Thursday, January 08, 2009

Making Room .......

While doing some research for my next blog post,
I realized that it was getting harder to find anything in my well organized files.So, ignoring the sign my crack 'blog staffers' had posted,and realizing how anxious they were to have a new project to work on,and how much they LOVE being on the computer,and tackling new challenges,
I got my very competent foreman to round them up.As usual, they were anxious to get started.First task was to go into my 'deep storage' vault to retrieve the needed material.Then, in their usual team effort mode, the material was organizedand enterednecessary changes made by the ace proof-reading committee, Finally, under the watchful eyes of the circulation guys,
our staff mail room assistant rushed the finished post to the printer. And so, without further dallying, here's the result,
a fresh batch of information NOBODY cares about!
-Theodore Roosevelt was the first U.S. president to ride in an automobile. -Roosevelt was president who officially renamed the Executive Mansion the White House in 1901. -The White House was constructed in the last years of the 18th century, following the design of James Hoban, an Irishman who was himself influenced by the Georgian-style Leinster House in Dublin. -The lens of the eye continues to grow throughout a person's life. -In 1936 the first popular music chart was compiled, based on record sales published in New York. -The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, England took 5 years to build, but the decorative painting took 19 years to complete. -Chicago's nickname 'Windy City' was was supposedly first used by The Sun (New York) editor Charles Dana in the bidding for the 1893 Columbian Exposition and referred to the 'long-winded' politicians touting Chicago's superiority as the site for the exposition. -Of the 7 members of Herb Alpert's band, Tijuana Brass, none were of Hispanic descent. -The largest beaver dam on record was over 2,100 feet (640m) long in Montana, USA. -Built in 1754, Old Fort Western in Maine is the oldest surviving wooden fort in the US. -In September 1983 the last 'hand-crank' phone system in Maine, USA placed its last call to the operator of the 'next-to-last' crank phone system to inform them of their conversion to dial phones at the completion of the call. -Baby chicks get out of their eggs by using temporary teeth. -The 'AMF' brand of bowling equipment's letters are the initials of 'American Machine & Foundry. It was operating for over 40 years before entering the bowling equipment industry. It was founded in 1900 as a manufacturer of tobacco industry equipment. -Composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Noel Coward were both born on December 16 and both died on March 26. -BBQ charcoal briquettes were 1st produced and marketed by Ford Motor Company from wood scraps left over from production of Model T Fords. Originally sold by Ford Dealers as Ford Charcoal, the name was later changed to that of a Ford relative who assisted in developing the product. We know it as Kingsford Charcoal. -Roughly 50% of the world's lakes are located in Canada. -In the Middle Ages, the most common textile was linen made from the fiber of the flax plant. -In 'Gone With The Wind', if based on the dates of battles mentioned in the story, Melanie Wilkes was pregnant for twenty-one months. This was changed to nine months for the film version in 1939. -Mechanical engineer Elijah McCoy invented a steam engine lubricator in 1872 that allowed moving engine parts to be oiled. It was so popular that folks selecting new equipment would ask if the engine had 'The Real McCoy' installed. -In 1951, two New Jersey communities were the 1st to be able to 'direct dial' a phone number in 11 cities nationwide and were assigned the first 'area codes'. -Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium was built on the site of the birthplace of cowboy star Roy Rogers. -Americans eat an average of 100 acres of pizza every day. -Mike's trivia staff wants all to know that WE LIKE PIZZA!! We also want to go south for the winter, but El Cheapo will only get us a blanket, that we have to SHARE!! What a miser. -The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Australian cassowary as the world's most dangerous bird. It has razor sharp claws and can fly up to 30mph (48kph). -The longest currently scheduled non-stop commercial flight is operated by Singapore Airlines between Newark, New Jersey and Singapore and is a 16,600mile (26,715km) 18.5 hour trip. -Atlanta's J.S. Pemberton Medicine Company fought prohibition efforts of 1886 by developing a non-alcoholic version of its Wine of Cola that is now known as Coca~Cola. -Germany's Kiel Canal connecting the North & Baltic Seas was world's busiest waterway in 2007 handling an average of 118 ships daily. -The translation of 'sushi' literally means 'it is sour'. -Completed in 1942, Washington State's Grand Coulee Dam is the largest hydro-electric power facility and the largest concrete structure in the USA. -Using annual rainfall as criteria, Antarctica is the largest 'desert' on earth at less than 2 inches (50.8mm) precipitation per year. It's also the highest continent, averaging 7,000 ft (2133m) above sea level. -Potato chips, invented in 1853 by chef George Crum, are the number one USA snack food with 1,200,000,000lbs (544,310,844kg) eaten yearly. -The heaviest combined birth weight of twins is 27lbs 12oz (12.54kg) -And finally, the term 'trivia' comes from the Latin 'tri-via' meaning 'intersection of 3 roads'. It was at these crossroads that Romans commonly posted notices of news, laws, daring feats, and minor facts for passersby to see.

I see their efforts are already generating excitement among my readers. So, having discovered some of the staff are missing and the one guy remaining isn't talking,I guess I'd best go in search of them. I did find a hastily scribbled note taped to an empty catnip box, but the only word I can even partially make out seems to be 'Florida' and this odd photo of a 'staffer' on a beach someplace? So, until next time, take care & be well.

12 comments:

Kay said...

This is an extraordinary amount of fun facts. Your purrfectly wonderful research team did an excellent job. I've told people about the hot air politicians being the source of the Windy City term because I read it somewhere a million years ago. Now I see it confirmed by you so I can keep telling people that. Thanks for all the fun trivia and now I know where that term comes from too! Yahoo!

Anonymous said...

Trivia is too trivial for me. I need more substance in my life.
Also, why are those cats ONLY staffers'? They seem to be the brains of the operation and do all the work too...Now you know why I don't work for you..hehehe
:)

Mike S said...

R.C...PLEASE don't tell the Kitties that!! They're the only ones who'll work for me & then only if bribed with a whole lotta catnip, toys, & pizza! I'd hire you & the Tribe, but we already got experience in how much that costs in booze, BBQ, and Genuine Pleather Robes;)

Midlife Mom said...

I thought it was the windy city because it because the wind blew a lot there! Duh! Learn something new every day. I love trivia and can remember that stuff but can't remember what I did two hours ago. Go figure! Love all the cat pictures, the need a raise or they will go on strike. I think you will relate to the post I have up now. Stop in for a visit! :o)

Midlife Mom said...

Can't even make a sentence today. Sigh......

Jean said...

Love the photos! Isn't it amazing that the potato chip "inventor's" name was "Crum." I'm trying to think of the name of the Maine town that was the last to give up its hand-cranked phones...

Mike S said...

Jean, 'Bryant Pond' was the place.

tweetey30 said...

Florida would be great right now compared to all this cold weather we are having and snow. Yuckie.. I am done with winter here.. Take care and stay warm..

fishwithoutbicycle said...

Great post Mike, although I have to say I shuddered to read about 'Wine of Cola' - how awful must that have tasted ;-)

Mare said...

Happened by your blog by way of Kay's blog. Loved it! Your cats are very entertaining, and your trivia is, too. I'll be back!

Anonymous said...

buy facebook likes
buy facebook likes cheap
buy facebook page likes

buy facebook page likes facebook likes buy
facebook likes buy buy cheap facebook fans
_________________
buy likes on facebook [url=http://contentsocial.info/story.php?id=252899#discuss]buy likes on facebook[/url] buy cheap facebook fans buy targeted facebook likes

Anonymous said...

buy targeted facebook likes
facebook likes buy
how to buy facebook likes

buy targeted facebook likes buy guaranteed facebook fans
buy bulk facebook fans buy facebook fans cheap
_________________
facebook likes buy [url=http://sustainablelafayette.net/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=660369]buy guaranteed facebook fans[/url] buy facebook page likes buy guaranteed facebook fans