Topic: Useless fact of the day

[whitedevilbrewing]

At a food bank I once saw an off-brand cereal called Corn Hexagons.

[Skulker]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

[jaypee]

At a food bank I once saw an off-brand cereal called Corn Hexagons.

they sell those at my grocery store.

[JoelWhy]

Wal-Mart's off-brand for Dr. Pepper is called DR. THUNDER!!!

I buy "Dr. Skipper" from the local grocery store.  My co-workers make fun of me for that. 

[Halleyscomet/Wakefield]

Well, technically, a fact that is wrong would be useless, and it's Useless Facts, so I'd say it's all in good fun.

But yeah, you're right.

Wal-Mart's off-brand for Dr. Pepper is called DR. THUNDER!!!

EDIT:  I looked all over the internet for a picture of Thor wearing a stethoscope, but I couldn't find one.

Now that you've said that, it will only be a matter of time before this image is not only produced, but used for pornographic purposes.

[Bunsen]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

I hate that.  That's like saying "A british Pound weighs less than a pound of feathers"

It's different measures of "pound."  It's not an interesting fact, it's a brain teaser.

[Halleyscomet/Wakefield]

Harry Potter is thinly-veiled homosexual propaganda

(click to show/hide)

The story is about a boy who lives in a cupboard (i.e. "in the closet"). His Aunt and Uncle are ashamed of him because his parents were quite eccentric (i.e. "flaming") and they are deeply concerned and afraid that he will turn out just like them. On his 11th birthday (i.e. roughly at the onset of puberty), the boy discovers that he is actually a "wizard", different in both style and substance from normal people, or "muggles" (i.e. "breeders"). The boy is groomed into his new existence by a large, hairy bear of a man who shows Harry a hidden underground community of "wizards" living right under the noses of the general population (i.e. the gay subculture). Harry's first trip to this subculture involves traveling through "Diagon Alley", a play on the word diagonally (i.e. not straight).

One of Harry's first rites of passage in his new life is to select a wand (i.e. penis). The wand/penis is the most important tool in a Wizard's arsenal (or arse) and so this scene is treated with great reverence and mystery. While experiencing Diagon Alley for the first time, Harry also pauses with a group of other young boys to admire a much coveted broomstick (i.e. long hard shaft of wood).

Harry's indoctrination begins in earnest when he is sent to a special school who purpose is to train him to use his wizard powers safely, while still being able to live in a world full of muggles. Young students at this school are forbidden from practicing "magic" (i.e. homosexuality) outside of the school (this is the so-called "restriction on the use of underage magic"). They are also forbidden from using magic in the presence of muggles, who might be frightened or angered by witnessing it, an obvious and heavy handed commentary on gay-straight societal tension.

The students at this school are segregated by gender, a clear attempt to encourage homosexual relationships. The most popular pastime at the school is a game called "Quidditch", which involves riding hard shafts of wood, handling several types of balls, and trying to score points by successfully penetrating the hoop. This activity is enthusiastically endorsed by school officials for obvious reasons. Harry quickly excels at this new game and quickly becomes known for his above-average broom handling.

Harry spends a great deal of time with Hagrid, the man-bear who first initiated him into the wizarding world, but also forms a close friendship with Ron, a fellow student (and first real boyfriend). The two also tolerate the presence of Hermione, a female classmate who compensates for her lack of a penis by being a better than average student. Together, this troublemaking threesome get into mischief on numerous occasions, causing consternation and concern among the teachers.

Ultimately, the story is about Harry coming to terms with the tragic and premature death of his gay parents, who both died from AIDS (personified in the story by a cliche evil villain named Lord Voldemort). Although both his parents were struck down by the horrible disease, Harry himself was spared (though it did leave him scarred for life, i.e. infected with HIV but not full blown AIDS). Harry desperately searches for a new father figure to fill the void (either figuratively or literally) left by his father's absence. Harry first clings on to Hagrid the man-bear, then later Dumbledore, a kind but haggard old pedophile, and finally clutches on to Sirius Black, an old friend of his father's and Harry's godfather. Sirius has the curious ability to transform into a wild dog (i.e. he is an aggressive top). Harry's father had the ability to transform into a horse (a sly reference to penis size, lol horsecock). Harry himself has the ability to communicate with snakes (i.e. a deep understanding and appreciation of penises).

Harry is further traumatized when one of his classmates, Cedric, is also cruelly cut down by Lord AIDSmort. Harry attempts to warn the others that "Voldemort has returned" (i.e. AIDS is on the rise), but the majority of the wizarding community chooses not to believe this out of sheer denial. Only Dumbledore, the wise old one, and a few others believe Harry at first. Harry is at first ostracized but later vindicated for attempting to warn the community about the dangers of Lord AIDSmort. Sadly, Harry's newly adopted father, Sirius, is cut down in the process by one of Lord AIDSmort's henchmen (let's say syphilis).

Harry's career ambition after all this is to become an Auror - a dark wizard catcher (i.e. an AIDS awareness campaigner). This is the only way to ease the pain he feels from the loss of his dead friends and family while keeping other young wizards safe from the "dark side" of wizarding, i.e. AIDS.

[Skulker]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

I hate that.  That's like saying "A british Pound weighs less than a pound of feathers"

It's different measures of "pound."  It's not an interesting fact, it's a brain teaser.

Still a bloody fact though isn't it. 

[Joe B]

Harry Potter is thinly-veiled homosexual propaganda

(click to show/hide)

The story is about a boy who lives in a cupboard (i.e. "in the closet"). His Aunt and Uncle are ashamed of him because his parents were quite eccentric (i.e. "flaming") and they are deeply concerned and afraid that he will turn out just like them. On his 11th birthday (i.e. roughly at the onset of puberty), the boy discovers that he is actually a "wizard", different in both style and substance from normal people, or "muggles" (i.e. "breeders"). The boy is groomed into his new existence by a large, hairy bear of a man who shows Harry a hidden underground community of "wizards" living right under the noses of the general population (i.e. the gay subculture). Harry's first trip to this subculture involves traveling through "Diagon Alley", a play on the word diagonally (i.e. not straight).

One of Harry's first rites of passage in his new life is to select a wand (i.e. penis). The wand/penis is the most important tool in a Wizard's arsenal (or arse) and so this scene is treated with great reverence and mystery. While experiencing Diagon Alley for the first time, Harry also pauses with a group of other young boys to admire a much coveted broomstick (i.e. long hard shaft of wood).

Harry's indoctrination begins in earnest when he is sent to a special school who purpose is to train him to use his wizard powers safely, while still being able to live in a world full of muggles. Young students at this school are forbidden from practicing "magic" (i.e. homosexuality) outside of the school (this is the so-called "restriction on the use of underage magic"). They are also forbidden from using magic in the presence of muggles, who might be frightened or angered by witnessing it, an obvious and heavy handed commentary on gay-straight societal tension.

The students at this school are segregated by gender, a clear attempt to encourage homosexual relationships. The most popular pastime at the school is a game called "Quidditch", which involves riding hard shafts of wood, handling several types of balls, and trying to score points by successfully penetrating the hoop. This activity is enthusiastically endorsed by school officials for obvious reasons. Harry quickly excels at this new game and quickly becomes known for his above-average broom handling.

Harry spends a great deal of time with Hagrid, the man-bear who first initiated him into the wizarding world, but also forms a close friendship with Ron, a fellow student (and first real boyfriend). The two also tolerate the presence of Hermione, a female classmate who compensates for her lack of a penis by being a better than average student. Together, this troublemaking threesome get into mischief on numerous occasions, causing consternation and concern among the teachers.

Ultimately, the story is about Harry coming to terms with the tragic and premature death of his gay parents, who both died from AIDS (personified in the story by a cliche evil villain named Lord Voldemort). Although both his parents were struck down by the horrible disease, Harry himself was spared (though it did leave him scarred for life, i.e. infected with HIV but not full blown AIDS). Harry desperately searches for a new father figure to fill the void (either figuratively or literally) left by his father's absence. Harry first clings on to Hagrid the man-bear, then later Dumbledore, a kind but haggard old pedophile, and finally clutches on to Sirius Black, an old friend of his father's and Harry's godfather. Sirius has the curious ability to transform into a wild dog (i.e. he is an aggressive top). Harry's father had the ability to transform into a horse (a sly reference to penis size, lol horsecock). Harry himself has the ability to communicate with snakes (i.e. a deep understanding and appreciation of penises).

Harry is further traumatized when one of his classmates, Cedric, is also cruelly cut down by Lord AIDSmort. Harry attempts to warn the others that "Voldemort has returned" (i.e. AIDS is on the rise), but the majority of the wizarding community chooses not to believe this out of sheer denial. Only Dumbledore, the wise old one, and a few others believe Harry at first. Harry is at first ostracized but later vindicated for attempting to warn the community about the dangers of Lord AIDSmort. Sadly, Harry's newly adopted father, Sirius, is cut down in the process by one of Lord AIDSmort's henchmen (let's say syphilis).

Harry's career ambition after all this is to become an Auror - a dark wizard catcher (i.e. an AIDS awareness campaigner). This is the only way to ease the pain he feels from the loss of his dead friends and family while keeping other young wizards safe from the "dark side" of wizarding, i.e. AIDS.

I lol'ed at that.


For every 100 fastballs thrown to Alfonso Soriano he adds two runs of offensive production over average. For every 100 sliders he contributes -1.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/alfonso-soriano-dislikes-slow-things

[Bunsen]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

I hate that.  That's like saying "A british Pound weighs less than a pound of feathers"

It's different measures of "pound."  It's not an interesting fact, it's a brain teaser.

Still a bloody fact though isn't it. 

No, it really isn't.  A pound of feathers weighs exactly as much as a pound of gold.

A pound of feathers weighs about three ounces more than a Troy Pound of gold.

[Skulker]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

I hate that.  That's like saying "A british Pound weighs less than a pound of feathers"

It's different measures of "pound."  It's not an interesting fact, it's a brain teaser.

Still a bloody fact though isn't it. 

No, it really isn't.  A pound of feathers weighs exactly as much as a pound of gold.

A pound of feathers weighs about three ounces more than a Troy Pound of gold.

Picky picky picky. Sheesh. But hey, it's your thread.

[Anders]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

I hate that.  That's like saying "A british Pound weighs less than a pound of feathers"

It's different measures of "pound."  It's not an interesting fact, it's a brain teaser.

Still a bloody fact though isn't it. 

No, it really isn't.  A pound of feathers weighs exactly as much as a pound of gold.

A pound of feathers weighs about three ounces more than a Troy Pound of gold.

It's your fault for sticking with an insane weights and measures system. Ever heard of metric?

[Bunsen]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

I hate that.  That's like saying "A british Pound weighs less than a pound of feathers"

It's different measures of "pound."  It's not an interesting fact, it's a brain teaser.

Still a bloody fact though isn't it. 

No, it really isn't.  A pound of feathers weighs exactly as much as a pound of gold.

A pound of feathers weighs about three ounces more than a Troy Pound of gold.

Picky picky picky. Sheesh. But hey, it's your thread.

No, if I were picky, I would have said 2.834 ounces, and not "about three ounces." 

EDIT:  And anders, the Troy weight system is French.  The Avoirdupois weight system is likewise French.  And the GBP is, amazingly enough, British.

Also, ironically enough, Swedish jewelers still use Troy weight.  So *PBBBBTT*

[Anders]

A pound of feathers weighs more than a pound of gold.

I hate that.  That's like saying "A british Pound weighs less than a pound of feathers"

It's different measures of "pound."  It's not an interesting fact, it's a brain teaser.

Still a bloody fact though isn't it. 

No, it really isn't.  A pound of feathers weighs exactly as much as a pound of gold.

A pound of feathers weighs about three ounces more than a Troy Pound of gold.

Picky picky picky. Sheesh. But hey, it's your thread.

No, if I were picky, I would have said 2.834 ounces, and not "about three ounces." 

EDIT:  And anders, the Troy weight system is French.  The Avoirdupois weight system is likewise French.  And the GBP is, amazingly enough, British.

Also, ironically enough, Swedish jewelers still use Troy weight.  So *PBBBBTT*

So you mean you use something so impractical it was rejected by the French? That's like reading a book that was deemed "too stupid" by Homer Simpson.

[Bunsen]

So you mean you use something so impractical it was rejected by the French? That's like reading a book that was deemed "too stupid" by Homer Simpson.

Oh, Franco-bashing.  That's real original.