October 5, 2022
PUBLISHER’S CORNER
Some Interesting Stuff – Trivia and Such
By Eloise Graham
Recently, when I was sorting through myriads of papers, I ran across some things I thought you might find interesting, or boring depending on your mood.
- How many of you have heard that the word GOLF is an acronym for Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden? That was created by someone who had way too much time on their hands. Actually, it comes from the Dutch word “kolf” or “kolve” which means “club.” In the Scottish dialect of the 14th or early 15th century, the Dutch term became “goff” or “gouff.” Then in the 16th century it became “golf.”
- In 2011, more Monopoly money was printed daily than the U. S. Treasury money printed daily. Not true any more.
- According to the 2014 census Alaska had the highest percentage of people that walked or biked to work.
- It is impossible to lick your elbow. Okay, did you just try that?
- The percentage of Africa that is wilderness is 28%. The percentage of North America that is wilderness – wait for it! – is 38%. Did that surprise you? Remember, the United States is only a small portion of North America! We are an egotistical group, aren’t we? The United States only has 5% wilderness.
- The first novel ever written on a typewriter was Tom Sawyer.
- The San Francisco Cable Cars are the only mobile National Landmark.
- The first two people to sign the Declaration of Independence were John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the others signed about a month later. Thomas McKean of Delaware was the last to sign.
- If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter “A”? Start spelling and counting. It will be a while. No “A” until you get to One Thousand.
- What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common? All were invented by women.
- It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all of the mead he could drink. Since mead is made of honey and the calendar was lunar based, this period after the wedding was called the honey month. We now call it the honeymoon.
There is your trivia for the month!
