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Original poster

To want to know the useless facts you store in your brain..

334 replies

IseeNarcPeople · 31/07/2023 20:25

The ones that never get an outting, the chance to use them has never arisen.
For instance, from the many useless facts in my brain:
The phrases "Not enough room to swing a cat" and "Don't let the cat out of the bag" are actually about a whip "Cat O' nine tails" which was kept as a warning and punishment on ships.
Oh and snails can sleep for three years.
Please release some of yours.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
SagittariusDwarf · 04/08/2023 19:33

Soubriquet · 03/08/2023 08:43

The platypus and the echidna are the only two egg laying mammals (I have lots of random animal facts).

They don’t have nipples. The pups just lick the belly as milk is secretes through the fur

I love this. I did palaeobiology and evolution as part of my degree many years ago, and this post has unlocked a memory.

JesusdroveaHonda · 04/08/2023 20:02

Most people probably already knew this, but there's not one specific type of cat called a panther.

I always thought a panther was one specific type of cat- like lion, tiger, jaguar, panther.

It's basically an umbrella term for any big black cat (like a black jaguar or black leopard or sometimes used for mountain lions/pumas/ cougars too in some parts of the world, I think).

Please someone tell me I'm not the only idiot who didn't realise this till adulthood!

NevergonnagiveHughup · 04/08/2023 20:10

Laiste · 31/07/2023 21:06

At 2 and a half years old you are half the height you are going to be as an adult.

Sounds nuts but it's true. I checked with my 4 DCs (3 are in their 20s now) and it's accurate to within an inch or so.

God help my future 210cm DD so…..

Pinkbakerscap · 04/08/2023 20:10

I'm 41 and the panther fact is completely unknown to me.

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 04/08/2023 20:16

NevergonnagiveHughup · 04/08/2023 20:10

God help my future 210cm DD so…..

Show quote history

I wouldn't worry too much. It's not true.

JesusdroveaHonda · 04/08/2023 20:21

@Pinkbakerscap Glad it wasn't just me!

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 04/08/2023 20:24

Ds just told me that when you blush so does your stomach lining!

HollyRocks · 04/08/2023 22:31

Hedgehogs masterbate (orally)
Gorilla penis is only around 4cm when erect

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 04/08/2023 22:35

There is erectile tissue in your nose. So your nostrils can get an erection Shock

Moneynewpence · 04/08/2023 23:30

The Limited Liability Act was passed in 1855.
Basis of Ltd. Companies and modern capitalism ...

Yesabsolutely · 04/08/2023 23:34

My home telephone number 50 years ago and my best friends number. Have absolutely no idea what our landline number is now 😂

Yesabsolutely · 04/08/2023 23:35

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 04/08/2023 20:24

Ds just told me that when you blush so does your stomach lining!

And human beings are the only mammals that blush…read that today somewhere 😊

Catsmere · 05/08/2023 00:05

JesusdroveaHonda · 04/08/2023 20:02

Most people probably already knew this, but there's not one specific type of cat called a panther.

I always thought a panther was one specific type of cat- like lion, tiger, jaguar, panther.

It's basically an umbrella term for any big black cat (like a black jaguar or black leopard or sometimes used for mountain lions/pumas/ cougars too in some parts of the world, I think).

Please someone tell me I'm not the only idiot who didn't realise this till adulthood!

I've known it for a long time, but yes, I was an adult when I learned it.

What I love is that you can see the spots on a black leopard or jaguar when they're in the sun.

PurpleGoose · 05/08/2023 00:05

Catsmere · 01/08/2023 12:43

Is this right, though? Hecate is goddess of witchcraft in the play, not merely head witch (and the scene may not have been written by Shakespeare).

Show quote history

Technically there are no witches in Macbeth as the original character name is The Weird Sisters and they are referred to as such by other characters. Interestingly, the character list doesn't state the number of Weird Sisters (just says The Weird Sisters), but only 3 speak, so most productions only have 3.

Hecate it's also never called a witch either and as the PP says there is much debate about whether that scene was actually in the original or whether it was added later.

Macbeth is also the shortest of Shakespeare's plays (and my favourite - I can quote fairly large chunks of Weird Sister 1's lines and quite a lot of act 1 overall 😊)

PurpleGoose · 05/08/2023 00:09

Sorry the above message was supposed to be to @MeThinksTime

Catsmere · 05/08/2023 00:15

PurpleGoose · 05/08/2023 00:05

Technically there are no witches in Macbeth as the original character name is The Weird Sisters and they are referred to as such by other characters. Interestingly, the character list doesn't state the number of Weird Sisters (just says The Weird Sisters), but only 3 speak, so most productions only have 3.

Hecate it's also never called a witch either and as the PP says there is much debate about whether that scene was actually in the original or whether it was added later.

Macbeth is also the shortest of Shakespeare's plays (and my favourite - I can quote fairly large chunks of Weird Sister 1's lines and quite a lot of act 1 overall 😊)

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Very interesting!

I'm now remembering the historical details that Duncan was not a venerable old king murdered in his bed, but a 39 year old who died in battle (he attacked MacBeth's province), that he and MacBeth had pretty much equal claims to the throne (I think) and that Gruoch, "Lady MacBeth", had a better claim than either. Also that MacBeth reigned seventeen years and was secure enough on the throne to go on pilgrimage to Rome in 1050.

Soubriquet · 05/08/2023 07:47

HollyRocks · 04/08/2023 22:31

Hedgehogs masterbate (orally)
Gorilla penis is only around 4cm when erect

Yeah they do. Anyone who has ever owned a male African Pygmy hedgehog will know exactly what a masturbating hog sounds like. They really go for it

HollyRocks · 05/08/2023 09:44

Soubriquet · 05/08/2023 07:47

Yeah they do. Anyone who has ever owned a male African Pygmy hedgehog will know exactly what a masturbating hog sounds like. They really go for it

Show quote history

I really want to google that sound, but i know i probably shouldn't. I think i read once that they can get so carried away that they injure their penis, or even bite it off??

Soubriquet · 05/08/2023 09:50

Yup. They can do that too. It sounds like….slurping and grinding

Original poster
IseeNarcPeople · 05/08/2023 21:18

Yesabsolutely · 04/08/2023 23:34

My home telephone number 50 years ago and my best friends number. Have absolutely no idea what our landline number is now 😂

Very similar to me, I completely relate !
The American comedian Kathleen Madigan does a whole thing about If you are arrested at some US jails they take your phone from you and don't give it back when you have your one allowed phone call, so you have only what's in your head.
so she'd be ringing up drunk whoever bought their childhood home decades ago.

OP posts:
Original poster
IseeNarcPeople · 05/08/2023 21:28

JesusdroveaHonda · 04/08/2023 20:02

Most people probably already knew this, but there's not one specific type of cat called a panther.

I always thought a panther was one specific type of cat- like lion, tiger, jaguar, panther.

It's basically an umbrella term for any big black cat (like a black jaguar or black leopard or sometimes used for mountain lions/pumas/ cougars too in some parts of the world, I think).

Please someone tell me I'm not the only idiot who didn't realise this till adulthood!

I don't think most people do. I can remember a sentence that came out of my mouth about 10 years ago (about a black cat sighting) and I'm in my fifties.
"She wouldn't know a tabby cat from a tortoiseshell how the bloody hell could she know it was a panther" I found out shortly after!

OP posts:
JesusdroveaHonda · 06/08/2023 08:38

@IseeNarcPeople It raises a lot of questions about the Pink Panther. What was he?

Whatabouteryallaboutery · 06/08/2023 09:10

MalcolmsMiddle · 03/08/2023 18:05

Motorways are numbered after the A road they were built to relieve traffic from - the lowest number motorway that doesn't exist is the M7.

The mileage to a town/city on a motorway sign reflects the distance to the central post office.

(I have nothing to do with motorways, it's just a coincidence I find those two fascinating!)

Can't believe no one has posted the name of the song that kept Vienna by Ultravox off the #1 spot!

Two songs kept Vienna off the UK number one slot. Woman by John Lennon was the first, then Joe Dolce leapfrogged them both to get to number one. There we go. That's my contribution!

Original poster
IseeNarcPeople · 06/08/2023 12:59

JesusdroveaHonda · 06/08/2023 08:38

@IseeNarcPeople It raises a lot of questions about the Pink Panther. What was he?

Your comment blew my tiny mind lol. No wonder we were all confused.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 06/08/2023 18:24

Sharks don’t make any vocal noises!!

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