General Chat

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The first submarine was designed in 1578

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) made sketches of a submarine and William Bourne, a British mathematician, drew plans for a submarine in 1578. But it was only in 1620 that Cornelius van Drebbel, a Dutch inventor, managed to build a submarine. He wrapped a wooden rowboat tightly in waterproofed leather and had air tubes with floats to the surface to provide oxygen. Of course, there were no engines yet, so the oars went through the hull at leather gaskets. He took the first trip with 12 oarsmen in the Thames River - staying submerged for 3 hours.
http://www.didyouknow.cd/submarine.htm


Or…… More than 5 billion crayons are produced each year


The first credit card was issued in 1951 and that the first advertisement for credit was placed in 1730 by Christopher Thornton, who offered furniture that could be paid off weekly.

There are more than 20,000 brands of beer


Judges' robes were not always black. In fact, they used to be as colourful as predicted by the fashion of the day. However, to mourn the death of Queen Mary II in 1694, judges wore black robes... and never changed back to another colour.

The United States briefly enjoyed the services of a monarch, Emperor Norton I, who proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico in 1859. He had all his "state proclamations" published in San Francisco's newspapers and wrote letters that were seriously considered by Abraham Lincoln and Queen Victoria.

Odd Laws
During the 6th Century, it was customary to congratulate people who sneezed because it was thought that they were expelling evil from their bodies. During the great plague of Europe, the Pope passed a law to say "God bless you" to one who sneezed.

There still are some weird laws on the books. In Washington state, it is against the law to boast that one's parents are rich. In Maryland, it's illegal to play Randy Newman's "Short People" on the radio. In Alabama it is illegal to play Dominoes on Sunday. And in Minneapolis, double-parkers can be put on a chain gang.

A pregnant woman can urinate anywhere she wishes, including a policeman's helmet, according to a London local by-law. But in Vermont, women require their husbands permission to wear false teeth.

An old law in Russia allows a police officer to "beat a peeping tom soundly." In Texas, two categories of men are exempt from peeping tom charges: men over 50 and men with only one eye.

An odd law in Minnesota makes it illegal to hang male and female underwear on the same washing line. In Melbourne, Australia it is illegal for men to parade in strapless dresses - but they are allowed to cross-dress in anything with sleeves.

Can openers were invented 48 years after cans

Cans were opened with a hammer and chisel before the advent of can openers. The tin cannister, or can, was invented in 1810 by a Londoner, Peter Durand. The year before, French confectioner, Nicolas Appert, had introduced the method of canning food (as it became known) by sealing the food tightly inside a glass bottle or jar and then heating it. He could not explain why the food stayed fresh but his bright idea won him the 12,000-francs prize that Napoleon offered in 1795 for preserving food. Durand supplied the Royal Navy with canned heat-preserved food while Appert would help Napoleon's army march on its stomach.

Bored susan????

It was quite interesting

Jenxx

Lol Ann.....

you read me so well

tired more like....need to do so much too

~~~to Jen~~~

but just one more for now :-).....


In ancient times, it was believed that certain colours could combat the evil spirits that lingered over nurseries. Because blue was associated with the heavenly spirits, boys were clothed in that colour, boys then being considered the most valuable resource to parents. Although baby girls did not have a colour associated with them, they were mostly clothed in black. It was only in the Middle Ages when pink became associated with baby girls.

wow!!

No, I didn't know most of them (I had heard of Leonardo's design & I have heard the pregnant lady one before but forgotten it lol)...thanks Susan.

I was surprised about the judge's robes changing to black as late as 1964

I think it should have read 1694 Lesley....have changed it.


don't you just love trivia :-)))

http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about_judiciary/court_dress/history/index.htm

Great Britain was the first county to issue postage stamps, on 1 May 1840. Hence, UK stamps are the only stamps in the world not to bear the name of the country of origin.

Napoleon's christening name was Italian: Napoleone Buonaparte. He was born on the island of Corsica one year after it became French property. As a boy, Napoleon hated the French.

I always thought the "Bless you" after sneezing was connected with the plague - sneezing was one of the symptoms. As in the rhyme "Ring a ring a roses, a pocket full of posies, atishoo, atishoo, we all fall down"" - also connected with the plague

~~ to Susan
Education first thing in the morning lol
any more
Jenxx

One of these facts is false....now be good and dont google...


"Rhythm" is the longest English word without a vowel.

In 1386, a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child

A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off!

Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

You can't kill yourself by holding your breath

There is a city called Rome on every continent.

It's against the law to have a pet dog in Iceland

Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day

Horatio Nelson, one of England's most illustrious admirals was throughout his life, never able to find a cure for his sea-sickness.

The skeleton of Jeremy Bentham is present at all important meetings of the University of London

Right handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people

Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, everytime you breathe

The elephant is the only mammal that can't jump

One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet

Are you telling me I'm not allowed to wear
strapless dresses in public any more??

xxxx mick

No Rome in Antarctica!

Hmmm! Interesting Eldrick

and the answer is?? :-))

Dont know
Sits in corner with Dunces hat on
Jenxx

Lol Mick
Now how did I just know you were going to ask that?

I give up Eldrick......did you not know.....I am Susangoogleferbrains?

I would say its this one Eldrick

The elephant is the only mammal that can't jump....(I'm thinking Rhinos and hippos here?)

?

Yes Susan - but luckily I live
100 km from Melbourne!