Did you know?

[DennisD]

That the abbreviation "lb", which denotes the Imperial pound weight, comes from the star sign "Libra", The Scales.

 

I've often wondered about that weird abbreviation, but never bothered to find out. (I keep saying I should get out more).

 

I love useless gems of information like that, so if you guys have any more, fire away.

[hazelnut]

The dot over the top of a lowercase letter i is called a tittle.

[Winapp2.ini]

The bits on the ends of shoelaces are called aglets.

 

I've been subscribed to this newsletter for quite some time. One well written and interesting story every weekday.

 

http://nowiknow.com/

[DennisD]

The dot over the top of a lowercase letter i is called a tittle

 

The bits on the ends of shoelaces are called aglets.

 

I knew that! (No I didn't)

 

Did you ever wonder what the WD in WD-40 stands for?

 

The name was lifted right out of chemist Norm Larsen's laboratory notebook. Way back in 1953, he was trying to concoct an anti-corrosion formula, which worked on the basic principle of displacing water.

 

On his 40th try, Larsen finally got it right. Hence the name WD-40. It literally means Water Displacer, 40th try.

[login123]

An elephant can not jump. Probably a good thing.

[Winapp2.ini]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconceptions

 

Wikipedia's list of common misconceptions

[DennisD]

Here's a completely useless (to me and most people) bit of information which I was staggered by. The magic of numbers ...

 

111,111,111 X 111,111,111 = 12345678987654321

 

I can hear the calculators coming out.

[razz]

111,111,111 X 111,111,111 = 12345678987654321

 

I wonder how someone discovered this little fascinating bit. Can just see some poor guy sitting there multiplying numbers year after year after year and then finally, HOORAY! GOT IT!

[eL_PuSHeR]

The pound weight measure word in Spanish = "Libra" is the identical same as the zodiac sign "Libra" (the scales), so lb abbreviation seems quite natural to Spanish speakers.