Fun Little Facts hosted by Pert

[pert -5]

All of the time I come across interesting little tidbits of knowledge that are interesting to read but rarely are remembered.  Most of them fall into the category of "only need to know if you are on Jeopardy."  Forum member S. Earl Martin also e-mails me some good ones semi-regularly.  So I thought it might be a neat idea to make a thread to contain all of those little snippets that we run across and find enticing.  Sort of the same idea as the Share Your Favorite Quote thread.

This first post will be somewhat of a clusterf&#k as I have a few I want to unload.  Afterwards it will be but a gentle flow.  Please, share any and all interesting facts you may have!

[Incidentally, most of these in this first post were shared with me by Earl.]

The word cereal derives from Ceres, the name of the Roman goddess of harvest and agriculture.

There's as much saturated fat in one slice of pepperoni as there is in a 2lb cheese log.

Nine out of every 10 living things live in the ocean.

To make half a kilo of honey, bees must collect nectar from over 2 million individual flowers.

Astronauts can't belch - there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs.

The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night.

Caffeine increases the power of aspirin and other painkillers, that is why it is found in some medicines.

Trivia in Roman mythology was the goddess who haunted crossroads, graveyards and was the goddess of sorcery and witchcraft.  She wandered about at night, and was seen only by the barking of dogs who told of her approach. 

In ancient times strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed.

In 2011,  July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays. This apparently happens once every 823 years! 

These are the qualities which make a man:  honor, valor, courage, great hygiene, night vision, courteousness, knowing the secret handshake, and good spelling.

[Enigma]

[citation needed]

[pert -5]

Thanks Enigma.

In 2011,  July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays. This apparently happens once every 823 years! 

Check this out:
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/monthly.html?year=2005&month=7

Apparently 823 years is cognate to 6.  meh  This new info certainly sets this thread off to a rocky start, doesn't it?  Hmmm....

[S. Earl Martin]

[citation needed]

I am familiar enough with these that I don't need a citation. Besides it is simple enough to do a search on any of these if I doubted there accuracy. I like the thread and others you do because I can see how you are attempting to make people more aware and your intent is to help people. Thanks Pert-5 

[pert -5]

There were 110 homicides in Oakland, California in 2011.  The last confirmed killing in 2011 was of 5-year-old Gabriel Martinez who was shot while standing near his father's work truck.  A banner was erected near the site which displayed Gabriel's visage, as well as the words "Alto a la violencia," which is Spanish for stop the violence.

[S. Earl Martin]

People have been killing each other thru out history. Human pain and suffering continues dispite humans continueing attempts to stop it. Many of the most outspoken people trying to draw attention to the cause were in fact tortured, murdered or at least imprisoned. Religion has failed to stop it. Science has failed to stop it. Many causes have been launched and they failed to stop it. This is why I believe in God. Because I believe it will take a devine intervention to truly bring peace and end the suffering.
God Help Us! 

[pert -5]

But if God doesn't make an immediate appearance, at the very least we need to work on promulgating the cure for the E-G-O virus which causes rapid narcissism onset and proneness to arrogance and megalomania.

[S. Earl Martin]

Yes that's true. Just because it hasn't been stopped doesn't mean we should give up and let the evil bastards win. We should still do what we can to spread peace and love as often as we can. And if that doesn't work we could just shoot them. LOL! Just kidding. No resorting to their tactics has just made things worse. That is what I am trying to tell people who are advocating a governmental over throw. Anarchy just makes things worse and is a last resort. Working with in the system and trying to patiently make changes for the better is the best way. I have had similar discussions with people who believe protecting the enviornment is a waste of time. That God will fix everything so it doesnt matter. They are to blind to see that they are destroying their childrens future. Peace

[pert -5]

Thank you Earl.  Yes, government overthrowing is not going to solve anything.  The whole audience of humanity needs to take a step back and re-evaluate their tendencies to accord with the Ego.  But what am I supposed to do, with a wish that won't come true?  The very fabric of what desire is comprised of needs to be changed radically.  If it continues to espouse political gain and material satiation, then life then will continue to bloat, dilate, water, water is needed to keep it aright. 

[S. Earl Martin]

Water? Like pull the chain and flush, start all over again? Actually this world is possible because of water and the ability to have fire. Most other places can either not have combustion or only in the form of an explosion. Earth is the only planet that can have the kind of fire we take for granted. Most of our industial processes are based on either water or fire.

I am the God of Hell fire and I bring you fire. Where have I heard that before. LOL!

[pert -5]

Giving thought to my vain philosophical talk AND quoting Arthur Brown lyrics...  Earl, you are awesome! 

[S. Earl Martin]

Hey man! You come up with some pretty cool stuff yourself. A number of times you have raised my awareness and made me stop and think. That is a really good thing and I appreciate it. Peace is the answer. The meek will inherit the earth.

[pert -5]

The meek will inherit the earth.

Hmm.  You see, this is one of the reasons why I wouldn't identify myself as a Buddhist.  Buddhism is too ...passive for my tastes.  I'm a Darwinist, and as such the "survival of the fittest" theory runs strong within my paradigm.  In fact, I've been taking a lot of time lately to study DwtwsbtwotL; or, Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.  I mean really, really study and meditate upon it.  Anyway, the meek may win the earth, but I would think it as more a slipping through the cracks than an inheritance.  Just a thought.

Peace is the answer.  Namaste

[S. Earl Martin]

It reminds me of the cartoon about the 2 big male dogs fighting over a female in heat. While they are killing each other for who gets her? A little dog sneaks in and does the deed. While they aren't looking. I think it is the same with the meek. After it is over the meek hiding in the ruins come out and take over. While the warriors all lie dead and broken. Maybe I will right that in my next book? The meek part, not the dog part.

To be honest I agree. I like to think of myself as a man of peace and ideally I am, but there are times when I have been pushed to far and reacted. I have given that a lot of thought. If someone tries to kill me should I defend myself? Or let it happen? What if they are torturing me or my family? It is not so cut and dried as I would never... I guess that is where forgiveness and repentance come in.

[pert -5]

It is argued that...[it's a small world, after all]... is the single most performed and most translated piece of music on Earth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_small_world_%28after_all%29#Song

[S. Earl Martin]

I had to sing that in elementry school. It was the only play I was ever in in school where I had a lead. I had to wear a stupid costume and everything. I can still hear that song in my head. LOL!

[pert -5]

As easy as it is to give smiles and laughter is as easy as it is to bring tears and sorrow.  Such power each of us wields at our fingertips, without knowing it.  This gift of life is no mere whimsy thing.  It has its joys; and its responsibilities.  How we use it is our choice.

[Kiar]

Just to one fact of history. There are mostly two kinds of wars.
Religion and/or resource wars. Often one is used to amplify the other.

I would like to know just one war that religion stopped. I don’t think they exist.

[pert -5]

I would like to know just one war that religion stopped. I don’t think they exist.

Sadly they do not exist, because they can not exist, as defined by their nature.  Religion can help people on a personal level.  Even as an atheist, I can see that.  But when religion becomes a flag that people blindly flock to, then it is naught but a line drawn in the sand.  "I dare you to cross mine."  Perhaps the saints and prophets of religion are fake, maybe they're real, who cares?  All that I know is that people have taken words ascribed to these men and women and have turned those words into weapons.  The soul of the messages have been bled out in order to make room for the bayonets to be affixed.  Religion is no answer, history shows as much.

Thank you kiar.

[S. Earl Martin]

Love is the answer!!! I would say that it is possible that wars have been averted by individuals who were religious. Or treaties have been negotioated by religious individuals. Citing an actual instance would be difficult. A number of religious people gave their lives promoting peace or protesting war or injustice. One of my wife and my reasons for becoming mediators was our religious beliefs. A large percentage of the other mediators we knew were motivated by their religious beliefs. Which were from many different faiths. The tie that bound us together was our desire to promote peace.