Multi-Purpose

Fact- Listerine was once used as a surgical antiseptic, a cure for venereal disease, and floor cleaner

Further Info- An advertising campaign invented the term halitosis, i.e. bad breath, and marketed Listerine as a cure.

Apparently, It also cured dandruff.

Behind the Scenes- Random!

Fact- When Chrysler first introduced the Plymouth car model in the 1920s, it made all the salesmen dress up as Pilgrims as advertising.

Further Info- Companies such as Chrysler devoted a lot of money to advertising because they were selling more expensive cars than Ford's Model T

Behind the Scenes- I was supposedly reading a cultural history of the 1920s, although maybe 50% of the book was about Al Capone

Its Almost Summer!

Yay! I have a new follower! Thanks guys!

Fact- Beach balls were invented in California in 1938

Further Info- Sorry, none today

Behind the Scenes- Memorial Day weekend is almost upon us. Its my official beginning of summer date!

Too Cute to Wait

Fact-Imperial Beach in California hosts the Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition every year. Puppies on Surf Boards!!!

Further Info- http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1991509,00.html?xid=yahoo-feat

Behind the Scenes- Adorable!!!

Charity

Fact- JM Barrie, the author of the Peter Pan story, donated all rights to the Great Ormond Childrens' Hospital in 1929.

Further Info- the hospital received royalties from all stage and movie adaptations of Peter Pan until 2007, when the copyright expired. The Prime Minister worked out a deal that allows the hospital to get the royalties of all stage productions of the story in the UK

Behind the Scenes- from one of my favorite sights, Mental Floss

Pac-Man

Fact- The video game Pac-Man is 30 years old now

Further Info- There have been over 30 sequels and spin offs of the game that at least 94% of Americans recognize on sight.

Behind the Scenes- nothing fun!

Civil War and the Medal of Honor

Fact- the last Civil War soldier to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor was Cpl. Andrew Jackson Smith. He was awarded his medal in 2001, 136 years after the war ended.

Further Info- There have been 3,447 recipients of the medal since its establishment by Congress in 1862. The Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, just approved a request to award the medal to another Civil War soldier, 1st Lt. Alonzo Cushing.

Behind the Scenes- Completely and Utterly Random!

The Beatles

Fact- You cannot purchase or legally download any of The Beatles' songs in a mp3 format. You can illegally download it or rip a CD you already own.

Further Info- The remaining Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney claims the blame lies with the record company EMI. http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10110000/newsid_10116600/10116607.stm

Behind the Scenes- I was listening to the radio the other day and The Beatles were mentioned. And I suddenly realized that you couldn't buy any other their songs on itunes. You can, however, purchase Beatles songs performed by any number of tribute and cover bands.

Graduation

Fact- The graduation tradition of throwing your caps in the air was started by the graduates of the US Naval Academy in 1912. The graduates, who upon graduation would receive officers' caps, and threw their no-longer-needed midshipman's caps to celebrate their promotions.

Further Info- The practice soon caught on and was copied at graduation ceremonies at other schools. But it's apparently dangerous to throw your mortarboard in the air. There have been several documented incidents of students becoming injured as a result and many schools have banned the practice.

Behind the Scenes- nothing interesting

Friday the 13th

Fact- Friday the 13th is deemed unlucky because of the Knights Templar

More Info- The Knights Templar were originally a monastic order belonging to the Catholic Church. They were, among other things, an elite military unit that guarded pilgrims to the Holy Land during the Crusades. They became too radical and the Church turned against them. The King of France outlawed them in 1307 and the arrests began on Friday the 13th. Thus, the unlucky connotation associated with that date.

Behind the Scenes- Netflix recommended this interesting series from Britain, Bonekickers, about a team of archeologists who solve mysteries! Could this series have been made for me or what?!

"Junk"

Fact- The word "junk" was originally a nautical term used for old, useless pieces of rope of uncertain origin

Further Info- the term was later expanded to include other objects that were old and useless

Behind the Scenes- a character on one of my favorite shows, NCIS, Ducky, is also interested in useless, random pieces of information. The latest episode had the team investigating a murder where the corpse was found in a junk yard...of course Ducky had to impart his knowledge to the rest of the team.

Spanish Flu

Fact- The influenza pandemic of 1918 was not called the Spanish Flu because it originated in Spain. It was only called that because the Spanish newspapers were the first to report it.

Further Info- the pandemic most likely originated at a US Army base or small mid-western town and traveled overseas with troops arriving in France for WWI. All Allied newspapers were being censored for the moral of both civilians and troops. Spain was neutral and therefore, newspapers could print the story.

Behind the Scenes- Ive been reading the book "The Great Influenza" by John M. Barry the last couple of days, thus the random fact about the flu.

The Beginning

So, I've decided to start this lovely blog as an extension of an ongoing "project". Its actually really pointless, but I've been rather bored the last few months, and need something else to do.

Basically, the "project" is that I find a random fact every day or so and send it out to a couple of friends. The list of people who have "subscriptions" has varied, but I know that a few core people appreciate it.

For fans of random fact of the day, dont worry...you will still get your lovely text updates, but now you can read the blog too and find out the secrets behind the facts and perhaps discover that they are not so random after all.

So enjoy, those few who will read this.