New Info

[Embattle]

This thread is based around some bit of info that you recently found out about and wish to share, although nothing stupid please. The layout includes the initial info, its background, how you found out about it, extra info and your personal rating for the info out of 10, 10 being the highest and 1 being forgettable in less that a day.

Info: Why was the term 'Limey' given British sailors
Background: It refers to how British sailors used to eat limes to try and counter scurvy in the 1800s.
How: Tropico 2 Manual
Extra Info: http://askabiologist.asu.edu/research/scurvy/
Rating: 6/10

 

[Clowneh!]

I'm still doing my studies, so I learn something new everyday

 

[mank!]

Cannons health club is for over-18's only.
Rating 1/10
Irritation level: 10/10

 

[GDW]

Info: How did the term "Jerry Can" come about?

Background: During WW2 the German petrol container was a superior shape to that used by the allies being much more stackable and easier to carry.

How: History Channel

Rating: 8/10

PS is Tropico 2 anygood ?

 

[Embattle]

Don't know as yet, been playing RON too much

 

[Big G]

Info: The term "getting the wrong end of the stick"
Background: It refers to how the romans wiped there arses in a latrine, using a stick with a sponge-type-thing on the end. Therefore, you could pickup the wrong end of the stick, indicating a misunderstanding etc in modern day
How: My parents visited Hadrian's wall today, and passed on this nougat of info
Extra Info:
Rating: 6/10

 

[SoWat]

Info: The term "between the devil and the deep blue sea"

Background: These days it means to be in a difficult situation. In the days of sail, it meant much the same thing, but for more practical reasons. The 'devil' is the little sail right at the front of a ship (on the mast that sticks out horizontally). If it got stuck, the only way to release it was to clamber upside down along the mast... with the possibility of falling off and being run over by a bloody great ship.

How: The only interesting thing my father-in-law mentioned during his visit.

Extra Info: It's amazing how many sayings/words come from naval terms of old.

Rating: 6/10

 

[Gumbo]

Originally posted by SoWat
the mast that sticks out horizontally

Info: That's called the Bowsprit.

Background: Cos it is a sprit, or stick that comes out of the bow.

How : Hmmm living around boats my entire life.


Extra Info: Ask me another

Rating: Informational value 10, Interest Value 1.

 

[danger]

Originally posted by Embattle
This thread is based around some bit of info that you recently found out about and wish to share, although nothing stupid please. The layout includes the initial info, its background, how you found out about it, extra info and your personal rating for the info out of 10, 10 being the highest and 1 being forgettable in less that a day.

Info: Why was the term 'Limey' given British sailors
Background: It refers to how British sailors used to eat lemons to try and counter scurvy in the 1800s.
How: Tropico 2 Manual
Extra Info: http://askabiologist.asu.edu/research/scurvy/
Rating: 6/10

Surely everyone knows that due to the doritos advert? And I think you'll find it was limes not lemons...

 

[danger]

Info: The sum of any 2 numbers on opposite sides of a six sided die will always be 7.
Rating: 1/10

 

[Sir Frizz]

1 + 1 = 11!

Rating: 11/10

 

[Embattle]

Re: Re: New Info

Originally posted by danger
Surely everyone knows that due to the doritos advert? And I think you'll find it was limes not lemons...

Lemons were replaced with limes as they have more acid etc.

 

[[PS]Mung]

Info - A reduction of your daily requirements of water (8 standard glasses) by 4-5% can reduce your concentration and performance (hey-hey-hey) by 20-30%

Where from - Label of Highland Spring mineral water bottle.

Rating - 2

Usefulness - Er right.

 

[dysfunction]

The 9 times table is quite interesting....cos as the first number of the "answer" increases by 1, the second number decreases by 1.

illustration:

1x9 = 09
2x9 = 18
3x9 = 27
4x9 = 36

etc....

 

[whipped]

Info : The term "Get of your arse and do some work"
Background : Something that was first said to the egyption slaves and repeated just now by my boss to me.
How : See Above
Rating : -5/10

 

[Xtro]

Originally posted by dysfunction
The 9 times table is quite interesting....cos as the first number of the "answer" increases by 1, the second number decreases by 1.

illustration:

1x9 = 09
2x9 = 18
3x9 = 27
4x9 = 36

etc....

Remeber kids, accountancy destroys your soul!

 

[danger]

yeah that lets you do that trick where you hold up both your hands and put down one finger based on which number of the table it is and that gives you the answer.... was useful when I was 6!

 

[Meatballs]

Originally posted by dysfunction
The 9 times table is quite interesting....cos as the first number of the "answer" increases by 1, the second number decreases by 1.

illustration:

1x9 = 09
2x9 = 18
3x9 = 27
4x9 = 36

etc....

and also if you add the two digits together they = 9

0+9 = 9
1+8 = 9
2+7 = 9

etc etc etc!

 

[kameleon]

9 is a magic number

any time you multiply 9 (except by 0) the sum of the numbers in the product will always make 9

 

[whipped]

No! 42 is the magic number.

 

[kameleon]

42 is the the answer to life the universe and everything

 

[~Lazarus~]

Info: Opening Gloss Paint Tins.
Background: Gloss paint tins are sealed to ensure no leakage. Don use anything sharp cos it slips and punctures a piece of your bodily anatomy.
How: Personal Experience.

Rating: 99/10

 

[Flimgoblin]

Originally posted by [PS]Mung
Info - A reduction of your daily requirements of water (8 standard glasses) by 4-5% can reduce your concentration and performance (hey-hey-hey) by 20-30%

Where from - Label of Highland Spring mineral water bottle.

Rating - 2

Usefulness - Er right.

wonder if they got that off the garbage urban myth email that was doing the rounds... the one that has cocacola being used to clean blood off of the motorways.

 

[throdgrain]

The expression "A flash in the pan" comes from the old flintlock muskets, when the initial charge in the priming pan would go off without detonating the main charge, and thus not firing the bullet.

 

[doh_boy]

Originally posted by Flimgoblin
wonder if they got that off the garbage urban myth email that was doing the rounds... the one that has cocacola being used to clean blood off of the motorways.

my ma read that and now refuses to buy the stuff AND my current temporary job keep 'forgetting' forgetting to sort my wages out not good

 

[Mr^B]

9 x 99 = 891 (18)
9 x 145 = 1305 (9)

Info - "Lock stock and barrel"
Background - when you purchased rifles/guns in the american mid-west, you could buy them in their components parts (lock, stock, barrel), or as an all-in-one.
How - My brain (dunno, probably a history lesson many moons ago)
Rating - 7

Info - POSH
Background - trans-atlantic sailboat crossings, specifying "Port Over Starboard Home" when booking a cabin, ensured that you have a nice South facing cabin for both legs of the journey and hence were the more expensive option.
How - My brain
Rating - 9

Info - The "\/" sign
Background - anglo-french war (probably Napoleonic) captured english archers had their first 2 fingers severed by the french (sot they couldn't draw a bow) and were then released. Uncaptured english archers used to taunt the French by showing that they still had their fingers.
How - Malcolm Harvey (worked for BP, knew a lot about Napolean)
Rating - 8

Info - Sabotage
Background - Not as StarTrek would have it (as a wooden sandal thrown into machinery), but actually from the French sabot meaning "clamp", and was first coined when french railway workers cut the sabot that held the track in place (nothing changes eh?)
How - interest peaked after StarTrek, desperate urge to hunt down urban myths
Rating - 7

 

[Yoni]

Originally posted by Xtro
Remeber kids, accountancy destroys your soul!

and I am living proof:uhoh:

 

[GDW]

^^ Ill second that

 

[Furr]

To quickly do the 9 times table using both hands.(finger=thumbs in this example)

Example: for 3 x 9 bend down the 3rd finger on your left hand you get left with 2 fingers on one side and 7 on the other: 27

6 x 9: bend down you right thumb (or number 6 if you count using your hands), you get left with 5 on the left hand and 4 on the right, 54

Background: god likes the 9 times table ?
How: my teacher at primary school
Usefulness: 7/10

 

[Any]

Originally posted by Mr^B

Info - The "\/" sign
Background - anglo-french war (probably Napoleonic) captured english archers had their first 2 fingers severed by the french (sot they couldn't draw a bow) and were then released. Uncaptured english archers used to taunt the French by showing that they still had their fingers.

True but it was a long time before Napoleon. The longbow was last used in the 16th century.
How: Probably some history book.


Info: Lowest rainfall.
Arica in Chile gets the lowest rainfall in the world. It would take a century to fill a coffee cup.
From: Unsure
Rating: 4