Author Topic: what I have learned today. (Read 857411 times)

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1350 on:** 17 August, 2016, 06:34:06 pm »

That the iconic piano intro to "Free Bird" was written by Lynyrd Skynryd roadie Billy Powell, who was invited to join the band forthwith when Ronnie van Zandt heard him mucking about on a piano.

Andrij · « **Reply #1351 on:** 17 August, 2016, 10:18:47 pm »

Since it was disbanded in the 4^th century, there have been over half a dozen attempts at reëstablishing the Sanhedrin, most recently in 2004.

Bledlow · « **Reply #1352 on:** 18 August, 2016, 12:48:55 pm »

That in 1994 a large quantity (about 1000 tons) of fuel oil was extracted from the wreck of the German heavy cruiser Blücher, sunk by Norwegian coastal defences on 9th April 1940 - and sold. The reason for extracting it was because it was leaking out & polluting the area, but it was sold to defray costs, after being cleaned.

T42 · « **Reply #1353 on:** 18 August, 2016, 05:45:44 pm »

Robert Browning used the word "twats" in his drama "Pippa Passes". He thought it was an article of clothing for nuns.

Then, owls and bats, cowls and twats,
Monks and nuns, in a cloister's moods,
Adjourn to the oak-stump pantry !

ElyDave · « **Reply #1354 on:** 18 August, 2016, 08:12:19 pm »

That people actually ride Pederson bicycles, saw one by the Bastille today

Also that Parisians seem to have a thing for front racks on bikes of any kind

T42 · « **Reply #1355 on:** 21 August, 2016, 07:36:37 am »

The pressed steel car wheel was invented by a bloke called Sankey, whose previous experience was in making tea trays.

Torslanda · « **Reply #1356 on:** 24 August, 2016, 01:46:29 pm »

There is such a thing as an 'isosceles trapezium'.

Torslanda · « **Reply #1357 on:** 24 August, 2016, 02:15:35 pm »

Also that the most bombed real estate on the planet is Laos. SITRO 2,000,000 tons of ordnace dropped on the poor buggers during the Vietnam war

and

according to official estimates it may well be 700 years before the French Zone Rouge* is finally cleared of all unexploded munitions. I wonder if they have taken account of lunch breaks...?

*Originally designated as "Completely devastated. Damage to properties: 100%. Damage to Agriculture: 100%. Impossible to clean. Human life impossible"

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #1358 on:** 24 August, 2016, 02:19:27 pm »

Disappointed that the See also of that article doesn't mention Edmonton.

T42 · « **Reply #1359 on:** 24 August, 2016, 04:50:08 pm »

Good place to put Pokémon Go whatsits.

L CC · « **Reply #1360 on:** 25 August, 2016, 05:08:03 pm »

This exists

If I still had a waistline, it would now have disappeared.

TheLurker · « **Reply #1361 on:** 25 August, 2016, 05:44:43 pm »

Quote from: fboab on 25 August, 2016, 05:08:03 pm

This exists

If I still had a waistline, it would now have disappeared.

I think we have a new home page for YACF.

Canardly · « **Reply #1362 on:** 25 August, 2016, 09:06:46 pm »

Quote from: TheLurker on 25 August, 2016, 05:44:43 pm

Quote from: fboab on 25 August, 2016, 05:08:03 pm
This exists

If I still had a waistline, it would now have disappeared.
I think we have a new home page for YACF.

FBOAB you are a norty gurl.

Andrij · « **Reply #1363 on:** 25 August, 2016, 09:12:40 pm »

It's not just cities which can be twinned - toilets can be twinned as well. (SFW)

David Martin · « **Reply #1364 on:** 25 August, 2016, 09:25:19 pm »

Quote from: Andrij on 25 August, 2016, 09:12:40 pm

It's not just cities which can be twinned - toilets can be twinned as well. (SFW)

Yes they can and it is a good thing too.

Mrs Pingu · « **Reply #1365 on:** 26 August, 2016, 07:01:04 am »

Quote from: fboab on 25 August, 2016, 05:08:03 pm

This exists

If I still had a waistline, it would now have disappeared.

Nah, what you need is a Lochinver pie.... http://www.piesbypost.co.uk/catalog.html

David Martin · « **Reply #1366 on:** 26 August, 2016, 09:58:38 am »

In Dundee there is always (as in 24 hours ) the options of a Clarks Bakery pie. It has been said that the recipes were discovered in the manuscripts of the great piemaker CMOT Dibbler, and that the concept of 23 types of pie (including chicken tikka, cheesy mac and steak pie with haggis ) are an abomination. But at 2am and pissed, with the choice of 23 pies or a helicopter burger, life does start to look made of gravy.

Kim · « **Reply #1367 on:** 26 August, 2016, 10:03:40 am »

IRTA helicobacter burger. Same general principle, I suppose.

Salvatore · « **Reply #1368 on:** 27 August, 2016, 10:01:05 am »

That Kirkenes, in northern Norway near the border with Russia, where I spent a day of my hols this year,is further east than Istanbul, and yet is in the same time zone as Galicia in western Spain.

T42 · « **Reply #1369 on:** 27 August, 2016, 11:00:29 am »

The speed cameras on French autoroutes are installed and run by private companies rather than the police. This came to light a while back when Electricité de France cut off power to a series of them because the company hadn't paid the bill.

ElyDave · « **Reply #1370 on:** 27 August, 2016, 06:27:31 pm »

Quote from: Torslanda on 24 August, 2016, 01:46:29 pm

There is such a thing as an 'isosceles trapezium'.

wot's that, all four sides different lengths?

Bledlow · « **Reply #1371 on:** 27 August, 2016, 10:02:11 pm »

Quote from: Salvatore on 27 August, 2016, 10:01:05 am

That Kirkenes, in northern Norway near the border with Russia, where I spent a day of my hols this year,is further east than Istanbul, and yet is in the same time zone as Galicia in western Spain.

Spain is in the wrong time zone. It's arguable that so is France.

T42 · « **Reply #1372 on:** 28 August, 2016, 08:33:09 am »

^^^Given that time zones are administrative constructs, there's no reliable definition of "wrong".

jsabine · « **Reply #1373 on:** 28 August, 2016, 09:16:38 am »

No, but there is a reliable definition of 'doesn't bear any sensible relationship to sun time.'

ElyDave · « **Reply #1374 on:** 28 August, 2016, 06:02:16 pm »

That feet first is definitely the way forward.

After 200km on an upright I have sore hands, a sore neck and a sore arse. No more than 100km on one of those things for me in future.