Amazing Fact Generator

Amazing Fact Generator http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:45:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Crayola means "oily chalk." The name is derived from the French words "craie", or "chalk," and "ola," an abbreviation for "oleaginous," or "oily." http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1588 Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, used to work for Kentucky Fried Chicken. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1585 Though the Ford Mustang uses a mustang pony as an image the car was actually named after the P-51 Mustang, a fighter plane from WWII http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1583 In Ireland, Jack O'Lanterns were once carved from turnips http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1581 Tom Selleck was set to play Indiana Jones, but due to contract agreement for Magnum PI, he decided to do the honorable thing and keep the agreement. Ironically a writers’ strike delayed production long enough that he could have filmed Jones. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1577 The guy featured in the NBA logo is former Laker, Jerry West. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1574 The Outerbridge Crossing, that connects Staten Island, NY and Perth Amboy, NJ was named after Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge. And has nothing to do with the geographical location of the bridge. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1571 Hysteria was originally thought to only occur in women. It was said to be the result of a wandering uterus. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1563 August is the month when most babies are born. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1561 Albert Einstein never received a Nobel Prize for his theory of relativity http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1558 The first fax machine was invented over 25 years before the telephone. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1556 Only pharaohs were allowed to eat mushrooms in ancient Egypt. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1554 An ostrich's eye is the same size as its brain. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1552 One way lima beans defend themselves is by emitting a chemical warning system against spider mites (which eat lima beans) that attracts predators of spider mites, which then in turn defends the lima beans. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1549 Al Capone almost got away from being convicted by the FBI, until IRS special agents finally found charges to stick: tax evasion. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1547 Julia Child was 6 feet, 2 inches tall. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1543 Vanna White was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the tv's most frequent clapper. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1540 Bela Lugosi, famous for playing Dracula in the 1931 classic, was not fluent in English, but learned his words line for line for the movie. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1538 Only Franklin Delano Roosevelt served more than two elected terms as president of the United States Of America. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1535 The eye of the Colossal Squid is the largest of any known animal, at up to 11 inches in diameter. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1533 Google, the Internet search company founded in September 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, got its name from the word Googol, which represents number 1 followed with hundred zeros after it. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1530 William Howard Taft was not only the heaviest U.S. president, but also the last to sport facial hair. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1527 One of the first known contraceptives was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1524 After having an argument with his son about Crazy 8's, Merle Robbins, a barbershop owner and card lover, invented UNO in 1971 in Reading, Ohio. He introduced the game to his family, and after they started playing the game more and more he decided to have the game printed. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1521 Nintendo, the popular video game company, was actually founded in 1889 as a playing card company. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1518 Trees do not grow higher than 130m as it is physically impossible for the water to rise higher. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1516 Three months after Charlie Chaplin died his corpse was stolen by two Swiss mechanics in order to extort money from the family. The robbers were captured and Chaplin's body was found eleven weeks later. To prevent further attempts, he was reburied under concrete. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1507 The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island. What was the island's name before it was named Liberty Island? Answer: Bedloe's Island http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1502 William Shatner (Captain Kirk from Stak Trek) could never spread his fingers in the Vulcan greeting unless the studio crew taped or tied fishing line around his fingers. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1499 There is one strand of corn silk for each kernel on an ear of corn. http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/?p=1466 Amazing Fact Generator