The mind is an amazing muscle. The amount of information it holds is awe inspiring. Why is it that sometimes one can solve the answer to a historical question (like who created bread) but can't remember how to change a tire? Knowledge is power and useless knowledge is abundant and always at the ready. If you are that person brimming with mundane facts... get yourself to Jeopardy!
Redditor u/ReverseFlash_94 wanted everyone to divulge all the information our minds have downloaded that seems to be useful if we end up on 'Jeopardy' by asking.... What is your most useless fact?Hey J....
Michael J Fox Waiting GIF by Back to the Future Trilogy
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Michael J. Fox's middle name is Andrew.
I before O
Confetti is the plural word, the singular is confetto.
Oh, like how macaroni is plural and the singular is macaronous.
Say what you Mean
The term "third world country" refers to countries not allied with NATO or the USSR during the Cold war, not developing nations.
Like the word "literally" literally meaning "figuratively," and only figuratively meaning "literally."
Or "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" originally being a saying to demonstrate how impossible something is, but now being considered (by some, at least) the standard for how hard-working a person should be.
What about a Hiney?
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A "butt" is a unit of measurement equivalent to 126 gallons. So if you claim that you have a buttload of something, you better have 126 gallons of that something.
Thanks Bill
Bluegrass music isn't named after the type of grass.
It's named after Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys (the original blue grass band the category comes from)
It's interesting... but I haven't found a use for it.
Dumbo is Lucky
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Elephants can move their skin to crush mosquitoes between their rolls.
Wish I could do that. Lord knows I have the rolls.
The List is Long...
Oh boy do I have a few! I collect these!
- A chinchillas fur is so thick it can suffocate fleas
- Cows have best friends and accents!
- The human nose is one of the best predictors of when its going to rain because it can pick up its scent
- The reason zebras are black and white is for camouflage! Their main predators are lions which are black and white color blind! Seeing a moving wave of stripes makes it harder to single out one sole zebra to focus on!
- The human brain has the consistency of soft butter and is mostly water which is why staying hydrated is so important
- There are such things as underwater lakes. Water meets another liquid which has a different density creating the illusion of a lake under water. Think oil and water. You should honestly look up pictures they look amazing.
- Squirrels have been known to adopt other squirrels babies if they have been abandoned!
- The reason dogs look to their owns when they poop is because they feel scared and vulnerable and like knowing your keeping an eye out
- Albino plants exist! However, they are really rare and often don't survive due to the chlorophyll (which makes plants green) being necessary for photosynthesis
- Popcorn was an accident! I don't remember the details but essentially they were trying to eat the kernels but couldn't so they said they were useless and threw them away into the fire. Boom. Popcorn. Honestly_Done
Go Fish
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'Sushi grade' fish isn't a real thing.
Fish grading is a real process, but it's to do with weight and size, and it doesn't go C, B, A, Sushi.
Here comes the Sun
The diameter of the sun is roughly 400 times that of the moon but it's also approximately 400 times farther away from earth. These two things cancel each other out and, with astronomical odds, they end up looking the same size from earth.
King Shot
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I learned this yesterday that Elvis was asked in 1956 before going on the Ed Sullivan show if he'd get a polio vaccine in front of cameras, that photo was put in newspapers nation wide. There was a vaccination gap in teens of the time they were not getting it, that photo caused I believe a 15+% increase in the total vaccinated population of the US.
Centered
- The center hole of a CD/DVD/BD is based on the Dutch 10 cent coin called dubbeltje.
- The dubbeltje was the smallest coin in the world until it was replaced by the Euro. AncientMumu
Twisted
Death Becomes Her 80S Movies GIF by absurdnoise
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It takes a full three rotations to remove the human head due to the elasticity of skin.
So Much Knowledge
You're more likely to die on the way to buy a lottery ticket than to win the jackpot.
You're nose is always in view but your brain blocks it out.
Homosexuality occurs in 90% of known species, none more than spiders who are predominantly homosexual rather than heterosexual like most species.
In Harry Potter all pure blood wizard families follow naming schemes and are closely related and accidental incest was caught on an official family tree JK Rowling made for Pottermore.
Following Dinner
Crows are symbols of death because they followed the soldiers to war because they knew that there would be something to eat afterwards.
Cars Then?
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It's illegal to have sex on a parked motorcycle in London.
The Family Süd
The store Aldi was founded by two brothers in Germany. At one point, they had a falling out, and the store was split into two different corporations - Aldi Nord (north) and Aldi Süd (south). As you might guess, you can find Aldi Nord in northern Germany, and Aldi Süd in southern Germany. The Aldi that exists in the US is owned by Aldi Nord. For trademark reasons (I believe), Aldi Süd was unable to come to the US and call itself Aldi. However, Trader Joe's is owned by Aldi Süd.
In Time
A second is called a second because it is the 2nd division of the hour by 60 (pars minuta secunda), the 1st division being a minute (pars minuta prima).
Mhmmmm.....
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The phrase "I told you so".
- It is a fact since you told me.
- The fact that you told me doesn't help me at all which makes it a useless fact. Boring_Youth3531
How about Bare?
Bears were not always called bears. The word bear was used as a placeholder name for the animal; as medieval folk thought that saying the real name of the animal would cause one to appear. The original name for a bear has since been lost and no one knows what it was.
Falling
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Squirrels can fall from any height and not get hurt. It something to do with their terminal velocity.
Squirrels can fall from any height up to about 4800 miles, because they are able to spread out their body, which slows their terminal velocity to a slow enough fall that they survive. The only reason they can't survive from 4800 miles is that they will starve to death (assuming they were somehow managing to fall at terminal velocity towards earth, since that is in the frigid cold that is space).
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Not all pet owners have the same relationship with their pets.
While anyone who decides to become a pet owner, or pet parent as some say, love their pets equally, some never ever let them leave their side.
Taking their pet with them to work, running errands, even on vacations.
Many pet parents even allow their pets to share their bed with them when going to sleep.
For others though, this is where a line is finally drawn.
Redditor Piggythelavasurfer was curious to hear whether pet owners allowed their pets to share their bed with them, as well as the reasons why they do/don't, leading them to ask:
"Do you let your pet sleep in your bed? Why/why not?"
The Tiny Issue Of Water...
"Absolutely not."
"I have fish."- Senior-Meal3649
Everyone Gets Lonely Eventually...
"I adopted an eleven year old cat the day before Halloween."
"She has mostly lived in my closet since I got her, and she hasn’t been too interested in coming out."
"Last night, she came out of my closet and jumped up on my bed, and crawled under my covers and curled up by my feet to sleep."
"I was so happy!"- YellowBeastJeep
The Comforting Reminder That You're Not Alone...
"I recently lost my Greyhound but I used to let him sleep on my bed with me."
"The company was nice and he was no trouble to have on my bed."- HoodedMenace3
Hungry Cookie GIF by De Graafschap Dierenartsen
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What Do You Mean Allow?
"I have no choice."
"She is a cat, cats do whatever they want."- Small_cat1412
"He lets me sleep in my bed."- Poorly-Drawn-Beagle
Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way
"I carry my old boy upstairs to bed every night."- worst_in_show
Hug GIF by The BarkPost
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Who Needs An Alarm Clock?
"I let my two cats sleep with me."
"They're so full of love and just want cuddles all the time."
"And so do I."
"We've all developed a lil routine."
"Get to bed, oldest sleeps on my feet to keep them warm, youngest lies in my arm while I lie on my side (she the little spoon), then when I snooze my alarm for work in the morning the youngest paws at my face and meeps loudly to wake me up."- GhostofaFlea_
Whose Bed Is It Anyway?
"Yes."
"They're also kind enough to let me squeeze into whatever space they've left for me."
"Although I do get a few dirty looks off them."- Therealkaylor
"I found this tiny kitten screaming her head off under a car."
"Would not come out."
"Got some food and some water in dishes."
"I stood by the tire so she couldn't see my feet."
"She got curious about the food and water and started gobbling it down."
"I thought she would bolt when I squatted down."
"She was too busy eating."
"I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and all four legs went straight out and she tried to scratch me to death."
"I got her in the door and tossed her toward the couch."
"She ricocheted off the couch as if she was a ping pong off a table and I lost sight of her."
"I put out food and water and a sandbox and did not see that kitten for three days."
"On the third day, I came home and she was on my bed pillow."
"I thought she would bolt when I came near, but she didn't."
"I wanted to sleep so I tried to scoot her little butt off my pillow."
"She would not go."
"I put my head down to sleep and that is the way it was from then on."
"She ran the roost."- Logical_Cherry_7588
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Sleeping Is A Prerequisite...
"No, he's a cat and he cannot keep still during the night."
"He walks across the headboard, opens the closet doors, jumps into the windows and rustles the blinds, etc."
"If he would sleep he could stay, but alas, he's a ramblin' man."- Spong_Durnflungle
Saying No Just Isn't An Option...
"'Let'."
"Lol."
"It's a cat's world and I'm happy to be on her good side."- milaren
Felines Only!
"The cat does, the dog doesn't and the horse certainly does not either."- Xcrowzz
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Is That My Hair On That Pillow?
"My dog is perfect."
"She comes up, cuddles til we start to fall asleep, then gets down to sleep on her bed so she doesn't get too hot."
"Jumps back up in the early morning for wake up cuddles."
"The hair everywhere is the only downside but she is so cozy, what can you do."- HoodieWinchester
It is easy to understand how some people are able to fall asleep more easily knowing their friend and protector is there, in bed, with them.
Though we can't blame others who don't want to run the risk of being scratched or bitten in the middle of the night either...
The old wives' tales.
They are the stories of legend.
I think we all need a big DEEP Google dive though.
Where did they originate?
WHO ARE THE OLD WIVES!
You don't hear about them as much anymore.
It's like science and logic are suddenly a thing.
But they sure are a good way to keep your kids and their behavior in line.
Redditor the_spring_goddess wanted to discuss the tall tales we've all been fed through life, so they asked:
"What is an old wives tale that people still believe?"
"Wait an hour to swim after eating."
What a crock!
So many summer hours wasted.
I want revenge for that one.
Say Nothing
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"An undercover cop has to tell you he's a cop if you ask him."
LonelyMail5115
"Pretty much most advice when it comes to cops are old wives tales. I’m not even a cop but most of the advice you hear is pretty off."
I_AM_AN_A**HOLE_AMA
Say Something
"That you have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing."
Severe_Airport1426
"I really think this one is important and should be the top regardless. As it’s a piece of advice that needs to be relearned and the only way to do that is through awareness."
crappycurtains
"This used to be true. I think they changed it after some guy named Brandon went missing back in the '80s or '70s. You used to have to wait 24 hours if the missing person was an adult because they had 'a right to be missing' and then everyone realized that was stupid and stopped doing it."
AlbinoShavedGorilla
Body Temps
"That drinking ice cold water after eating oily foods will solidify the oil and permanently remain in your body. I informed my coworker that if your body temperature ever reached that point, you’d have bigger problems than weight gain."
chriseo22
"Oh, I have a cousin who 100% believed this. One of those guys who believed every early 2000s internet rumor and old wives tale. One night I chugged a big glass of ice water after dinner and he started freaking out and saying my guts were gonna harden."
"I sarcastically told him to drive me to the hospital if that happened. Obviously, nothing happened and the next morning I said something like 'Thanks for being on standby in case my guts filled with hardened oil.' He just walked off muttering under his breath."
apocalypticradish
Arms Down
"When I was pregnant, I was told by young and old alike that I should NOT raise my arms above my head or exert myself in such a manner because it could cause cord strangulation to my unborn sons and daughters."
Fatmouse84
10 Years Actually
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"Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years."
"I remember accidentally swallowing a piece of gum when I was a kid in like 1995 and just accepting my fate like welp, gonna have this in my stomach til high school I guess."
Gecko-911
I was so afraid to sallow my gum when I was young.
This tale is haunting.
High/Low
Hungry Debra Messing GIF by Will & Grace
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"You can tell the sex of the baby by how you carry."
LeastFormal9366
"Pregnancy certainly wins awards for the most old wives tales. So much absolute BS was repeated to us by everyone we talked to."
IllIIIlIllIlIIlIllI
The Cursed
"If you’re a woman and you wear opal jewelry but opal is not your birthstone (October), you’ll never be able to have children, or will be widowed, or just generally have bad luck or something. You can counteract this by having a diamond in the same piece of jewelry as the opal, though."
"I have a nice opal ring that my parents gave me years ago, and I’ve had other women give me this 'advice' unprompted more than once when I’ve worn it. I have absolutely no idea where it started, but I’m pretty sure this little chunk of silicate rock has no concept of what month I was born in, let alone of how my reproductive organs work."
SmoreOfBabylon
Stay In
"Going outside with wet hair will make you get pneumonia. Or an earache. Or maybe arthritis. Depends on which old wife you listen to."
"Jokes on them - I haven't blow-dried my hair in decades and usually leave the house with wet hair in the morning. On winter mornings, the tips of my hair get frozen. No ear infections or pneumonia or arthritis yet."
worldbound0514
Dreams and Facts
"You never make anyone up in your dreams you've seen everyone in your dreams somewhere else before and never make anyone up entirely."
"How would you possibly prove that to be true? My partner adamantly believes this and tells me this 'fact' whenever I have a dream about someone I've never met before."
mattshonestreddit
"My late wife used to tell me that before she met me she would have dreams of standing at an alter on her wedding day but could never see the guy's face, no matter how hard she tried. After meeting me the face was filled in with mine. Don't know if it's true but one of those things I like thinking of every now and then when I miss her."
Darthdemented
Cracked
Getting Ready Episode 2 GIF by The Office
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"Some people still believe cracking knuckles causes arthritis."
Choice-Grapefruit-44
"There's a doctor (Donald Unger) that cracked his knuckles a couple of times a day for 60 years, but only on one hand, just to prove it. Both hands remained exactly the same."
MacyTmcterry
I love my knuckles.
Do you have any tall tales to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
