"Everything you've always wanted to know... but you were too drunk to ask." Just a bunch of useless trivia to tide you over until our next show. We'll update this from time to time... or maybe not at all ~:) Enjoy!

What is anthropophagy?

It's another name for cannibalism, the eating of one's own kind. "Cannibalism," by the way, is derived from the Spanish word for the Caribs, a West Indian tribe that is believed to have practiced cannibalism.

Has cannibalism ever been practiced in America?

Scientists have found new evidence of cannibalism in the American Southwest in the 12th century. The researchers drew their bound-to-be-controversial conclusion from an analysis of bones, feces and cooking pots unearthed on the southern piedmont of Sleeping Ute Mountain in what's now southwestern Colorado. They say the tell-tale clues came from a village that appears to have been mysteriously -- and suddenly -- abandoned in 1150. The new evidence points to the ghost town as a site of a cannibal feast -
possibly occurring during the social chaos caused by a long period of drought. The report is published in the British journal Nature. Scientists and historians have long suspected cannibalism was occasionally practiced in the prehistoric Southwest.

What strange disease was found to be linked to cannibalism?

In the 1950s, Australian authorities discovered that a strange disease, called by the natives "kuru" (meaning "shivering" or trembling"), was endemic to a particular tribe in the eastern mountain regions of New Guinea. Researchers attempted for years to find the cause of this Parkinson's-like illness, which caused trembling, impaired muscular coordination, and eventually death, but were unable to do so. An American investigator, D. C. Gajdusek, eventually won a Nobel Prize in medicine (in 1976) for isolating a slow-acting virus that infected the victim's brain and caused the disease. The virus was spread by the tribe's use of cannibalism in its burial rituals. Researchers discovered that organs, including the brain (where the virus resided), were cooked and eaten as part of a funeral meal.

What US Congressman became the first US defendant to claim "temporary insanity" in a criminal trial?

Daniel E. Sickles, a Democratic US representative from New York, killed his wife's lover, Philip Barton Key, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, in 1859. The murder was carried out in broad daylight after Sickles spotted Key standing outside Sickles' house waving a handkerchief in the direction of his
wife's bedroom. Sickles stormed out of the house with two derringers AND a revolver and proceeded to shoot Key several times as the man begged for his life. During Sickles' trial for murder, his attorneys argued that he went mad because of his despair over his wife's infidelities (never mind, of course, that
Sickles was carrying on several affairs of his own). Sickles was the first defendant to use the "temporary insanity" defense in the US. It worked, and he was acquitted to the thunderous applause of spectators in the courtroom. (Prior to being released, it's interesting to note that Sickles spent his time in jail in the jailer's own office, receiving visits from family, friends, and even his greyhound, Dandy.) Following his
acquittal, Sickles was actually criticized by the press when he "forgave" his wife. No word on whether she ever forgave him for his infidelities. The murder and its aftermath are described Nat Brandt's 1991 book, "The Congressman Who Got Away With Murder."

What famous man was Philip Barton Key's father?

Philip Barton Key, the murdered man, was the son of Francis Scott Key, the man who wrote the lyrics to our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Coincidentally, Philip Barton's brother, Daniel Key, was slain in a duel. 

What happened to Daniel Sickles after he was acquitted?

After the trial, Sickles served as a Union general during the Civil War, and then as a military governor of the Carolinas. Later, he served as US minister to Spain and then returned to Congress from 1893 to 1895. His young wife, Teresa (who was barely more than a teenager at the time of her affair), died at the age of 31 from illness. Sickles married a Spanish woman and converted to Catholicism. (He is also alleged to have had an affair with the deposed Queen Isabella II.) He died at the age of 94 in 1914 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Who poisoned thousands of Nazi prisoners immediately following
World War II?

The little-known "Avengers," a Jewish guerilla group formed by Abba Kovner to bomb German transports and outposts during World War II, plotted immediately following the war to poison 8,000 Nazis imprisoned at Stalag 13 in Nuremberg. Avenger member Lebke Distel obtained a job at a bakery supplying bread to the prison camp. He secretly stashed bottles of arsenic in the floorboards for days, then snuck in two additional members who worked all night to paint the poison on 9,000 loaves of bread. The group didn't finish, but they poisoned thousands of loaves.


Didn't the group worry about poisoning the American guards at the camp who also ate bread?

No. The Nazis were served black bread, which the Americans would not eat. The group did not attempt to poison the white bread served to the US guards.

How many Nazis were killed by this attack?

No one knows for sure. The New York Times reported that no prisoner actually died, though many were hospitalized. Other papers reported that thousands died.

INTERESTING TRIVIA
YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW THAT.........


Debra Winger was the voice of E.T.
Pearls melt in vinegar.
It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year's supply of footballs.
Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
The 3 most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.
It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.
Humans are the only primates that don't have pigment in the palms of their hands.
Ten percent of the Russian government's income comes from the sale of vodka.
The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," uses every letter in the alphabet. (Developed by Western Union to Test telex/two communications.)
Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches.
A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days of yore when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases.
The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie." (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.)
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history.
Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts - Charlemagne; and Diamonds - Julius Caesar.
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 =3D 12,345,678,987,654,321
Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down-hence the expression "to get fired."
Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.
The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the = "General Purpose" vehicle, G.P.
The highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point in Colorado.
The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are the day before and the day after the Major League All-Star Game.
Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
The mask used by Michael Myers in the original "Halloween" was actually a Captain Kirk mask painted white.
If you put a raisin in a glass of champagne, it will keep floating to the top and sinking to the bottom.
Snails can sleep for 3 years without eating.
The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they could be confused at a crime scene.
Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a "Friday the 13th."
The man, who plays Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott on Star Trek, is missing the entire middle finger of his right hand.
The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20.

What is the Apocrypha?

The Old Testament Apocrypha are a collection of 14 Biblical books found in the Greek version of the Hebrew Bible, but not found in the Hebrew Bible itself. These books are not included in the Old Testament by Protestants, who deem them of doubtful authorship. Eleven of these books are accepted by the Roman Catholic Church. There are also New Testament Apocrypha, consisting of Christian documents similar in form and content to many New Testament books, but not widely accepted as canonical.

What are the seven deadly sins?

The seven deadly sins (sins serious enough to kill one's soul) are currently anger, envy, pride, sloth, lust, gluttony, and covetousness. They haven't always been so, however. Originally, there were eight deadly sins (as proposed by Avagrius of Pontus). The eight (in order of increasing severity) were gluttony, lust,
avarice, sadness, anger, apathy, vainglory, and pride. Gregory the Great later decided that vainglory and pride were too much alike to be counted separately and combined them. He added envy. Later still, the Roman Catholic Church decided sadness wasn't a sin, and added sloth. Somewhere along the way, apathy was dropped as well.

How many saints are recognized by the Catholic Church?

Quite a lot of them. There are approximately 2,500 with feast days. This is the less than there were before, as the Vatican removed the feast days of more than 200 saints from the liturgical calendar in 1969. Saints removed were those of only regional interest, or, in some cases, those who could not be proved to have existed.

Did Mother Teresa ever win the Nobel Prize?

Yes, she did. Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to the poor in India, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

How many women have won the Nobel Peace Prize?

Only ten to date. Close to one hundred prizes have been awarded overall.

What Baroness not only won the Nobel Peace Prize, but inspired Alfred Nobel to back it financially?

Baroness Bertha von Suttner, who was awarded the Nobel in 1905 for her antiwar efforts, was a friend of Alfred Nobel and inspired him to back the prize financially. Nobel is said to have always been interested in the cause of peace, but was particularly inspired by von Suttner's activism.

How long can a person live without water?

Not too long. The average person can go as many as eleven days without water. That's assuming a mean temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Let's just say that getting lost in the desert without water would not be a good idea.

Can a person survive on shoe leather?

Again, not too long. But leather does have nutritional value and a starving person (say, one lost in that desert) could sustain life for a short time by chewing on his shoes or belt.

Is it true that you lose most of your body heat through your head when in the cold?

Yes. Listen to your mother when she tells you to wear a hat in winter! A person loses 50-75 percent of his body heat when hatless.

Where did the term "doubleheader" originate?

"Doubleheader," which refers to two baseball games played back to back, was originally a railroad term that referred to two engines in a switching yard hooked up back to back on a single train. The train could also be called a "two-header."

What does "mark twain" refer to?

"Mark twain" means "two fathoms." (A fathom, of course is six feet deep, so that's 12 feet.) When navigating a riverboat over the Mississippi River, a riverboat captain needs someone to call out the depth in tricky areas to ensure that the boat can make it through. If he hears "mark twain," he knows that the water is barely deep enough for the boat to pass.

What famous author took "Mark Twain" as his pen name?

Samuel Clemens, the creator of the adventuresome Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, took "Mark Twain" as his pen name. This was not because he WAS a riverboat captain, but because he once wanted very badly to be one.

Why are skimpy two-piece bathing suits called "bikinis"?

Believe it or not, the "bikini" is named for the Bikini Atoll. Panic set in when the US government announced in the summer of 1946 that it planned to conduct its first public atom bomb tests on the Pacific's Bikini Atoll. Rumors started flying and some people went so far as to suggest that the test would mark the end of the world. What do you do when you think the world might end? Well, in 1946, they decided the best thing to do was go out happy, and hold fabulous end-of-the-world "Bikini" parties. It
just so happened that during that same summer, a swimwear fashion show was held in Paris, France. Promoters for the show decided to take advantage of the "Bikini" craze by creating a "bikini" swimsuit that would be as scandalous as possible. The two-piece suit, which attracted international attention, was worn by model Micheline Bernardini.

What were early swimsuits made out of?

Imagine swimming in a wool swimsuit that, when wet, could weigh twenty pounds! Yikes. But that's what the first "streamlined" swimsuits of the early 1900s were like.

Is it true that you shouldn't swim for at least an hour after eating?

Most of us learned as children that we shouldn't go back into the pool after eating for at least an hour or else we'd risk stomach cramps and drown! Actually, though, that's not true. According to the American Red Cross, there is no scientific evidence proving that swimming and eating produces cramps. Muscle cramps are caused by fatigue and chilling and have nothing to do with digestion or with the body focusing its energies on digestion and drawing blood away from the muscles. In fact, long-distance
swimmers will actually eat while in the water to avoid fatigue (and, thus, muscle cramps).

Who was the first comic strip character?

The "Yellow Kid," a character created by Richard Outcault, is generally considered the first. The Yellow Kid appeared in the New York Journal in 1896. The Kid was a buck-toothed, bald kid with big ears in a yellow shirt. Outcault later created "Buster Brown."

Who was the first animated cartoon character?

Nope, it wasn't Mickey Mouse or any other rodents. Gertie the Trained Dinosaur, who ate everything she could find, chomped her way onto the screen in 1909. She was created by Winsor McCay, who was known for creating "Little Nemo."

Who are Calvin and Hobbes named after?

The mischievous, self-indulgent cartoon tyke Calvin and his tiger, Hobbes, are named after the philosopher Thomas Hobbes and the stern Protestant theologian John Calvin.

In what country did Vikings live?

Actually, Vikings lived in several countries. These notorious sea raiders and explorers hailed from three Scandinavian homelands: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The Danes made their mark in the British Isles and along the coastlines of Europe. The Norwegians sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to reach America. And the Swedes traveled up Russian rivers to reach Constantinople and the Orient.

What does "Viking" mean?

"Viking" is Norse for "piracy." Recent scholarship, however, suggests that the Vikings were much more than barbaric raiders, taking advantage of a vulnerable Europe. The Norsemen were also skilled craftsmen, shipbuilders, and poets who actually enriched the European civilizations they invaded.

What made the Viking expansion possible?

Sails. With sails, the Viking longships could sail at more than ten knots and appear suddenly on a foreign coast. The sails the Vikings used were made out of wool.

What was Eleanor Roosevelt's maiden name?

Roosevelt. Eleanor was a niece of President Theodore Roosevelt and a distant cousin of the man she would later marry, Franklin D. Roosevelt. When she married Franklin, who would also become president, she already had the Roosevelt name.

Was Jackie Kennedy the youngest First Lady?

John F. Kennedy was the youngest president ever to be elected, but his wife, age 31 when he was elected, was not the youngest First Lady. Two other presidential spouses, Julia Taylor and Frances Cleveland, were in their early twenties when their husbands were elected. Their husbands were more than twice their age.

John F. Kennedy was the second US president to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Who was the first?

William Howard Taft.

Are Neanderthals our ancestors?

No. Neanderthals are considered close relatives of modern humankind, but not direct ancestors.

Were Neanderthals scavengers or hunters?

They may have had overhanging brows and no chins, but scientists say Neanderthals were also skilled hunters who dined almost exclusively on meat. A team of researchers - led by Michael Richards, a Canadian archaeological scientist now working at Oxford University -- said the finding is based on a chemical analysis of 28,000-year-old Neanderthal bones found in Croatia. The analysis shows high levels of meat in the diet, which should end speculation that the extinct species lived mainly by scavenging. The finding, published in the June 20 edition of the National Academy of Sciences, may also hold clues as to why Neanderthals died out. They may have been too dependent on meat to survive if their prey disappeared, or if they had to share hunting grounds with anatomically modern humans.

Where did humans originate?

New research indicates modern man can be traced to one small group in Africa. That's according to Professor Lynn Jorde of the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics at the University of Utah. He told a genetics conference in Minneapolis Monday that there's much more genetic diversity among Africans than Europeans or Asians -- a finding that could overturn theories that man developed independently in several areas of the world. Genetically speaking, Jorde told United Press International, "Once you've seen one European, you've pretty much seen them all." Jorde noted that aside from skin color, there's very little variation among humans. By contrast, there is much more genetic variation among chimpanzees. Jorde said that the evidence suggests that Europe and Asia were colonized by Africans about 100,000 years ago. He said at one time the species was nearly extinct, numbering fewer than 10,000.

When ice melts, does it raise the water level in the glass?

No. When an ice cube melts in a glass, it will not raise the level of liquid. The space the ice took up as a cube is the same space that it will take up when it's a liquid.

Does dry ice melt?

Nope. It evaporates.

Why does ice float?

It's simple, really. Water has a greater molecular density when it's in liquid form then as a solid. So as a solid, it floats.

What is Britain's PDSA Dickin Medal?

The PDSA Dickin Medal is Britain's highest animal award for bravery and is better known as the "Animal's Victoria Cross." Forty-three animals -- including 31 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses and one cat -- have received the Dickin Medal so far. The latest is a Canadian Newfoundland known as "Gander," whom Jeremy Swanson of the Canadian War Museum said saved the lives of Canadian troops during the battle for Hong Kong in 1941, when Japanese forces invaded the British colony. Gander is the first Canadian dog to ever receive the award. The dog was the mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada, one of two Canadian regiments deployed in Hong Kong. Several times, he distracted Japanese invaders - preventing them from finding hidden Canadian soldiers. His final act was to run after and catch a hand grenade tossed by Japanese troops. Gander carried the grenade off in his mouth. It exploded moments later, killing the dog. Gander will be posthumously honored next month in Ottawa. Swanson said the "very
large black dog" was often mistaken for a bear. "Pilots often spotted him when coming in to land. They would turn away, telling the people on the ground to 'Get the bear off the runway,'" he said.

Do St. Bernards really carry those little brandy casks on their collars to rescue people in the snow?

Yes. At least at one time, anyway. In fact, the St. Bernard gets its name from an Italian churchman named Bernard who bred the dogs to work as rescue dogs in the Alps.

How do dogs sweat?

Contrary to what many people believe, dogs do not sweat by salivating. They sweat through the pads of their feet.

What are "chuddies"?

The Oxford English Dictionary's latest update includes the word "chuddies," which is South Asian slang for underpants. The Times newspaper reports the term is used in the popular British TV sitcom "Goodness Gracious Me?" and the show's catch-phrase "Kiss my chuddies!"

How old is the slang word "ain't"?

You'd think that if a word has been around for about 300 years, it would acquire an air of respectability. The exact opposite seems to have happened with "ain't." The slang word -- a substitute for "am not," "are not," and "is not" -- has been around since the days of King Charles II. No one knows why it has since become unacceptable (or at least nonstandard).

What is a Mumbo Jumbo?

A Mumbo Jumbo, according to Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, is a masked figure among Mandingo peoples of Western Africa. The phrase "mumbo jumbo" has come to mean an object of superstitious homage and fear; a complicated activity (such as a ritualistic one) usually intended to obscure and confuse; or unnecessarily involved and incomprehensible language (gibberish).

What famous authors make up the "Rock Bottom Remainders"?

Music from The Rock Bottom Remainders is now available for downloading at MP3.com. Never heard of the band? Surely you've heard of its members, who include horror master Stephen King, renowned humorist Dave Barry, mystery writer Ridley Pearson and award-winning novelist Amy Tan. The all-star literary jam ban, which was first assembled to perform a single live concert for charity, now regularly plays benefit shows around the country. Founded by Don't Quit Your Day Job Records president Kathi Kamen Goldmark, also a member of the band, the Remainders perform original tunes penned by the prestigious scribes as well as cover versions of various rock and pop classics. Among the tracks
currently featured on MP3.com (www.mp3.com/rockbottomremainders) are "Tupperware Blues," an original song written and performed by Barry, with musician Warren Zevon on bass; and a cover version of the classic pop tune "These Boots Are Made for Walking" featuring Tan on vocals. "As a band we pretty much suck, but we suck for a good cause," said Goldmark. The Remainders have also recorded a
double album, "Stranger Than Fiction" (on the Don't Quit Your Day Job Records label), that benefits the Pen Writers Foundation.

Was Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, ever a secret agent himself?

Yes. Ian Fleming was Britain's director of Naval Intelligence during World War II. Later in the war, he was put in charge of an assault unit that became known as "Fleming's Private Navy." They say "write what you know," and Ian Fleming apparently has.

How many books has Isaac Asimov written?

Isaac Asimov, one of science fiction's most prolific writers, has produced more than 400 books. They weren't all science fiction either. He's written mysteries, science non-fiction, textbooks, a guide to Shakespeare, and even his own book of facts!

What is the West Nile virus?

The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne virus that has recently shown up in five US states. The virus is carried by birds, especially crows, and then contracted by mosquitoes who feed on the birds. The mosquitoes transmit the virus to humans. There is no cure or specific therapy for the virus, which is fatal in 3 to 15 percent of human cases. (Physicians CAN treat symptoms of West Nile encephalitis.) The origin of the virus remains a mystery.

What are the symptoms of the West Nile virus?

The virus generally causes either no noticeable illness or a mild illness with fever, headache, and body aches. In severe cases, however, it can cause meningitis or encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Symptoms of encephalitis are high fever, intense headache, stiff neck, muscle weakness, and loss of consciousness. Those over the age of 50 or with weak immune systems are at greatest risk. The virus killed 7 elderly New Yorkers and sickened 55 others last year.

Where in the US has the West Nile virus been found?

So far, crows or mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have been found in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland. New York officials earlier this week closed Central Park after discovering infected mosquitoes there and plan to continue spraying insecticides to control the spread of the virus. Other states are taking similar action. Officials recommend that the public take precautions (such as staying inside between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active) and try to eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds, such as pools of stagnant water. When going outdoors at night,
individuals are advised to use insect repellents containing DEET and cover exposed skin.