INTERESTING FACT OF THE DAY

Originally Posted by Moo

There is a town in Newfoundland, Canada called Dildo.

I couldn't believe that one, so I checked on google earth, and sure enough...

Originally Posted by Xerbraski

I don't know......... Waaaaaaaghhh

The airspeed velocity of an unladen European swallow is 8.8 m/s or 20 mph. HTH.

Lynw, at that speed can it correctly hold a coconut by the husk or does it require to to carry it?

Originally Posted by lynw

Finnish has three of the worlds longest palindromic words:

saippuakivikauppias - a soapstone seller
saippuakuppinippukauppias - a soap cup trader
solutomaattimittaamotulos - the result from a measurement laboratory for tomatoes :P

Palindromic phrases from around the world:

nipson anomemata me monan opsin [ancient greek] meaning wash my sins, not only my face.

Btw, the PS is a transcription of one greek letter so would read ni* both ways before you get pedantic over the ps/ps not mirroring.

in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni [latin] meaning we enter the circle after dark and are consumed by fire

nie fragt sie: ist gefegt? sie ist gar fein [german] meaning she never asks: has the sweeping been done? she is very refined

neulo taas niin saat oluen [finnish] means knit again, so that will get a beer

did I mention I read some weird but interesting stuff???

Cleverest palindrome I'm aware of is (apparently) the epitaph of Colonel Geothals:

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!

He designed the Panama canal. No doubt Lynw will correct any inaccuracies in the above...

And talking of epitaphs, Spike Milligans is "I told you I was ill".

Originally Posted by DanDare

Lynw, at that speed can it correctly hold a coconut by the husk or does it require to to carry it?

I think thats a moot point. The migration of Swallows doesnt cover an area coconuts are grown in. :P

Originally Posted by lynw

The airspeed velocity of an unladen European swallow is 8.8 m/s or 20 mph. HTH.

Cool!!
Now I can continue my quest for the Grail!!
Hehe, that bridge keeper isn't gonna catch me out, I already know my name and favorite colour!!
Hope he dosn't ask me about the African Swallow or the capital of Assyria tho.

8.8 m/s or 20mph eh?!...... I'll remember that
And thats a little fact in itself innit.
The airspeed velocity of an unladen EuropeanSwallow is 8.8 m/s or 20mph! Lyn said so!!!

Originally Posted by DanDare

Lynw, at that speed can it correctly hold a coconut by the husk or does it require to to carry it?

It's not a question of where they grip it, it's a simple question of weight ratios.
A five ounce bird cannot carry a 1 pound coconut!

Originally Posted by Xerbraski

Cool!!
Now I can continue my quest for the Grail!!
Hehe, that bridge keeper isn't gonna catch me out, I already know my name and favorite colour!!
Hope he dosn't ask me about the African Swallow or the capital of Assyria tho.

I could post you the maths behind this, but the calculations were based on European swallows. However, I suspect the African ones dont vary in weight, wing beats that much so would probably be the same.

Capital of Assyria was Assur [which is where the name Assyria derives from]. As the country expanded, its capital moved to Nineveh until the empires downfall in around 627 BC.

More people use blue toothbrushes, than red ones.

What colours yours.

The Swiss Army/Air Force is conscripted.

If anyone objects on moral grounds to serving, or can not for medical or psychological reasons, they can apply for civilian service [police/fire brigade/ambulance service etc] instead. But if they do, they pay 3% more tax than those who serve in the armed forces.

But a citizen HAS to serve in either one.

Originally Posted by lynw

The Swiss Army/Air Force is conscripted.

If anyone objects on moral grounds to serving, or can not for medical or psychological reasons, they can apply for civilian service [police/fire brigade/ambulance service etc] instead. But if they do, they pay 3% more tax than those who serve in the armed forces.

But a citizen HAS to serve in either one.

What a broad base of knowledgew of the world we are getting from this thread.

Polar Bears trying to blend in with the ice will sometimes cover up their black nose with their paws.