screening of the movie.

The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the General Purpose" vehicle, GP.

The Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, has twice as many bathrooms as is necessary. When it was built in the 1940s, the state of Virginia still had segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks and whites.

The cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

Cat's urine glows under a blacklight.

Ksyrup · 12-08-2005, 11:16 AM

Are we in a time warp?

Blade6119 · 12-08-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antmeister71

Discover the truth for yourself. Some of these are true and some are not.

Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired."

An ostrich's eye is bigger that it's brain.

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds.

The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the General Purpose" vehicle, GP.

The Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, has twice as many bathrooms as is necessary. When it was built in the 1940s, the state of Virginia still had segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks and whites.

The cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

Those are the ones i think are fake...the rest seemed on the up and up

GreenMonster · 12-08-2005, 11:19 AM

The name Jeep did not come from the abbreviation GP, R. Lee Ermey taught me that on Mail Call on the History Channel..

David Prowse spoke the lines, but knew that he wasn't gonna be the final voice of Darth Vader..

dacman · 12-08-2005, 11:21 AM

Quote:

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in he 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 remember this one on snopes, it's not true.

TLK · 12-08-2005, 11:21 AM

Alan Thicke composed the themes for the television shows "The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes", but unfortunately not "Growing Pains".

Hurst2112 · 12-08-2005, 11:23 AM

I lived on a farm when I was a kid. We had free-range chickens. Those suckers would fly to the tops of the cottonwood trees all the time.

I once watched 1 fly across a hay field which was probably 300 yards wide. I can honestly say that it was in the air for over 13 seconds.

QuikSand · 12-08-2005, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antmeister71

"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

Yo?

No.

Go! (That one's for certain)

Hurst2112 · 12-08-2005, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Yo?

No.

Go! (That one's for certain)

I think they meant where the noun is 'understood'.

(You) Go!

complete meaning subject and predicate.

Antmeister · 12-08-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Are we in a time warp?

LOL! Ummm....what are you talking about?

QuikSand · 12-08-2005, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

I think they meant where the noun is 'understood'.

(You) Go!

complete meaning subject and predicate.

I understand the notion of an understood subject. I just don't think the people who come up with these odd little lists of trivia/old wives' tales/falsehoods deserve all that much credit for really possessing true command over the English language.

Quote:

Originally Posted by same source

An ostrich's eye is bigger that it's brain.

I rest my case.

JeeberD · 12-08-2005, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dacman

I remember this one on snopes, it's not true.

http://www.snopes.com/military/statue.htm

Claim: The number of hooves lifted into the air on equestrian statues reveals how the riders died.

Status: False.

cartman · 12-08-2005, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antmeister71

Discover the truth for yourself. Some of these are true and some are not.
The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

Chalk this one up to urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/airstrip.asp

saldana · 12-08-2005, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeberD

http://www.snopes.com/military/statue.htm

Claim: The number of hooves lifted into the air on equestrian statues reveals how the riders died.

Status: False.

glad i read the snopes article before posting, i was about to say that if this is false, then the national park tourguides at Gettysburg are all lying

Maple Leafs · 12-08-2005, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antmeister71

"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

And "I do" is the longest sentence!

(rim-shot)

Antmeister · 12-08-2005, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

And "I do" is the longest sentence!

(rim-shot)

Nice one.

Rando · 12-08-2005, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antmeister71

Discover the truth for yourself. Some of these are true and some are not.

The term "the whole 9 yards" came from WWII fighter pilots in the Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."

Common ammunition belts used by .50 caliber equiped USAAF and USN fighters in WWII.

Code:

Rounds		Length		Aircraft
200 rounds	15' 8"		P-39C/D
240 rounds	18' 9"		F4F-4
250 rounds	19' 7"		P-40B
267 rounds	20' 10"		P-47D (typical)
270 rounds	21' 2"		P-51D (outboard)
280 rounds	21' 11"		P-51B (outboard)
300 rounds	23' 6"		P-40E
350 rounds	27' 5"		P-51B (inboard)
375 rounds	29' 4"		F4U (outboard)
400 rounds	31'		F6F, F4U (inboard), P-38, P-51D (inboard)
425 rounds	33' 3"		P-47D (maximum)
450 rounds	35' 3"		F4F-3, FM2

Out of all of the above, the only one which really comes close to (but not exactly as claimed) 27 feet is the inboard belt for the P-51B. Only two of the four belts carried by the aircraft would have been this length (the other two would have run out after "giving them the whole 7 and 1/3 yards"). Also, there were only 4 U.S. fighter groups which operated the P-51 in the Pacific theater, and from what I can find they flew mostly (if not exclusively) P-51Ds until the arrival of the P-51H.

Grammaticus · 12-08-2005, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rando

Common ammunition belts used by .50 caliber equiped USAAF and USN fighters in WWII.

Code:

Rounds		Length		Aircraft
200 rounds	15' 8"		P-39C/D
240 rounds	18' 9"		F4F-4
250 rounds	19' 7"		P-40B
267 rounds	20' 10"		P-47D (typical)
270 rounds	21' 2"		P-51D (outboard)
280 rounds	21' 11"		P-51B (outboard)
300 rounds	23' 6"		P-40E
350 rounds	27' 5"		P-51B (inboard)
375 rounds	29' 4"		F4U (outboard)
400 rounds	31'		F6F, F4U (inboard), P-38, P-51D (inboard)
425 rounds	33' 3"		P-47D (maximum)
450 rounds	35' 3"		F4F-3, FM2

Out of all of the above, the only one which really comes close to (but not exactly as claimed) 27 feet is the inboard belt for the P-51B. Only two of the four belts carried by the aircraft would have been this length (the other two would have run out after "giving them the whole 7 and 1/3 yards"). Also, there were only 4 U.S. fighter groups which operated the P-51 in the Pacific theater, and from what I can find they flew mostly (if not exclusively) P-51Ds until the arrival of the P-51H.

My understanding of the term "the whole nine yards", comes from the length of a formal wedding train. If the girl (or guy in California, Maryland or Mass.) has a wedding train nine yards long, it implies the wedding was extravegant and no detail was left undone. They went the Whole Nine Yards.

ThunderingHERD · 12-09-2005, 12:18 AM

Apparently we don't have a definitive answer for where the phrase "whole nine yards" comes from, although both theories mentioned here were rejected by The Straight Dope.

Personally, I think that it refers to football, and was originally meant ironically.

Antmeister · 12-09-2005, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I understand the notion of an understood subject. I just don't think the people who come up with these odd little lists of trivia/old wives' tales/falsehoods deserve all that much credit for really possessing true command over the English language.

If you check any .edu site, it does state that "I am." is the shortest complete sentence. I think the key word is complete. The shortest sentence is "Go!", but it is not the shortest complete sentence. In this particular case, this one looks like it is a fact.

Glengoyne · 12-09-2005, 01:28 AM

I really thought that David Prowse didn't know about James Earl Jones until the premiere. I guess you just can't trust those Hollywood Hype shows for anything.

Grammaticus · 12-09-2005, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

I really thought that David Prowse didn't know about James Earl Jones until the premiere. I guess you just can't trust those Hollywood Hype shows for anything.

It's really funny to listen to the Prowse lines, it's on one of the extras in the CD set. It just sounds all jacked up. Makes Vader sound like a wimp.

ThunderingHERD · 12-09-2005, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antmeister71

Discover the truth for yourself. Some of these are true and some are not.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great;Hearts-Charlemagne and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

False

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

True

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in he 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.

False

Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired."

False.

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.

False, if only for the fact that Charles Thomson never signed the Declaration. Hancock, as president of the Continental Congress and per procedure, was the only signee on July 4th, the date it was adopted.

"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

Debatable.

The term "the whole 9 yards" came from WWII fighter pilots in the Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."

Probably false.

Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.

Hersheys.com says: "it's not known exactly how KISSES got their name, it is a popular theory that the candy was named for the sound or motion of the chocolate being deposited during the manufacturing process."

The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law that stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.

False.

An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain.

True.

The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds.

Don't know, couldn't find any reputable source or refutation.

The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

False.

David Prowse was the guy in the Darth Vader suit in Star Wars. He spoke all of Vader's lines, and didn't know that he was going to be dubbed over by James Earl Jones until he saw the screening of the movie.

Prowse claims this is true, Lucas claims it's not.

The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the General Purpose" vehicle, GP.

Probably false.

The Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, has twice as many bathrooms as is necessary. When it was built in the 1940s, the state of Virginia still had segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks and whites.

I had never heard this one before, but it appears to be true. The Pentagon was never actually segregated, however.

The cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

Dunno, found a reputable source that says it burns 18.05 tons per hour. If anyone wants to do the math, be my guest. Also of note than imperial gallons are slightly larger than US gallons.

Cat's urine glows under a blacklight.

Apparently true.

The majority of items you see circulated on lists like this are apocryphal. Aren't there enough amazing but true facts in this world?

Antmeister · 12-09-2005, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderingHERD

The majority of items you see circulated on lists like this are apocryphal. Aren't there enough amazing but true facts in this world?

Nice job there!

12-08-2005, 11:16 AM	#2
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	Are we in a time warp? __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

12-08-2005, 11:23 AM	#7
Hurst2112 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Minneapolis	I lived on a farm when I was a kid. We had free-range chickens. Those suckers would fly to the tops of the cottonwood trees all the time. I once watched 1 fly across a hay field which was probably 300 yards wide. I can honestly say that it was in the air for over 13 seconds. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/longliveanalog

12-09-2005, 12:18 AM	#19
ThunderingHERD College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	Apparently we don't have a definitive answer for where the phrase "whole nine yards" comes from, although both theories mentioned here were rejected by The Straight Dope. Personally, I think that it refers to football, and was originally meant ironically. __________________ "I'm losing my edge--to better looking people... with better ideas... and more talent. And who are actually really, really nice." "Everyone's a voyeurist--they're watching me watch them watch me right now." Last edited by ThunderingHERD : 12-09-2005 at 12:19 AM.

12-08-2005, 11:19 AM	#4
GreenMonster High School Varsity Join Date: Mar 2005	The name Jeep did not come from the abbreviation GP, R. Lee Ermey taught me that on Mail Call on the History Channel.. David Prowse spoke the lines, but knew that he wasn't gonna be the final voice of Darth Vader..

12-08-2005, 11:21 AM	#6
TLK Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Allen Park, MI	Alan Thicke composed the themes for the television shows "The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes", but unfortunately not "Growing Pains".

12-09-2005, 01:28 AM	#21
Glengoyne Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Fresno, CA	I really thought that David Prowse didn't know about James Earl Jones until the premiere. I guess you just can't trust those Hollywood Hype shows for anything.

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