A Conversation for Ask h2g2
useless facts
james-hamid Posted Apr 11, 2005
The diameter of the booster rockets that send the space shuttle into space is because the wheelbase of Roman chariots was the same as the gauge of American railways and hence the diameter of the tunnels through which these objects must pass.
useless facts
Baron Grim Posted Apr 11, 2005
That's only part of the story...
The entire thing shows that modern space craft are designed around the width of two asses! (two horses or mules side by side pulling said chariots.) The full version has many more intermediary steps in history.
useless facts
Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... Posted Apr 11, 2005
Despite what conspiracy theorists say Lee Harvey Oswald could easily have fired three quick shots at JFK as he had been a sniper grade marksman in the US Marines. Also the so-called 'magic bullet' which apparently proves that there was somebody on the grassy knoll could easily have been fired from Oswald's rifle as a bullet will only take a perfectly straight path through the human body if fired at close range.
Both of these facts are ultimately useless as half the world will never believe you...
useless facts
Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... Posted Apr 11, 2005
Because early scissors worked more like tweezers with blades (went to a re-enactors' market recently and a mate got some... scissors that is)
useless facts
Baron Grim Posted Apr 11, 2005
I know the type of scissors you mean... I've seen some of those around somewhere... I and even normal hinged scissors do not need to favour one hand over the other. Most of the scissors I use these days are ambidextrous...
....
I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
useless facts
Cheerful Dragon Posted Apr 11, 2005
"Also the so-called 'magic bullet' which apparently proves that there was somebody on the grassy knoll could easily have been fired from Oswald's rifle as a bullet will only take a perfectly straight path through the human body if fired at close range."
Actually, the 'magic bullet' is really a fallacy because Governor Connally was *not* sitting directly in front of JFK at the time. His seat was offset to one side and, as I recall, slightly lower than JFK's. So a bullet could have passed through both bodies, causing the injuries that happened, without bending, ricocheting, or doing anything else 'nifty'.
useless facts
Researcher 1300304 Posted Apr 12, 2005
left handed scissors fall into the same category as left handed cups and pencils.
if the hinge or pivot is not old and worn, the operating mechanics are identical regardless of which hand they are used in because the mechanism is not inverted by transfer to the other hand. unlike, for example, a guitar.
useless facts
Baron Grim Posted Apr 12, 2005
Unless they were ergonomically designed to be left or right handed with angled thumb holes.
useless facts
pffffft Posted Apr 12, 2005
It is physically impossible to get a left handed shark, underwater or not.
useless facts
Researcher 1300304 Posted Apr 12, 2005
foreign currency was legal tender in the usa until 1857.
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/dollar.html
useless facts
james-hamid Posted Apr 13, 2005
When the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was first broadcast many, many years ago I seem to recall that the Beeb’s audience research indicate that only five people would listen to the whole thing and hence they broadcast it on the third programme at some ungodly hour. I happen to know three of the others but does anyone know who the fifth one is?
useless facts
Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... Posted Apr 13, 2005
My mum.
useless facts
Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... Posted Apr 13, 2005
Depends if you want to be dismembered first.
useless facts
james-hamid Posted Apr 13, 2005
I don't want to die in pieces and in West African pidgin 'dis member' means something quite different.
Key: Complain about this post
useless facts
- 1801: james-hamid (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1802: Baron Grim (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1803: Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1804: Baron Grim (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1805: james-hamid (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1806: Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1807: james-hamid (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1808: Baron Grim (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1809: Cheerful Dragon (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1810: Lochangel (Apr 11, 2005)
- 1811: Researcher 1300304 (Apr 12, 2005)
- 1812: Baron Grim (Apr 12, 2005)
- 1813: pffffft (Apr 12, 2005)
- 1814: Researcher 1300304 (Apr 12, 2005)
- 1815: DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me! (Apr 13, 2005)
- 1816: james-hamid (Apr 13, 2005)
- 1817: Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... (Apr 13, 2005)
- 1818: james-hamid (Apr 13, 2005)
- 1819: Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am... (Apr 13, 2005)
- 1820: james-hamid (Apr 13, 2005)
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