100 Things We Didn't Know This Time Last Year 276
An anonymous reader wrote to mention a BBC list of 100 topical pieces of information that they've reported on over the course of 2005. While some of them are very Brit-specific ("16. The London borough of Westminster has an average of 20 pieces of chewing gum for every square metre of pavement."), there are some interesting, touching, and humorous stories in there. "20. The Queen has never been on a computer, she told Bill Gates as she awarded him an honorary knighthood. 32. 'Restaurant' is the most mis-spelled word in search engines. 65. Actor James Doohan, who played Scotty, had a hand in creating the Klingon language that was used in the movies, and which Shakespeare plays were subsequently translated into."
#65: Incorrect (Score:5, Funny)
Re:#65: Incorrect (Score:5, Funny)
Re:#65: Incorrect (Score:2, Funny)
And I'm correcting someone someone correcting some news story about Klingons and Star Trek on a website for nerds.
I think that the geekiness is about to make my modem explo
*No Carrier*
Re:#65: Incorrect (Score:5, Funny)
Re:#65: Incorrect (Score:2)
You missed a "correcting". Hah. First Grammar Nazi of 2006. What do I win?
Re:#65: Incorrect (Score:2, Funny)
"Is that an
Re:#65: Incorrect (Score:2)
In Soviet Russia... (Score:4, Informative)
Seriously though:
Does this have anything to do with the Adlai Stevenson incident?
"
"Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the U.S.S.R. has placed and is placing medium- and intermediate-range missiles and sites in Cuba?... Don't wait for the translation! Yes or no?" Zorin responded, "I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does-" Then Stevenson interrupted and said, "You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know whether I have understood you correctly.... I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision. And I am also prepared to present the evidence in this room."
"
(Hilarious site: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/world_languag
Re:In Soviet Russia... (Score:2)
One of the few great, cool and quotable things ever to happen at the UN I fear.
Qapla! (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Qapla! (Score:2)
In other words, this is a list of things one person in the BBC didn't know this time last year.
99. chokuegambo (Score:2, Funny)
Is it a new word? Or are they assuming that nobody here speaks japanese?
Re:99. chokuegambo (Score:4, Funny)
101. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:101. (Score:2)
Shouldn't that be 64%?
I dont think this guy was born in the 1600s (Score:5, Funny)
16th Century? I'm pretty sure that guy posts on slashdot regularly. "oi got frist psot"
Re:I dont think this guy was born in the 1600s (Score:2)
16th Century? I'm pretty sure that guy posts on slashdot regularly. "oi got frist psot"
I think they got him confused with someone else. Everyone knows the Welsh language has no vowels and is impossible to understand even to Welsh people.
Re:I dont think this guy was born in the 1600s (Score:3, Informative)
Welsh has more vowels than English ('w' is a vowel in Celtic languages, equivalent to "oo" as in "spook")*, but it is true that it is impossible to pronounce. Especially the sound corresponding to "LL".
* - There is a tiny street in a suburb of Sydney called "Clwdyn Place". If you are "clued in" you know how to pronounce it.
Re:I dont think this guy was born in the 1600s (Score:2)
My five year old spells like that.. maybe there's hope for him yet!
Gee... (Score:3, Funny)
102 (Score:2)
Re:102 (Score:2)
#39 (Score:2, Insightful)
39. Australians host barbecues at polling stations on general election days.
Re:#39 (Score:5, Informative)
For what it's worth, the one I go to sells lamingtons.
Re:#39 (Score:2)
Re:#39 (Score:2)
Re:#39 (Score:2, Funny)
Re:#39 (Score:3)
Interestingly, advising people to vote "informally" is also illegal in Australia.
That isnt saying much as 99.9% of iPod use in Autralia is also illegal and no-one seems to have been arrested for that either.
Re:#39 (Score:2)
To be more precise I would say that you are letting the majority decide for you (by not voting).
Re:#39 (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:#39 (Score:2)
Re:#39 (Score:2)
Me too, although I think people truly are becoming more sensitive to propaganda. My theory is that spam has opened the eyes of the general population, along with companies spending a greater percentage on marketing than in previous decades. People seem to develop much better BS detectors because of those things.
Re:#39 (Score:2)
The voting is the important bit (and only takes a few minutes if you know where the less-major polling stations are), but grabbing a bite to eat makes it a lot more pleasant.
I must admit, I voted informally (for the first time ever) at my most recent local elections. I didn't know who my council members were (I'd only recently moved into the shire) but they seemed to be doing a goo
bah... (Score:3, Funny)
I like this one (Score:5, Funny)
That must be a pretty sturdy bed.
Re:I like this one (Score:4, Funny)
That must be a pretty sturdy bed.
It's clear that Europeans are taking socialism a bit too far.
Re:I like this one (Score:3, Funny)
Step 4. ?????? (Score:5, Funny)
There is a lot of money to be made if you could get the top list of mispelled words in search engines.
Re:Step 4. ?????? (Score:2)
Or is it bukakke?
Maybe its buckake?
No, its Bucakey!
Re:Step 4. ?????? (Score:2)
It's an abomination.
Hmmph. (Score:5, Interesting)
"41. Tactically, the best Monopoly properties to buy are the orange ones: Vine Street, Marlborough Street and Bow Street."
I believe they're called New York, Tennessee Avenue and St. James Place. And this is just common sense - their relationship with jail, and the fact that they're on the end of a row (More bang for buck, house/hotel wise, and a 6,8, or 9 after jail yields a hit), makes them ideal.
"43. The spiciness of sauces is measured in Scoville Units."
What does this have to do with '05? I've known that for a long time.
"61. You can bet on your own death."
That's a safe bet - but what do I get once my win has been confirmed?
Meanwhile, others are just best LEFT OUT:
"67. Giant squid eat each other - especially during sex."
"11. One in 10 Europeans is allegedly conceived in an Ikea bed."
"78. One in 18 people has a third nipple."
Thanks for the list, BBC.
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
Not just that:
The hit rate is further increased by the fact that the most-landed on chance square (hit it with a 12 after leaving jail) is three spaces after New York, and there's a move back three chance card.
There's also a move to
Re:Hmmph. (Score:5, Informative)
1. Green
2. Yellow
3. Red
4. Orange
5. Dark Blue
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
Any property a multiple of 7 away from Go would be the most commonly hit. That's the result that's most likely to result from two die, and, therefore, is common sense.
Re:Hmmph. (Score:3, Interesting)
Interesting how well that "common sense" works out, huh?
This site [tkcs-collins.com] ha
Re:Hmmph. (Score:4, Informative)
I believe they're called New York, Tennessee Avenue and St. James Place. And this is just common sense - their relationship with jail, and the fact that they're on the end of a row (More bang for buck, house/hotel wise, and a 6,8, or 9 after jail yields a hit), makes them ideal.
It seems to have escaped your notice, but there are about a million different versions of Monopoly, including localised ones for lots of countries. The BBC are obviously using the (main) UK one.
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
Not sure why you think the UK one is the "main" version of the board. The original version was the US version [wikipedia.org].
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
It was just a sidenote, anyway.
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2, Funny)
Cremated.
KFG
Re:Hmmph. (Score:4, Insightful)
No, they're called Vine Street, Marlborough Street and Bow Street. The BBC is, funnily enough, British. Why should they use the American version of the game for their list?
And personally my biggest WTF is #29. When faced with danger, the octopus can wrap six of its legs around its head to disguise itself as a fallen coconut shell and escape by walking backwards on the other two legs, scientists discovered.
How the hell do they know it was trying to pretned to be a coconut shell? Were these research scientists cast members of Monty Python's Flying Circus by any chance?
Re:Hmmph. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
"67. Giant squid eat each other - especially during sex."
"11. One in 10 Europeans is allegedly conceived in an Ikea bed."
"78. One in 18 people has a third nipple."
Why should they be left out? If they are new discoveries, the world would like to know about them. The fact that they are anatomy/sex related is no reason to leave research out of publication/dissemination.
Re:Hmmph. (Score:2)
There is a London monopoly edition (Score:4, Informative)
Re:There is a London monopoly edition (Score:3, Informative)
Not all the Commonwealth countries use the UK edition. I know in Canada, we use the American version.
Bananas too (Score:3, Interesting)
Funny, but pretty much the same goes for bananas. They are considered fruits, as they really are vegetables (and africans consider them as such, according to what I heard)
Re:Bananas too (Score:4, Informative)
Tomatoes are fruit, bananas are fruit, rhubarb is a vegetable. Bananas
are a staple in many parts of the world, though we don't normally think
of fruits as staples. More often it's tubers or grains...
Re:Bananas too (Score:4, Informative)
"Botanically speaking, tomatoes are the fruit of a vine, just as are cucumbers, squashes, beans, and peas. But in the common language of the people, whether sellers or consumers of provisions, all these are vegetables which are grown in kitchen gardens, and which, whether eaten cooked or raw, are, like potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, and lettuce, usually served at dinner in, with, or after the soup, fish, or meats which constitute the principal part of the repast, and not, like fruits generally, as dessert."
Gates/iPod (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Gates/iPod (Score:2)
Further proof that apple steals divine MS concepts.
A bunch of hot air..... (Score:4, Funny)
Funny. I was sure my flight instructor told me this the first day of flight school. I guess this explains the success of the European aerospace industry.
Re:A bunch of hot air..... (Score:2)
Re:A bunch of hot air..... (Score:2)
However, on second thought I'd guess that whatever air mass is over the high temp zone would compress the air resulting in higher pressure, so the effects should cancel out. Never mind that planes have flown over hot deserts before...
I'll admit I'm confused by this bit of information.
Re:A bunch of hot air..... (Score:2)
The density of air is lower at higher temperatures. This makes it harder for the wings to generate lift. Incidently it also makes it harder to breathe. I always seem to have less trouble getting oxygen on my bike in cooler conditions.
Re:A bunch of hot air..... (Score:3, Informative)
When air heats up the density decreases, and changes the pressure at sea level. A plane will perform worse at lower altitudes. In affect you are taking off at a lower altitude. Your wings have less mass to push against. Most people think that Bernoulli's P [wikipedia.org]
Do you take... cash? Cha-Ching! (Score:5, Funny)
No Stairway? Denied!
Re:Do you take... cash? Cha-Ching! (Score:2)
Re:Do you take... cash? Cha-Ching! (Score:5, Funny)
"Play 'Stairway' or 'Classical Gas' and we'll staple your elbows together."
They're letting people off _way_ too easy IMO.
20 is obvious (Score:3, Funny)
Obviously. Had she ever used his software, she would have cut off his head.
Queen's Computer (Score:3, Interesting)
I take her word for it, no computer in Buckingham Palace.
Grandmotherly types (like the Queen) tend to say things like that. Basically, they want to make you look good. I'll bet Bill Gates felt 10 feet tall after she said that.
In this day and age of new discoveries, etc. grandmothers have lots of material. Anyone ever had their grandmother say, "Who would ever have thought of such a thing!" concerning some new technology.
Having said that, here is a link to a report [royal.gov.uk] that says the Queen apparently knows how to email school children, having set a record for the largest group email the Queen has ever sent.
The Queen does not really touch the computer though, she has it done...
But, did anyone see that picture of Pope John Paul II on his laptop?
They took it down after he died, but he was supposedly answering email when the picture was taken. The top of the laptop had the papal crest, if that is what it is called.
Here is a link [theworkofgod.org]to a statement from 1989 by John Paul II that has some sections concerning computers. What a great guy he was, we all miss him. Goodbye, 2005!
Re:Queen's Computer (Score:2)
Pope John Paul II using a laptop [catholicnewspapers.com]
He looks pretty frail, so I doubt he was spending hours on WoW or anything.
Re:Queen's Computer (Score:2)
Re:Queen's Computer (Score:2)
Number 11 (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Number 11 (Score:4, Funny)
100 is nasty (Score:2)
100. Musical instrument shops must pay an annual royalty to cover shoppers who perform a recognisable riff before they buy, thereby making a "public performance".
Geez, the music industry is really grabbing every penny it can eh. What about charging a fee on my iPod because I might hum along? Cops patrolling the streets for illegal whistlers?
I hope in 365 days we will have the following story "top 1000 things that happened in 2006 that nobody cared about: 1000 rampaging citizens slaughterd music execs and
Re:100 is nasty (Score:2)
Re:100 is nasty (Score:2)
All on one page! (Score:2, Insightful)
Well that explains it then! (Score:2, Redundant)
If she had been on a computer, she would see how awful Windows really is, and would have given Bill Gates something else instead of Knighthood.
"Mr. Gates, we have used Windows, and we are not amused! The screen turned blue, before we could save our document."
#1. First mobile phone call (Score:2, Funny)
Was the guy on the other end named Watson by any chance?
Last year this time? (Score:3, Funny)
Long story.
m-
The Queen's story doesn't add up (Score:2, Interesting)
The fact that freaked me out most is that british members of parliament share communal hairbrushes. That's just so very very strange.
Re:The Queen's story doesn't add up (Score:2)
Damn the music industry (Score:2)
Little things like this make me mad.
Scurge of mankind (Score:2)
What about... (Score:2)
#7 = Duh (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Topical? (Score:3, Funny)
umm, 1024x768?
Re:Topical? (Score:2)
Re:I hope this one only applies to Brits... (Score:2)
Re:One thing you didn't know last year... (Score:2)
Yeah foor me!
Re:Hmmm... (Score:5, Funny)
One Hundred & Ninety-Nine Barrels of Whiskey v. United States, 94 U.S. 86 [justia.us]
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. ONE 1988 PREVOST LIBERTY MOTOR HOME, Measuring 40 Feet in Length, also known by Vehicle Identification Number 2P9M33403J, and Bearing Oregon License Plate H998173, Defendant
7 Fifths Old Grand-Dad Whiskey v. U.S., 158 F.2d 34
Pennsylvania v. $7,000 in U.S. Currency, 742 A.2d 711
Mayo v. Satan and His Staff 54 F.R.D. 282 [exogenous.org] This one is interesting because the judge threw out the case based on the fact that the plaintiff could not prove he served notice to the defendent (that being the aforenamed Mr. Satan and his staff in Hell).
Re:First-born (Score:2, Funny)
more promiscuous
Hot whores...
less creative
but more stable
So they grow up to become professional pop stars! w00t! (My apologies, I'm just jealous since I'm a last child...)
Re:Wow (Score:2, Insightful)
Please. That's like pointing out that "John" is a really common name then rattling off "John Dillinger, John Wayne Gacy, and John Hinckley Junior! Booga-booga!" (Except those guys are white, so they're not all scary and arabiac.) Try stepping back and getting a broad view once and a while.
Re:Wow (Score:2)
Re:Wow (Score:2)