Trivial Fact Of The Day!

[Tank]

I have the ability to remember trivial stuff that I have found hard to match. I can forget important stuff but stuff that could be called trivial, in the sense of little and mostly useless, stick like s**t to a blanket.

Share your little and mostly useless facts with other members here.

Tanks used to have a gender. The very first generation tanks came in two versions, one armed only with machine guns and others armed with modified navel 6lb cannons and machine guns. The machine gun only versions were classed as female while the ones with the cannons were classed as male. The older tank in my avatar would be an example of a male tank.

[Cecilie]

So... I guess this means we have to wait till tomorrow to post another one?

[Tank]

So... I guess this means we have to wait till tomorrow to post another one?

[proudfootz]

Lots of things have obscure names: one that I happen to know is that the little groove running from your nose to your upper lip is called the philtrum.

[Tank]

In some country houses you will find a trench with a wall on one side it's called a Ha-ha

[Byronazriel]

Superman and Lex Luthor have the same middle name: Joseph.

[joeactor]

Superman and Lex Luthor have the same middle name: Joseph.

Uh... Kal Joseph El?


Ok, here's one:
Sardines are not one type of fish, but more of a general category.
Canned sardines can be any of 21 different fish.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sardine

(which is why it drives me nuts when the "chefs" on Food Network talk about sardines as if it's one species...)

[Byronazriel]

Superman's true name is debatable, but his legal name is Clark Joseph Kent. Kal El is his birth name, and his Kryptonian name. He usually thinks of both of them as his "true" name. Though depending on the writer, he may have a prefernece one way or the other.

I'm fairly certain that curent continuity Superman thinks of himself as Clark Kent.

[fester30]

On this day in 1775, Paul Revere went on his ride.  THE BRITISH ARE COMING!!!

[Byronazriel]

Paul Revere was less important than people believe he was.

[Gorton]

Margaret Thatcher invented Mr Whippy.

On reflection, that's possibly an overstatement but she had a hand in the science of it. So not all bad after all.

[fester30]

Paul Revere was less important than people believe he was.

I wouldn't consider that trivial information.    

[Tank]

Paul Revere was less important than people believe he was.

I wouldn't consider that trivial information.    

[joeactor]

... on with the facts!

Cashews are not nuts (botanically) - they're seeds:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashew

(wonder what the Cashew fruit is like?  anyone tried it?)

[fester30]

This day (Apr 19) in...
1775 American Revolution begins
1861 Civil War begins
1993 Branch Davidian compound fire/end of the Lord and Savior David Koresh
1995 Oklahoma City bombing

Tomorrow is a really big day