Today I found out that there isn’t any difference between fur and hair; it’s all just hair. We tend to refer to a lot of animal hair as “fur”, while referring to our own hair as just “hair”. It turns out though that hair and fur are chemically indistinguishable, both made up of keratin. The argument that is often cited […]
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Today I found out twelve ways to remove a stripped screw. We’ve all been there; trying to void a warranty or otherwise take something apart and you go to take that one last screw off and invariably it strips. Now what? You can either A: Think Hammer… really, really big hammer; or B: Read the list below and pick the […]
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Today I found out about a Japanese soldier who continued fighting World War II a full 29 years after the Japanese surrendered, because he didn’t know the war was over. Hiroo Onoda is a Japanese citizen that originally worked at a Chinese trading company. When he was 20 years old, he was called to join the Japanese army. He promptly […]
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Today I found out that sitting too close to the TV will not damage your vision, contrary to popular belief. So why do parents the world over still say this to their kids? Surprisingly, there was actually a very brief period of time where sitting close to the TV could damage your eyes, assuming you owned a General Electric TV […]
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Today I found out how Valentine’s Day got started. It was all a huge conspiracy jointly popularized by the diamond company De Beers; Hallmark; and the collective might of gourmet chocolate manufacturers the world over … Ok, not really, but it certainly worked out for them didn’t it??? Didn’t it!?!?!?!? 😉 Really though, it actually all started with a little […]
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Today I found how to easily sharpen scissors from home. The two easiest methods, that still do a very good job, involve using sand paper or aluminum foil. In both methods you literally just cut the material using full scissor strokes each time. If you want to sharpen them more “professionally” and you have a grinder about, there is a […]
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Today I found out the difference between a fact and a factoid. I have gotten several helpful commenters pointing out recently that perhaps I am using the word “factoid” incorrectly in my articles here, thinking that it means the same as “fact”. In fact (eh? eh?) ;-), I am not. But since this is a common area of confusion, indeed […]
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Today I found out how to drastically increase the life of your shaver razor blades, such as Gillette or Schick Brand razors. This trick is incredibly simple and just as incredibly effective. It will also save you a nice chunk of change over time and make all your dreams come true… For instance, Gillette Fusion Brand razor cartridge sets typically […]
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Today I found out Simo Häyhä, arguably the greatest sniper to ever live, sniped over 542 invading Soviet soldiers in World War II using nothing but a bolt action rifle that had no scope. He also has the distinction of having recorded the highest known number of confirmed kills by any sniper in any major war; with the runner up […]
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Today I found out that the 7-11 Double Big Gulp holds about twice the amount of fluid than the average adult human’s stomach. The average adult human’s stomach can hold comfortably about 32 ounces at any given time (edit: excepting we Americans who, judging from the comments, apparently can hold about 138 times that amount despite science’s official averages). The […]
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Today I found out how to survive being buried alive in a coffin. Yesterday, I posted an article on taphophobia and I got an email from a reader wondering if I could write-up an article on the best ways to actually get out of a coffin, if you happen to find yourself buried alive in one. So here goes. First, […]
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Today I found out that in WWI Alvin York almost single handedly captured 132 German soldiers using nothing but a rifle and a pistol, while the German soldiers having among them 32 machine guns along with rifles and pistols and the advantage of being above him in the biggest of the forays. And did I mention York was out in […]
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Today I found out that NASA uses the 1998 film, Armageddon, in their management training program. It turns out, to absolutely no one’s surprise, that this is not because it’s an incredibly well thought out movie in how to stop an asteroid from hitting the earth… No, they use it because it contains over 168 distinct things that are impossible […]
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Today I found out cats of all sizes aren’t afraid of bears.
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Today I found out five interesting things you learn from being a paramedic. This article is a little change of pace from my normal articles, but I couldn’t resist posting it, as it is very interesting and entertaining. Here are five interesting things I learned from a paramedic working at a fire station. Below is written by said paramedic, namely […]
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Today I found out how to test a car alternator. Equipment needed: multi-meter With the engine on: Step 1: Open your hood and so you have clear access to the car battery. Locate your alternator and check to be sure the alternator belt isn’t loose. Step 2: Turn your multi-meter to the 20 V setting. Step 3: Start the engine. […]
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Today I found out that Twinkies have a shelf life of only 25 days. The popular notion that they “last forever” or for some ridiculously large amount of time is incorrect. Here are two other popular myths concerning Twinkies: Myth: Twinkies aren’t baked; the sponge cake instead is made from a chemical reaction that causes a cake-like material to foam […]
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Today I found out that the record for most babies born to one woman is 69. Yes, you read that correctly 69! Who was this amazing woman with apparently a womb of steel and a vagina her husband just couldn’t say no too? We don’t really know. (anti-climactic I know) Her husband is the one whose name has lived on […]
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