Useless (But Fun!) Fact For Today - Page 5

wheelbender6 · 12-20-2022, 09:18 PM

The Christian bishop St. Nicholas was actually born in what is now Turkey.

Emerikol · 12-22-2022, 05:35 AM

22 Dec 22

Another Aviation related post for today, since so many people are traveling for the holidays:

Are Airplanes the Safest Mode of travel? While this is a popular travel statement, he answer is NO. Air travel is the second safest form of transportation. Only the elevator/escalator is safer, although it would take quite some time to travel 1,000 miles on an escalator. The reality is that Air Travel is still the safest method of mass transit for longer distances, beating out automobiles (including motorcycles) and travel by water/sea.

wheelbender6 · 12-22-2022, 07:04 PM

As of this afternoon, every state in the continental US has some type of Winter Weather Warning except Arizona. (per KPRC)

wheelbender6 · 12-26-2022, 05:26 PM

"Sabrage" is the act of opening a bottle of champagne with a saber or sword. The tradition dates back to Napolian's cavalry celebrating their victories.

I still have my Malemuke sword from my Marine Corps days. Maybe if I start practicing now, I will be able to do it safely on New Years Eve.

Emerikol · 12-28-2022, 10:47 AM

28 Dec 22

The lint in the bottom of your pocket has a name.
At some point in time, for whatever reason, someone decided to give a name to the lint that collects in the bottom of your pockets. And that name is hilariously "gnurr."

2LZ · 12-28-2022, 12:22 PM

Speaking of naming useless things, if it hasn't been mentioned already, the little plastic tip on your shoelace is an "aglet".

TominMO · 12-28-2022, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2LZ

Speaking of naming useless things, if it hasn't been mentioned already, the little plastic tip on your shoelace is an "aglet".

I keep forgetting that. Thanks for the reminder. For some reason it bugs me to not know that.

2LZ · 12-28-2022, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TominMO

I keep forgetting that.

That's because we're both old. ;-)

wheelbender6 · 12-31-2022, 09:58 AM

The date of January 1 was chosen for New Year's day by Julius Caesar, per his new Julian calendar.
New Year's day had previously been celebrated on the Vernal Equinox under the Roman 10 month calendar.

When I was in the USMC, aviation maintenance was logged with the Julian date. Its much easier to count the number of days between maintenance events using the Julian calendar.

https://www.history.com/topics/holid...new-year-s-day

Emerikol · 01-01-2023, 02:31 PM

In the Air Force, we just go to the end of the calendar month that the service would be due. For instance, if something was due on 18 Feb, the service date would be NLT 28 Feb. (For all the non-military types out there, NLT stands for No Later Than) That's the way most of the service intervals in private and commercial aviation are set up, too.

Emerikol · 01-04-2023, 07:10 PM

4 Jan 23 - Wooly Mammoths and the Great Pyramids of Giza

Believe it or not, there were still Woolly Mammoths alive and walking the earth when the Egyptians built the pyramids. and not as one of those “the pyramids are way older than you think” things either. A small colony of mammoths survived on Wrangle Island, a small island way up in the arctic. There were as many as 1,000 mammoths living on the island up until around 1650 BC. This is nearly 1,000 years after the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza. Wrangel Island lies between Siberia and Alaska and is part of Russia

Emerikol · 01-07-2023, 04:48 PM

7 Jan 23 -

There are two empires that spanned the ENTIRE time between Jesus Christ and Babe Ruth. The Roman and Ottoman empires existed for that entire time...

TominMO · 01-07-2023, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerikol

7 Jan 23 -

There are two empires that spanned the ENTIRE time between Jesus Christ and Babe Ruth. The Roman and Ottoman empires existed for that entire time...

Western Roman empire ended in 476 AD. Eastern Roman empire, 1453 AD.

franque · 01-08-2023, 03:01 AM

Unless you ascribe to the Russian point of view that the Czar was the successor to the Eastern Roman empire (I do not).

Maybe he means one empire succeeded the other? I which case, yes, that's correct, if oddly phrased.

Emerikol · 01-08-2023, 03:40 AM

8 Jan 23 -

The Tower of London is older than Machu Picchu. During the Incan Empire, around 1450, Machu Picchu was ordered to be constructed by the Incan King, Pachacutec. It is a very old construction, but not older than one of England’s most historic castles. The Tower of London dates back to 1066, making it a 900-year-old historic monument.

12-20-2022, 09:18 PM	#61
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	The Christian bishop St. Nicholas was actually born in what is now Turkey. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	5

12-22-2022, 05:35 AM	#62
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	22 Dec 22 Another Aviation related post for today, since so many people are traveling for the holidays: Are Airplanes the Safest Mode of travel? While this is a popular travel statement, he answer is NO. Air travel is the second safest form of transportation. Only the elevator/escalator is safer, although it would take quite some time to travel 1,000 miles on an escalator. The reality is that Air Travel is still the safest method of mass transit for longer distances, beating out automobiles (including motorcycles) and travel by water/sea. __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	0

12-22-2022, 07:04 PM	#63
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	As of this afternoon, every state in the continental US has some type of Winter Weather Warning except Arizona. (per KPRC) __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	1

12-26-2022, 05:26 PM	#64
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	"Sabrage" is the act of opening a bottle of champagne with a saber or sword. The tradition dates back to Napolian's cavalry celebrating their victories. I still have my Malemuke sword from my Marine Corps days. Maybe if I start practicing now, I will be able to do it safely on New Years Eve. __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	6

12-28-2022, 10:47 AM	#65
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	28 Dec 22 The lint in the bottom of your pocket has a name. At some point in time, for whatever reason, someone decided to give a name to the lint that collects in the bottom of your pockets. And that name is hilariously "gnurr." __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	2

12-28-2022, 12:22 PM	#66
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,092	Speaking of naming useless things, if it hasn't been mentioned already, the little plastic tip on your shoelace is an "aglet". __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
	4

12-31-2022, 09:58 AM	#69
wheelbender6 Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston area Posts: 1,902	The date of January 1 was chosen for New Year's day by Julius Caesar, per his new Julian calendar. New Year's day had previously been celebrated on the Vernal Equinox under the Roman 10 month calendar. When I was in the USMC, aviation maintenance was logged with the Julian date. Its much easier to count the number of days between maintenance events using the Julian calendar. https://www.history.com/topics/holid...new-year-s-day __________________ "Its not WHAT you ride; its THAT you ride"
	3

01-01-2023, 02:31 PM	#70
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	In the Air Force, we just go to the end of the calendar month that the service would be due. For instance, if something was due on 18 Feb, the service date would be NLT 28 Feb. (For all the non-military types out there, NLT stands for No Later Than) That's the way most of the service intervals in private and commercial aviation are set up, too. __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	2

01-04-2023, 07:10 PM	#71
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	4 Jan 23 - Wooly Mammoths and the Great Pyramids of Giza Believe it or not, there were still Woolly Mammoths alive and walking the earth when the Egyptians built the pyramids. and not as one of those “the pyramids are way older than you think” things either. A small colony of mammoths survived on Wrangle Island, a small island way up in the arctic. There were as many as 1,000 mammoths living on the island up until around 1650 BC. This is nearly 1,000 years after the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza. Wrangel Island lies between Siberia and Alaska and is part of Russia __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	3

01-07-2023, 04:48 PM	#72
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	7 Jan 23 - There are two empires that spanned the ENTIRE time between Jesus Christ and Babe Ruth. The Roman and Ottoman empires existed for that entire time... __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	2

01-08-2023, 03:01 AM	#74
franque Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Marseille, France -> Conakry, Guinea Posts: 1,481	Unless you ascribe to the Russian point of view that the Czar was the successor to the Eastern Roman empire (I do not). Maybe he means one empire succeeded the other? I which case, yes, that's correct, if oddly phrased.
	1

01-08-2023, 03:40 AM	#75
Emerikol Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Carrollton, GA Posts: 1,465	8 Jan 23 - The Tower of London is older than Machu Picchu. During the Incan Empire, around 1450, Machu Picchu was ordered to be constructed by the Incan King, Pachacutec. It is a very old construction, but not older than one of England’s most historic castles. The Tower of London dates back to 1066, making it a 900-year-old historic monument. __________________ First Rule of Aviation: -Never Pass Up The Opportunity to Pee I was struggling to get my wife's attention; I sat down on the couch and looked comfortable. That did the trick! My wife says I only have two faults. I don't listen and something else... If at first you don't succeed, try doing it the way I told you to... The Stable: 2005 Yamaha V-Star 650 - SOLD 2015 Suzuki DR 650 2015 RPS Hawk 250 - SOLD 2016 Ural Gear Up
	2