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Author Topic: Useless Fact's Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 06-11-2007 09:54 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Which one of the five senses is the strongest or most well developed? It's very difficult to quantify the relative strengths of the senses. Indeed, recent studies are suggesting that they are more interdependent than we once thought. For most humans, however, sight seems to be our most dominant and well-developed sense. A fascinating report from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute called "Seeing, Hearing, and Smelling the World" examines the basic mechanisms of sense reception. Nerves receive stimuli through organs with specialized receptor cells. These stimuli are then converted into electrical impulses that travel to specific areas of the brain. Predators, such as ourselves (as well as owls and tigers), usually have both eyes set in the front of the head, to maximize binocular vision and help spot prey. The "hunted," such as rodents, have eyes on either side of their heads, to see approaching danger.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 06-11-2007 01:21 PM                        RATED G Useless fact - Why are moths and other insects attracted to lights? The jury is still out on the tragically one-sided relationship between moths and front-porch light bulbs, but several interesting explanations abound. One theory suggests that moths are attracted to light because of their migratory nature. Moths regularly travel long distances guided by starlight and the moon. Hence, a light bulb may act as a proxy moon. USA Today seconds this argument, claiming that moths aren't attracted to light so much as confused by a navigational accident. To fly north, a moth keeps the rising moon of its right shoulder. Trying to keep a porch light continually off your right shoulder results in pandemonium. Other sources disagree with the moon hypothesis and note that moths actually veer away from the light source at the last minute. To the moth, the area just outside of the light appears darker. Moths, being nocturnal, head towards the dark patch, which is always just around the light, hence the confusion. Finally, the BBC, in a very genial British way, notes that the issue remains unresolved and presents both hypotheses. We're with the BBC.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 06-12-2007 07:03 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - How do you form dreadlocks? Are they braided or twisted? Those fond of the nappy, natty hairstyle known as dreadlocks will be the first to tell you dreads are not braids. Dreadlocks are essentially matted hair -- a state some claim is the natural form of human hair. Braids, on the other hand, are neatly formed ropes created by plaiting three (or more) strands of hair in a careful pattern. Twisting will help form and maintain dreads, but there's more to it than that. Reggae superstar Bob Marley probably just let his hair grow into dreads naturally, as many followers of the Rastafarian faith do. To the Rasta and many others, dreadlocks are a symbol of African heritage and religion. Rastas simply allow knots and mats to form in their hair over time. They may wash their hair, but they don't brush or comb it, and devout Rastas don't cut it either. Many people who want dreads aren't Rastas and don't have the patience to wait months or years for a new hairstyle. One common method for quick dread-creation involves adding a hair-styling product that contains beeswax. Plain beeswax can be used, but it may take longer to dry in the hair. You start by backcombing sections of your hair (a friend can help or you can pay a stylist to do the process). Backcombing is just what it sounds like -- you comb your hair backwards, from the tip to the root, using a fine-toothed comb. This forms mats and knots that will be the base for the dreadlocks. Next comes the beeswax product, which has to be thoroughly worked into the matted hair. You can twist sections of hair or roll them between your hands if you want a specific shape for your dreads, and doing this regularly will help maintain the locks. Another way to get dreads is to start with a dreadperm. This has been called "the world's worst perm with the best result." A stylist backcombs your hair tightly, then puts it in curlers, and treats it to a permanent curl process. The result is almost instant dreads that will become more dreaded over time. Quick dreadlocks can also be achieved with hair extensions. Synthetic hair (often in bright colors) is attached to your own hair, and it can either be dreaded before attaching or after. Often, the fake hair is attached to the real hair by braiding it in, but the braid may be covered or disguised by the dreadlocks. Sometimes heat or glue are used to help attach the fake hair, and synthetic dreads can even be put onto hairpieces that are tied into your real hair temporarily. The dreaded part of the extension is made by backcombing then twisting the section of hair. Because fake hair is made of plastic, these types of dreads can be set to hold their shape by applying heat. If you are ready to make a serious hairstyle commitment, dreadlocks may be the 'do for you. Once they're in, the only way to get them out is by cutting.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 06-13-2007 12:47 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - How many states have legalized medical marijuana usage? According to the NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) , ten states currently legalize or decriminalize the medical use of marijuana in some manner. Since 1996, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington have passed legislation that removes state-level penalties from marijuana use by patients who have a doctor's recommendation. In addition, Maryland passed a medical marijuana affirmative defense law in 2003. This dictates that if a person is arrested for marijuana use but is found to be using marijuana out of medical necessity, she or he will only face a modest fine. These state laws specify that marijuana can be used to treat diseases such as arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic nervous system disorders, chronic pain, Crohn's disease, epilepsy and other seizure disorders, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other muscle spasticity disorders, and help patients cope with severe migraines, severe nausea, and the side effects of chemotherapy. The requirements for patients and doctors to be protected by these laws vary from state to state. Unfortunately, the legal status of such measures is debatable. The U.S. government has challenged the California law in several cases. Federal law does not recognize a medical use for marijuana and maintains that the drug is a controlled and banned substance under all circumstances.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 06-17-2007 12:38 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - How long does it take an oyster to make a pearl? How long it takes depends upon how big of a pearl you want. Any mollusk with a shell can create a pearl. In fact, the same materials that create the animal's shell go into the pearl itself. Contrary to popular opinion, it's not always an irritating grain of sand that prods an oyster into making a pearl. More likely, a stray food particle gets stuck under the shell. The mollusk coats the irritant with layers of aragonite and conchiolin, and the composite material is called nacre. That is what gives pearls their luster. At least one species of oyster can secrete nacre over an irritant at a rate of about 0.1mm to 0.2mm per year. But mollusks rarely create pearls naturally -- only one out of 10,000 animals will produce a pearl in the wild. Since the 1930s, the vast majority of pearls have been created with the help of humans. Cultured pearls are created by surgically implanting a bead or piece of shell into a mature oyster. The bead or shell becomes the irritant around which the oyster naturally forms layers of nacre. The bigger the irritant, the bigger the final pearl. Successfully implanted oysters are returned to the ocean or a lake to grow the pearls. The pearls are harvested anywhere from one to three years after implantation, depending on conditions in the pearl farm and the size of the pearls desired.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 07-15-2007 02:02 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - When were jeans invented and by whom? From cowboys to catwalks, blue jeans are big business. Whether you are a celeb with sass, or an average Joe seeking a relaxed look, the style, cut, color, and fit of your favorite pair of jeans say a lot about you. And this year marks the 150th anniversary of the indispensable bottoms. So whom do we have to thank for this most treasured piece of clothing? None other than Levi Strauss, the Bavarian-born American icon who clothed rugged cowboys in their signature work pants. The young immigrant made his way to San Francisco with his siblings in tow and dreams of success filling his head. In 1866, he established a dry-goods store on Battery Street, where it remained for 40 years. Many of his customers were miners and cowboys who needed rough-and-tumble work clothes. Due to its durable nature, canvas was already a staple of workwear, but it tended to chafe the wearer. Strauss searched around and found a new fabric from France called "serge de Nimes" (later shortened to denim). One of Strauss' customers was Jacob Davis, a tailor who purchased bolts of cloth wholesale. Davis' clientele included one particularly demanding customer who continually ripped the pockets off his pants. Davis fashioned him a pair of denim pants strengthened with rivets that could withstand a great deal of strain and abuse. Davis' pants were a hit, and he quickly saw the potential for big business. Lacking the $68 to file a patent and protect his design, Davis approached Strauss. The two quickly became business partners and filed a patent for their "waist overalls" on May 20, 1873. U.S. Patent 139,121 specifically covered the process of riveting men's work pants. Featuring a single back pocket with an arcuate stitching design (a double row of arched stitching -- one of the oldest apparel trademarks in existence), a "cinch" buckle strap on the waistband, and suspender buttons instead of belt loops, the first pair of jeans were officially born in the San Francisco fog.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 08-01-2007 02:40 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - How much money goes unclaimed in state lotteries? While we couldn't find an exact figure, columnist Al Tompkins of Poynter Online estimates that hundreds of millions of state lottery dollars go unclaimed every year. This seems entirely reasonable, considering the net amount of money involved. According to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, during the last fiscal year, U.S. lottery sales totaled $44.9 billion. Where does all this unclaimed money go? Out of the 38 states that hold lotteries, 10 of them roll over all the money to the prize pool. Other states take percentages towards "state asset pools," such as education, transportation, or tax relief. The NASPL offers a state-by-state guide to where the money is transferred. Over 57% of Americans played the lottery last year. The largest jackpot ever? On Christmas day 2002, Jack Whittaker of West Virginia won $314.9 million, to be paid out over 30 years. He elected to receive a lump sum payment of $170.5 million instead.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 08-02-2007 01:05 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Whose law governs the International Space Station and outer space? In other words, how would a crime committed on board the International Space Station be prosecuted? According to its official site, the International Space Station is "led by the United States," but draws upon the scientific and technological resources of 16 sovereign nations. So, if an extra-terrestrial homicide was committed inside the Japanese laboratory as opposed to the American habitation module, would the astro-murderer escape the death penalty? As a comprehensive FAQ from the European Center for Space Law informed us, "...each partner state in this visionary international cooperation adventure registers its own part of the station -- and consequently can apply its own laws to events therein." As they say in real estate, it's all a matter of location, location, location. The article goes on to tackle such dizzying prospects as moon ownership, outer space traffic rules, space garbage, and alien rights. It's clear that space law is a far more robust field of study than you may at first think. For instance, there is an Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University in Montreal. And, believe it or not, there is a United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in Vienna. Way back in 1963, the U.N. issued a "Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space," which broadly declares: "The State on whose registry an object launched into outer space is carried shall retain jurisdiction and control over such object, and any personnel thereon, while in outer space." It also goes on to mention that the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space shall be carried on "in accordance with international law."  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 08-08-2007 08:29 AM                        Rated G Useless fact - Can a person convicted of a crime serve as president? Article II, Section I of the Constitution offers the following three requirements for becoming president of the United States: * The candidate must be at least 35 years old. * The candidate must be a natural-born U.S. citizen. * The candidate must have resided in the U.S. for at least 14 years at the time of the election. Those are the only stipulations -- the Constitution doesn't mention anything about rap sheets. So technically you could preside in the White House after doing a stint in the Big House. Long before he ran for office, George W. Bush was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine, in 1976 for driving under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded guilty, paid a fine, and had his driver's license suspended for 30 days. Over a century earlier, a sitting president was arrested for a vehicular crime. President Ulysses S. Grant was caught speeding in his horse and buggy. He, too, pleaded guilty, paid a $20 fine, and had his buggy impounded.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 08-13-2007 07:07 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Is sign language for the deaf universal? Or is it English specific? As we learned from the Sign Language category, sign language is not universal. Most countries have their own unique sign language. Like spoken languages, sign languages have their own grammar, syntax, and rules. There are even variations in the English- speaking world, making it possible to sign in an "Australian accent." A particularly fascinating sign language developed on Martha's Vineyard during the 19th century. Early settlers of the island carried a gene for deafness, and as a result of intermarriage, an unusually large portion of the population was deaf by the mid- 1800s. Many of their signs eventually became commonly used in American Sign Language. Gestuno is an international sign language, the equivalent of Esperanto. An amalgam of basic signs from around the world, Gestuno is an Italian word that roughly translates as "oneness of sign languages." The Esperanto analogy is apt, as Gestuno has relatively few practitioners.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 09-07-2007 09:09 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - In a presidential press conference, are all questions submitted in advance? No, but the president's staff does prepare him extensively, rehearsing stock answers to likely questions. The president also undergoes a mock press conference immediately before the real one takes place. While press conferences rarely feature news-worthy pronouncements or policy shifts, they often reveal a president's leadership style. Ever since Woodrow Wilson gave the first press conference in 1913, every administration has interpreted the format differently. President George W. Bush is not a huge fan of press conferences. He has held only a dozen over the course of his administration. His predecessors, including his father, were much more amenable to them. The White House, however, is constantly communicating with the press.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 09-08-2007 10:07 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Why are marathons 26.2 miles long? Because that's roughly the distance between the Greek cities of Marathon and Athens. In 490 BC, the Greek army repelled a Persian naval invasion on the plains surrounding the coastal city of Marathon. According to legend, a runner was sent to Athens to relay news of the victory. Upon reaching Athens, the young man shouted "Rejoice, we conquer!" and fell to the ground dead. But why all the running? Wasn't it a victory lap? No. The Greeks, suspecting that the Persians would attack further up the coast, needed to alert the capital as quickly as possible. And runners were often used to carry messages, since Greece's rocky terrain is tough on horses. The marathon wasn't featured in the ancient Olympic Games, but it was the final event of the first modern Olympics held in Athens in 1896. A Greek shepherd named Spiridon Loues won the race and the eternal adoration of his countrymen. A wealthy donor also blessed him with a year's worth of free meals and free shoe polishes for life.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 09-08-2007 10:10 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Why are marathons 26.2 miles long? Because that's roughly the distance between the Greek cities of Marathon and Athens. In 490 BC, the Greek army repelled a Persian naval invasion on the plains surrounding the coastal city of Marathon. According to legend, a runner was sent to Athens to relay news of the victory. Upon reaching Athens, the young man shouted "Rejoice, we conquer!" and fell to the ground dead. But why all the running? Wasn't it a victory lap? No. The Greeks, suspecting that the Persians would attack further up the coast, needed to alert the capital as quickly as possible. And runners were often used to carry messages, since Greece's rocky terrain is tough on horses. The marathon wasn't featured in the ancient Olympic Games, but it was the final event of the first modern Olympics held in Athens in 1896. A Greek shepherd named Spiridon Loues won the race and the eternal adoration of his countrymen. A wealthy donor also blessed him with a year's worth of free meals and free shoe polishes for life.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 09-10-2007 04:21 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - What is the bestselling beer in the world? We chugged down the rest of our beer (root beer, that is -- we are at work after all), wiped the foam from our mouths, and started our quest for the bestselling beer. All links we visited confirm that the King of Beers, Budweiser, came by its nickname honestly. Yes, it's true -- that rather bland brew Budweiser wears the crown of bestselling beer in the world. Until recently, it also held the title of bestselling beer in America. But Bud was recently dethroned in the United States by its brother, Bud Light. Budweiser's maker, Anheuser-Busch, is the largest brewer in the world and has a corner on about 50% of the U.S. beer market. The company sells beer under a number of other labels, including Busch (of course), but also Michelob, Red Wolf, and O'Doul's. The company also holds an interest in two microbreweries, Redhook and Widmer Brothers. So although Anheuser-Busch has conquered the world beer market and Budweiser may be the King of Beers, true beer lovers usually give the crown to a less mass-marketed brew.  |  IP: Logged Bob Maar (Maar stands for Maartini) Posts: 28608 From: New York City & Newport, RI Registered: Feb 2001 posted 09-10-2007 07:37 PM                        Rated G Useless fact - Who is the largest employer in the United States? Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the United States, with just over 1.1 million U.S. employees. Only the government hires more people in the United States. According to its official site, the company has 1,409 Wal-Mart stores, 1,562 Supercenters, 539 Sam's Clubs, and 70 Neighborhood Markets in the United States. It rang up $345 billion in sales last year.  |  IP: Logged

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