Ponder Points. (original) (raw)

Some months ago, I started writing a series of columns called Ponder Points, which were these little bits of information you might want to try and work into some conversation. Not that they would necessarily do you any good, but then you just never know, do you? Anyway, I recently had several people ask me to write something along these lines for one reason or another. Who knows, perhaps they're planning some big Memorial Day trivia contest.

Betcha didn't know all of this stuff.

So, if you were buying a Super Bowl ad in the first game in 1967�what would you have paid? About 85,000forafullminute�nowit′sover85,000 for a full minute�now it's over 85,000forafullminute�nowit′sover1,000,000 for each � minute��

So did you ever actually count and see for yourself that there were 28 tiles in a game of dominoes? There are.

Before 1908 the Olympic Marathon was 26 miles�.why did it change? 385 yards were added to the race so that it would finish in front of King Edward VII's royal box in London. He must have had some pull.

Where'd we get the term�.."Red herring"? From the sport of fox hunting�.anti-hunting activist used to drag herrings across the path of the dogs to throw them off the scent of the fox�..Is this new? Nope, started back in the 17th century�.folks still up in arms about it aren't they?

You remember CinemaScope? Can you tell me what film was the first to be made in it? "The Robe" back in 1953.

Come on think about this�what's the most often printed warning in the history of the printed word? "Close cover before striking" Used on match book covers��.did you get it?

What industry was the first to adopt the 5-day, 40-hour workweek? The steel industry in 1923.

Tough job, but someone had to do it�..In 1811 DeWitt Clinton managed to serve as a senator for the state of New York, Mayor of New York City and the Lt. Governor for the State of New York. So what you ask? Well, he did all three at the same time.

Of course you knew that heavyweight champion Gene Tunney was a teacher on Shakespeare at Yale. You knew that.

John Paul Jones, the great American naval hero, was from Scotland. His real name was just plain old John Paul. Changed it after he killed another sailor involved in a mutiny. Fled to this country to avoid going to trial. Won fame during the Revolutionary War�..You remember those famous words he spoke during this battle��"Sirs, I have not yet begun to fight�"

If you want life insurance�don't call Lloyds of London�they don't sell life insurance.

Back in the Middle Ages it was thought that men had one less rib than women�the story was the result of the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible.

I think last week, I mentioned something about moths and caterpillars�.anyway to keep you up to date I thought I'd pass along the fact that there isn't any clear cut evidence that cedar chests or cedar closets actually repels moths�..

Those rabbits that run wild in Australia�.eat millions of dollars worth of agriculture�well, they are the direct descendants of 6 common bunnies that were turned loose in the middle 1800's.

The Emperors of China during the Manchu empire (1644-1912) made slaves wear pigtails so they could be identified easily.

It's interesting to note that Panama was selected to be the site of the canal rather than Nicaragua due to the fact that a letter was written to members of Congress using a stamp showing a belching volcano erupting in Nicaragua. Congress was afraid the volcano would destroy the canal.

King Louis XII ordered all of the trash removed from outside of the walls of Paris in 1512. Was he concerned for the health of the citizens? Nope, he was afraid invaders would be able to climb the garbage and gain entrance to the city.

Speaking of Kings�King Edward VIII of England was the King for 11 months (January - December 1936) before he abdicated to marry Mrs. Simpson. You knew that.

Correction!!!!! A few weeks ago I wrote about Wild Bill Hickok sleeping with newspapers crumpled up around his bed�said it would alert him if anyone walked on them. In error I said �."He died in bed"�.That's incorrect�what I meant to say was.."It must have worked since he didn't die in bed." Rack it up to small keys and large fingers.

So, if you get a card from a friend in Japan and it has a lot of dragonflies on it�what does that mean? It would indicate that someone is wishing you good luck.

Fellow by the name of James Hetherington of England got himself arrested in 1797 for wearing what? A top hat�.seems the powers that be decided that it was unsightly and calculated to disturb timid people. Times have changed, haven't they?

Have a good week and a safe weekend�.

� Peary Perry