Daily Curiosities/Obscure Facts

[Spanky]

A Fun and Informative Disarray of Factoids Daily--or Semi Daily--Various Sources:

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10-6-2016
 

Six Good New Netflix for October

1. BLACK MIRROR (2016)

   

Netflix

The consequences of relying heavily on technology is the central theme to this British-born anthology series, and it’s probably best you don’t know any more than that. After two seasons and a holiday special, creator Charlie Brooker is producing eight original installments for Netflix, including one curiously set in the not-very-digital '80s. (10/21)

2. PATTON (1970)

   

Movieclips via YouTube

The decorated World War II military commander was the subject of this decorated biopic, which won seven Academy Awards and earned some of the best notices of star George C. Scott’s career. Despite the accolades, Scott disliked the idea of acting being a competition and refused to accept his Oscar, becoming the first performer ever to do so. When he won during the 1971 telecast, he was asleep at home. (10/1)

3. QUIZ SHOW (1994)

   

Buena Vista

Robert Redford’s fact-based drama tells the story of famous—and then infamous—quiz show contestants Charles Van Doren and Herbert Stempel, two warring personalities who were instructed how to answer questions in order to bolster ratings for the game show Twenty-One. Turns out the 1950s predicted reality television with precision. (10/1)

4. GRIZZLY MAN (2005)

   

Lionsgate

Werner Hertzog’s haunting documentary retraces the steps of Timothy Treadwell, an animal conservationist and free spirit who paid a steep price for his unshakeable trust in the grizzly bears he studied. (10/1)  (The absolute, hands down, master documentarian of all time, and he has made some classic drama like "Aguirre the Wrath of God", and "Fitzcaraldo", both with Klaus Kenski, whose face alone deserves a special oscar.--Spank)

5. THE 13TH (2016)

   

Ava DuVernay (Selma) directs this Netflix original documentary about the plight of prison inmates in our country and how race can influence incarceration policies. The title refers to the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery except in the case of punishment for a crime. (10/7)

6. MASCOTS (2016)

   

Christopher Guest (Best in Show, This is Spinal Tap) directs another improv-heavy ensemble mockumentary, this time about the challenges faced by sports mascots competing for a prestigious annual award. This being a Guest movie, people will embarrass themselves. In dog costumes. (10/13)


What Vitamins Are in Beer?
A 12 ounce bottle of lager sports 0.75 grams of fiber while the same amount of dark beer boasts 1.3 grams. It Provides B Vitamins. That cold one has another hidden health benefit: it's a source of B vitamins such as folate, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and vitamins B6 and B12.  (Lots of the European dark and middle age peasants started the day with beer (or milk or both) and bread.  And the beer would have been of the way dark variety.)

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[barq2]

Is that Samuel Adams as in the beer? My friend Carlos got me drinking that when I was in Detroit, but as a Brit I might have to forgo it now ;-)

Same guy Barq.  The patriot and founding father of the revolution, Adams was a hands-on guy, a fire brand and instigator who led the Boston tea party.  He had inherited a "malting", i.e., beer brewing company from his father and for a time made a stout malt for retail sale.
The founder of the Sam Adams beer of modern day is an admirer of the revolutionary, and led the move to craft beers in the U.S.

I made the right Boston connection then. I know the history in terms of events, but not specific individuals. Learn something new every day around here!

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A Fun and Informative Disarray of Factoids Daily--or Semi Daily--Various Sources:

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10-6-2016
 

Six Good New Netflix for October

1. BLACK MIRROR (2016)

Netflix

The consequences of relying heavily on technology is the central theme to this British-born anthology series, and it’s probably best you don’t know any more than that. After two seasons and a holiday special, creator Charlie Brooker is producing eight original installments for Netflix, including one curiously set in the not-very-digital '80s. (10/21)

For anyone who likes Black Mirror, search for Charlie Brooker's other work (written - much of it for The Guardian), on TV "Screenwipe", and if you want an older, but still relevant, absurd take on technology and hipster culture track down "Nathan Barley" which satirised the dotcom start up culture years ago. (I should add Brooker uses strong language etc, so treat as NSFW.)

[Spanky]

A Fun and Informative Disarray of Factoids Daily--or Semi Daily--Various Sources:

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10-7-2016
 

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

(Unlike tongue twisters like "black-bug's-blood", and "ruggy-buggy-bubby-mumpers", this one seems to pose a question.  A comprehensive googling reveals that there is no answer, as those in the know concerning volume and base materials, are in agreement there is no "amount" called a "chuck"--Spank)  " A 1957 Associated Press piece refers to the question as "a riddle which beats the Sphinx, since it's still unanswered"

What percentage of college basketball players make it to the NBA?

It is far less than 1%. There are roughly 900 teams in college basketball, with an average of about 12-13 players per team, not included inactive players, which means over 10,000 players per year. There are roughly 360 active NBA players. The NBA is for the truly elite.
 
When was Guinness founded?

Arthur Guinness started brewing ales from 1759 at the St. James's Gate Brewery, Dublin. On 31 December 1759 he signed a 9,000 year lease at £45 per annum for the unused brewery.  (Mountains may crumble, kingdoms may fall, but chances are Guinness will still be brewing beer, and go up for sale in the year 10,759--Spank)

[Spanky]

A Fun and Informative Disarray of Factoids Daily--or Semi Daily--Various Sources:

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10-8-2016
 
Why Do We Close Our Eyes When We Sneeze?

   

The anatomy of a sneeze is pretty disgusting. For someone with a cold, allergies, or just a tickle in the nose, it takes less than a second to eject about 5000 droplets of mucus from their nostrils at speeds of up to 100 mph. Those infectious snot particles can travel up to nearly 30 feet and remain suspended in the air for up to 10 minutes, creating a plume of biohazard air that threatens anyone in its path.
Our body doesn’t mind delivering germs at high velocity, but it does appear to dislike looking at it. During a sneeze, most everyone involuntarily closes his or her eyes as a reflex action. Why? And what happens if we try to keep them open?
“Part of the sneeze reflex involves muscles in the eyelid region,” says Dale Tylor, MD, a pediatric and general otolaryngologist at the Washington Township Medical Foundation in Fremont, California. “I would be speculating, but likely it doesn’t make sense to have your eyes open when you have these tens of thousands of microparticles coming out at high speeds from your nose, because then they could possibly get in your eyes.”
Tylor is quick to add that scenario isn’t science—we really don’t have a definitive answer as to why we close the eyes, just an educated guess based on what we think our body is trying to defend itself from. Namely, snot.  (There are a rare number of people who can in fact keep their eyes open when they sneeze; snot does not come out of their eyes, and there eyes do not pop out--Spank)

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Ancient corpse found in "burial shroud" of marijuana plants

   

In northwest China, archaeologists dug up an ancient corpse in a burial shroud of cannabis plants. The fellow was buried approximately 2,400 to 2,800 years ago. Archaeologist Hongen Jiang and colleagues described the discovery as an "extraordinary cache" of well-preserved plants. From National Geographic:
Thirteen cannabis plants, each up to almost three feet long, were placed diagonally across the man's chest, with the roots oriented beneath his pelvis and the tops of the plants extending from just under his chin, up and alongside the left side of his face.
This discovery adds to a growing collection of archaeological evidence showing that cannabis consumption was "very popular" across the Eurasian steppe thousands of years ago, says Jiang.
...This is the first time ever that archaeologists have recovered complete cannabis plants, as well as the first incidence of their use as a "shroud" or covering in a human burial, says Jiang. (No comment--Spank)

 
 

   

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A Fun and Informative Disarray of Factoids Daily--or Semi Daily--Various Sources:

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10-8-2016
 
Why Do We Close Our Eyes When We Sneeze?





The anatomy of a sneeze is pretty disgusting. For someone with a cold, allergies, or just a tickle in the nose, it takes less than a second to eject about 5000 droplets of mucus from their nostrils at speeds of up to 100 mph. Those infectious snot particles can travel up to nearly 30 feet and remain suspended in the air for up to 10 minutes, creating a plume of biohazard air that threatens anyone in its path.
Our body doesn’t mind delivering germs at high velocity, but it does appear to dislike looking at it. During a sneeze, most everyone involuntarily closes his or her eyes as a reflex action. Why? And what happens if we try to keep them open?
“Part of the sneeze reflex involves muscles in the eyelid region,” says Dale Tylor, MD, a pediatric and general otolaryngologist at the Washington Township Medical Foundation in Fremont, California. “I would be speculating, but likely it doesn’t make sense to have your eyes open when you have these tens of thousands of microparticles coming out at high speeds from your nose, because then they could possibly get in your eyes.”
Tylor is quick to add that scenario isn’t science—we really don’t have a definitive answer as to why we close the eyes, just an educated guess based on what we think our body is trying to defend itself from. Namely, snot.  (There are a rare number of people who can in fact keep their eyes open when they sneeze; snot does not come out of their eyes, and there eyes do not pop out--Spank)

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Ancient corpse found in "burial shroud" of marijuana plants







In northwest China, archaeologists dug up an ancient corpse in a burial shroud of cannabis plants. The fellow was buried approximately 2,400 to 2,800 years ago. Archaeologist Hongen Jiang and colleagues described the discovery as an "extraordinary cache" of well-preserved plants. From National Geographic:
Thirteen cannabis plants, each up to almost three feet long, were placed diagonally across the man's chest, with the roots oriented beneath his pelvis and the tops of the plants extending from just under his chin, up and alongside the left side of his face.
This discovery adds to a growing collection of archaeological evidence showing that cannabis consumption was "very popular" across the Eurasian steppe thousands of years ago, says Jiang.
...This is the first time ever that archaeologists have recovered complete cannabis plants, as well as the first incidence of their use as a "shroud" or covering in a human burial, says Jiang. (No comment--Spank)

 
 

"their eyes", not "there" eyes--I hate that--Spank

[Linville]

As usual Spanky , very interesting ....you and Ice keep these going...good stuff.

...and to us all, dont forget to put you mouth into the crook of the elbow when sneezing to capture all those droplets of infectious cold germs.    

[Spanky]

A Fun and Informative Disarray of Factoids Daily--or Semi Daily--Various Sources:

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10-9-2016
 
Who was the last Roman "king"?
Tarquin, Latin in full Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (flourished 6th century bc—died 495 bc, Cumae [near modern Naples, Italy]) traditionally the seventh and last king of Rome, accepted by some scholars as a historical figure. His reign is dated from 534 to 509 bc. (The Romans pretty much swore they wouldn't have another totalitarian ruler, so the senate, and the "Republic" became the ideal of the populace.--Spank)
 
Who later became the first Roman Emperor?
Following the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, Gaius Octavian Thurinus, Julius Caesar's nephew and heir, became the first emperor of Rome and took the name Augustus Caesar.  (Romans changed their minds and created Octavius as "Emperor" after he took out the opposition.--Spank)
 
 

Va Va Voom

     

Hard to believe that Claudia Charriez was born a man, right? Her transsexuality has not stopped her from becoming an international model. Charriez was kicked off of America's Next Top Model and The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency TV shows in 2008, but went on to win the America's Next Top Transsexual Model contest on The Tyra Banks.  (Now, "transsexuals" may or may not have had the hormone therapy and the gender surgery and still be transsexuals.  I don't know about Claudia, but there is a part of me that doesn't care.  I don't mean to incite a debate here.--Spank)
 

 
The skydiver who jumped from 25,000 feet with no parachute

 

 

In July 2016, a daredevil leaped from a plane 25,000 feet into a giant net, becoming the first person in the world to complete a skydive without a parachute.

Luke Aikins was in free fall for around two minutes after jumping from a small propeller plane above Simi Valley, California. The 42-year-old was not wearing a wing suit or emergency parachute for the jump, which was broadcast live on television.

He thanked the dozens of crew members who spent two years helping him prepare for the jump, including those who assembled the net and made sure it worked. While Aikins has made over 18,000 skydives, he admitted to being nervous before his latest feat.

[Linville]

Spanky I had throw-up in my mouth after looking at the va va voom pic and then reading after the pic , your saying that is a man...

Well as you say I do not want to "spark" a debate no offense just not my cup of tea, as they say.....Oh the wonders of surgery

Now back to reality and I gotta say these are such interesting posts.....for all kinds of reasons..

[Spanky]

Spanky I had throw-up in my mouth after looking at the va va voom pic and then reading after the pic , your saying that is a man...

Well as you say I do not want to "spark" a debate no offense just not my cup of tea, as they say.....Oh the wonders of surgery

Now back to reality and I gotta say these are such interesting posts.....for all kinds of reasons..

Howdy Linville,

No problem with me if it's not your cup of tea, ha.  The current confusion of gender identity, where to pee, be sure to carry your birth cert with you, etc..  That gorgeous gal is an example of how that confusion proliferates.  What I might post does not always reflect  my own opinions, but may give one pause to think.  I remember a concert I went to in Yosemite national park.  Had a great meadow and a large open amphitheater had been constructed, Allison Krause and Union Station I think.

There were only two bathrooms, permanent, regular ones, and no mobile types had been set up.  Lots of people.  There was no line to the men's bathroom and there was a tortured assembly of ladies waiting to get in the single bathroom for gals. So I was at one of the urinals which were all open and protruding from the walls, maybe a couple of stalls toward the back.  This was maybe ten years ago.. 

A young lady entered the bathroom.  She announced in a loud enough voice for everyone standing at a urinal too hear, "I'm not waiting in that "fu***** line".  She pulled her pants down far enough to straddle the protruding urinal and went wee wee.  Well, all the men, including me cheered her, celebrated her invasion knowing the length of the female line outside.  She was a pioneer, and in the wink of an eye solved today's bathroom debate. 

So, you might see some challenging thing in the Curiousities thread.  I will always maintain a line.  As I bore down into the Internet's hoard of "really" dark oddities and factoids, you'd be surprised at the things I cull through and reject.  Always, nothing offensive intended.

Spankster

[Linville]

oh yes of course Spanky, I meant it as humor....all this is very fine....just to be clear.

interesting experience you related. Share and share alike...sort of huh.

I hope it was not coming across I was serious in the first part of post above here...didnt really have that happen....grins

I totally enjoy your thread....

[Spanky]

Fun and Informative Disarray of Factoids Daily--or Semi Daily--Various Sources:

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10-10-2016

 

The split-fingered Vulcan salute from Star Trek is derived from an Orthodox Jewish ritual called the Blessing Hands, which is used to anoint congregations on holy days. Leonard Nimoy, whose grandfather was Orthodox, remembered the hand gesture from his childhood visits to the synagogue and borrowed it for his role as Mr. Spock.
 
What causes your heart to beat?
The electrical system of your heart is the power source that makes this possible. The impulse starts in a small bundle of specialized cells located in the right atrium, called the SA node. The electrical activity spreads through the walls of the atria and causes them to contract. This forces blood into the ventricles.
 
When was the Odyssey created?
The consensus used to be that "the Iliad and the Odyssey date from around the 8th century BC, the Iliad being composed before the Odyssey, perhaps by some decades," i.e. earlier than Hesiod, the Iliad being the oldest work of Western literature.  (Hesiod was a Greek poet generally thought by scholars to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer.--Spank)

Recipe link to 7 vegan soups: (look good-SP)

Click on Soup