12 Trivia Tidbits for Sunday, July 7, 2024
Like a fireworks show, but on a webpage… Okay, it’s not really much like a fireworks show at all.
An Ornamental Word for Particular Ornamental Railings
This type of railing is known as a “balustrade.” The key identifier is the rail atop a series of small columns, known as “balusters.”
The Armpit’s Classy, More Medically Appropriate Name
“Armpit” isn’t exactly a flattering name for a part of the body, and maybe the kind of name something famously stinky deserves. So if you want to dress it up, just refer to it as your “axilla.”
Watermelons Weren’t Always Red on the Inside
Modern watermelons have been bred specifically to have ruby red innards. Watermelons from the past were much more pale green on the inside, and would probably get tossed if cracked open today.
Lava Lamps Were Sometimes Filled With Antifreeze
Not that anything contained inside a lava lamp should be expected to be potable, but the idea that some of them are antifreeze displayed on a shelf doesn’t feel incredibly safe.
The First Portable Computer Doesn’t Belong to IBM, Microsoft or Apple
If you had to guess who was responsible for the first portable computer, you’d probably guess one of the classic heavy-hitters. In fact, that honor goes to the Osborne 1 Portable Computer, made by the eponymous Osborne Computer Corporation.
The World’s Only Alpine Parrot
It’s the thoroughly un-tropical Kea, and it resides in New Zealand.
R.I.P. Technically Doesn’t Stand for ‘Rest in Peace’
Now, is this incredibly persnickety and annoyingly technical? Yes, but this is a trivia article, isn’t it? Though it’s widely accepted to stand for “rest in peace” now, R.I.P. was originally intended to stand for requiescat in pace, Latin for, well, rest in peace.
Mexico's Traditional Booze (No, Not Tequila)
Mexico is home to a traditional alcoholic beverage made from agave. That being, of course: Pulque.
The Empire State Building Has Its Own Zip Code
Usually a zip code alone isn’t enough information to know what building something’s going to. In the case of the Empire State Building, however, it has its very own zip code: 10118.
The Little-Known Flavor Inspiration for the Milky Way Bar
Malted milkshakes aren’t too common these days, but you’ve probably had a candy bar inspired by the taste of them: the Milky Way. That’s the reason for the dairy-focused name, not the galaxy.
Earmuffs Were Invented By A Maine Teenager
Fifteen-year-old Chester Greenwood loved to ice skate, but was allergic to wool hats. In order to keep his ears warm, he wrapped wire in fur, inventing the earmuff in the process.
The Movie Where the MGM Lion Burps
The MGM lion’s roar is an iconic sound, and one you won’t hear at the beginning of the movie Strange Brew. Instead, the famous lion fires off an impressively wet belch.
