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Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2010 08:25 AM

I'm stealing this idea, but it's a good one. I always knew Kate Hudson was Goldie Hawn's daughter. But I never knew till recently that her Dad was one of the Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Guys (Bill Hudson,shown in the middle, below). After Bill & Goldie split, he married Shirley of Laverne & Shirley. Bonus Trivia: Can you name the 2 other Hudson brothers?

Valadius Feb 10 2010 08:32 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Stan Lee is 87 years old!

Edgy DC Feb 10 2010 08:37 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Bonus Trivia: Can you name the 2 other Hudson brothers? No, but I'm totally wearing my tie outside my vest from now on. That's a smoove look.

Swan Swan H Feb 10 2010 08:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I know Mark. Bob, maybe?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 10 2010 08:51 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Henry?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 10 2010 08:52 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The only thing I remember about The Hudson Brothers is that they were all crammed into one square on The Hollywood Squares.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2010 08:57 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Swan Swan H wrote: I know Mark. Bob, maybe? Mark with the mustache; the other one is Brett.

soupcan Feb 10 2010 09:26 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

To put my car in neutral if the accelerator gets stuck.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 10 2010 09:39 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I just learned for the first time ever that there was a 1970's act known as "The Hudson Brothers". Should I start a "Things I Learned Only Recently from reading the Things You Learned Only Recently thread"?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2010 09:43 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEcSHOuGPt4 Watch... if you can...

soupcan Feb 10 2010 10:02 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Made it to about 57 seconds in, then...not so much.

Edgy DC Feb 10 2010 10:10 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEcSHOuGPt4 Watch... if you can... The only thing that rang a bell was that mumbing cartoon guy with the rocket.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2010 10:12 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The van making circles, I remember that. But the Brothers themselves were all mixed up in my brain with the Osmonds and other TV entertainers of the 70s.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 10 2010 11:43 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Turn into the skid, not away from it. Also, that bacon grease is an AMAZING cooking additive for just about anything else (especially popcorn or veggies). Apart from the occasional glazed ham on holidays, Mom wasn't big on the pork products as I grew up... but still, how the hell did I miss THAT?

SteveJRogers Feb 10 2010 01:34 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

This quote is from a guy who does several podcasts that I listen to, and I guess fits this thread. Just to know where the guy is coming from, he is a big Star Wars nut, in his early thirties: "I didn't know you were supposed to hate the Ewoks until I got on the internet!"

RealityChuck Feb 10 2010 02:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Turn into the skid, not away from it. In snow or ice? Better check whether your car has front wheel or rear wheel drive. That advice is for rear wheel. Front wheel drive, you turn the way you want to go. I once had two cars, one rear wheel, the other front wheel. When I hit a skid, my first thought had to be "Which car am I driving?"

Number 6 Feb 10 2010 03:46 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I had no idea of the significance of the nick "LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr." Then, recently, I heard the song.

cooby Feb 10 2010 04:14 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Ma Belle Amie is not The Beatles

themetfairy Feb 10 2010 05:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I'm stealing this idea, but it's a good one. I always knew Kate Hudson was Goldie Hawn's daughter. But I never knew till recently that her Dad was one of the Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Guys (Bill Hudson,shown in the middle, below). After Bill & Goldie split, he married Shirley of Laverne & Shirley. Bonus Trivia: Can you name the 2 other Hudson brothers? Avi. I saw the question, but didn't see that it had been answered.

dgwphotography Feb 10 2010 06:09 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I just learned that the Unknown Comic was on the Hudson Brother's Show long before he was anonymous on The Gong Show...

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2010 06:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Number 6 wrote: I had no idea of the significance of the nick "LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr." Then, recently, I heard the song. Hmmm, this is for the things I still don't know file...

Willets Point Feb 10 2010 06:33 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Number 6 wrote: I had no idea of the significance of the nick "LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr." Then, recently, I heard the song. Hmmm, this is for the things I still don't know file... Ditto. I always thought it had something to do with the 6 Million Dollar Man.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 10 2010 06:51 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

RealityChuck wrote: Turn into the skid, not away from it. In snow or ice? Better check whether your car has front wheel or rear wheel drive. That advice is for rear wheel. Front wheel drive, you turn the way you want to go. I once had two cars, one rear wheel, the other front wheel. When I hit a skid, my first thought had to be "Which car am I driving?" That kinda cuts the usefulness of the heuristic in half, don't it? (We're RWD.) I had no idea of the significance of the nick "LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr." Then, recently, I heard the song. Hmmm, this is for the things I still don't know file... http://www.lala.com/#song/576742244497255601 Also, they do a fun live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ItqVgaTIjI

Kong76 Feb 10 2010 07:10 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

It's like Jan Hammer's grandkids on stronger stuff. (I also didn't know that it had another reference other than Mets playrs)

Swan Swan H Feb 10 2010 07:15 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I always thought it was a Six Million Dollar Man reference (we can make him better...stronger...)

Valadius Feb 10 2010 08:31 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I'm pretty sure it's from the Olympic motto - higher, faster, stronger.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 10 2010 09:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Daft Punk is an electronic French duo. I think the song title is, or at least should be, a reference to Steve Austin. If there was extra meaning to the screen name, I thought it was embedded in the odd spelling of Strongr (though I'd guess that's a space thing).

Edgy DC Feb 10 2010 09:34 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Yup, ran out of characters.

Fman99 Feb 10 2010 10:31 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fgirl is a fan of Hannah Montana (or "Tannah Ontana" as she's known in my home), who is played by an actress named Miley Cyrus. I did not know until the other day that she is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 11 2010 07:08 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Ol' Achybreaky's on the show, isn't he?

dgwphotography Feb 11 2010 07:35 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Ol' Achybreaky's on the show, isn't he? Yep - he plays her dad...

Frayed Knot Feb 11 2010 07:45 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Good to have a dad on shows like that with a girl so young, otherwise she might wind up in a racy photo spread or something ... oh wait!

Benjamin Grimm Feb 11 2010 08:10 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fman99 wrote: I did not know until the other day that she is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. That means you've done a far better job of tuning out Hannah Montana than I have.

Fman99 Feb 11 2010 07:11 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Fman99 wrote: I did not know until the other day that she is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. That means you've done a far better job of tuning out Hannah Montana than I have. Thanks. We don't watch the show -- and I suspect Fgirl doesn't know of the existence of the show. They play the songs in her room at day care, and she's seen pictures, hence her fixation.

Frayed Knot Feb 11 2010 07:20 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I either never knew, or knew once but had forgotten, that the 6' 10" former UCLA star now in his 2nd season with the Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Love is the nephew of Beach Boys Mike Love. Kevin is the son of Mike's brother Stan who both played in the NBA and also helped manage the group for a time, although I believe his duties consisted mainly of using his size to try and intimidate Brian Wilson into cooperating.

Frayed Knot Feb 27 2010 05:42 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Another music/sports connection of which I was unaware: Drummer Butch Trucks (Allman Bros Band) and his guitarist nephew Derek (also in ABB plus fronts his own band) are related to former MLB pitcher Virgil Trucks (listed as nephew and grand-nephew). Virgil, still living at age 92, won 177 ML games in the 1940s & 50s mostly for the Tigers. Peter Gammons, naturally, is the one with all the info

metirish Feb 27 2010 05:51 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Number 6 wrote: I had no idea of the significance of the nick "LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr." Then, recently, I heard the song. Hmmm, this is for the things I still don't know file... I never knew any of this, I assumed it was some sort of sarcastic thing about Billy Wagner and Al Leiter , but I could just never figure out why the fuck that would be the case.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 27 2010 05:53 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Virgil Trucks' grandson Rob Trucks is a writer who I met at a sabr thing one time. He was to have been researching a biography of Virgil. This is something I did know.

seawolf17 Feb 27 2010 08:00 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador. I assumed they were down by New Zealand or Australia.

seawolf17 Feb 27 2010 08:07 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There have been three players named Aurelio in major league baseball history; all three were killed in car accidents.

Frayed Knot Feb 28 2010 07:35 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Virgil Trucks' grandson Rob Trucks is a writer who I met at a sabr thing one time. He was to have been researching a biography of Virgil. Definitely has that Trucks look ... or at least the hair. There have been three players named Aurelio in major league baseball history; all three were killed in car accidents. OK now that's just freaky!

Ashie62 Feb 28 2010 02:57 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Same driver?

Valadius Feb 28 2010 07:53 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The 1976 Winter Games were supposed to be in Denver, but Colorado voters voted down a bond to pay for them.

Frayed Knot Feb 28 2010 08:08 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Valadius wrote: The 1976 Winter Games were supposed to be in Denver, but Colorado voters voted down a bond to pay for them. Yup, and by pulling out they caught the IOC a bit unprepared, so they had to award those games to a place already prepared hold them. That's why the winter games wound up in Innsbruck, Austria twice in a 12 year span.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 28 2010 10:07 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

"Peg" is short for Margaret. The first time I heard this, it didn't take-- I thought Peg was fucking with me.

Frayed Knot Mar 03 2010 05:23 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Heard about one minute of a radio interview with Sen Jim Bunning today - the former MLB pitcher who's thrust himself into the news a lot lately. I always knew he had a bunch of kids because Ralph Kiner always made a fuss about the fact that his perfect game vs the Mets came on Father's Day. I thought it was around six or seven but it turns out that the total had topped out at [u:8ejmm7j0]nine[/u:8ejmm7j0]. But what I found out today was that those nine have in turn produced (to date) in this era of smaller families a whopping total of [u:8ejmm7j0]FORTY[/u:8ejmm7j0] grandkids. What do you suppose the odds are that he could even name them all or which belonged to who much less remember birthdays?

Edgy DC Mar 03 2010 08:46 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I wonder how many are unemployed.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 03 2010 10:39 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Belated or on time-- or job/no job-- I suspect they're all getting the same birthday present anyway.

soupcan Mar 06 2010 09:58 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That 'The Wizard of Oz' was based on 'Alice In Wonderland'. I'm assuming this after seeing the Tim Burton version of 'Alice' last night but I can't see how this isn't the case.

MFS62 Mar 06 2010 12:56 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Found out this morning that it is a lot easier to remove the air filter cover on my Jeep than it is to put it back on. You need a third hand to hold the wiring package out of the way. Later

Ashie62 Mar 06 2010 04:17 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Found out NJ Transit is broke..

dgwphotography Mar 13 2010 06:28 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I was just reminded how adorable Martha Quinn was...

Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2010 07:03 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

You were watching Full House this morning, weren't you! ADMIT IT!

dgwphotography Mar 13 2010 09:00 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Benjamin Grimm wrote: You were watching Full House this morning, weren't you! ADMIT IT! And you would know that because you were watching it, too. ADMIT IT!

Benjamin Grimm Mar 13 2010 09:54 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Lately I can't seem to escape that miserable show. TeenNick is showing it about 40 times per day.

MFS62 Mar 13 2010 12:09 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Found out this morning that the grandkids are sleeping over tonight. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 13 2010 03:11 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Jimmy Carter never actually used the word "malaise" in that speech.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 16 2010 02:48 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Kate Pierson of the B-52s is 62 years old, a lesbian, and runs a kitch-designed getaway hotel thingy in the Catskills.

Edgy DC Mar 16 2010 02:54 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

She's also a Taurus. She loves tomatoes and black-capped chicakadees.

G-Fafif Mar 16 2010 03:57 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I learned you can fill a kitchen with smoke when you microwave something small on a paper plate for 4:00 instead of the recommended :40.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2010 04:50 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Soap operas these days base a lot of plots on custody fights, don't they?

Valadius Mar 16 2010 04:51 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

What are you doing watching soap operas?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 16 2010 04:56 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

My eyes need to follow something as I baby-feed. (And since we watched "Law Abiding Citizen" and "The Girlfriend Experience" earlier today, we're apparently out of good movies to watch.)

themetfairy Mar 16 2010 06:38 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Soap operas these days base a lot of plots on custody fights, don't they? These days? That's a soap staple from time immemorial, usually preceded by a Who's the Daddy? plot.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 18 2010 02:46 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I'm closer to my 70th birthday than I am to the last Mets World Series championship. Hopefully I'm a lot closer to the next one!

Frayed Knot Mar 18 2010 04:06 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm closer to my 70th birthday than I am to the last Mets World Series championship. This response could pull double duty in the 'Sad, sad truth' thread.

Fman99 Mar 18 2010 10:42 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

If you are driving a rental car, and you don't know what side the gas tank is on, look at the gas pump icon on your fuel gauge. More often than not, it will have an arrow near it, pointing either left or right, that indicates what side of the car the tank is on. Years of business travel and this was just revealed to me this year.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 19 2010 05:20 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The rule of thumb that I heard, but I don't know if it's true, is that American cars have the gas pump on the passenger side, and Japanese cars have it on the driver's side.

soupcan Mar 19 2010 09:09 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fman99 wrote: If you are driving a rental car, and you don't know what side the gas tank is on, look at the gas pump icon on your fuel gauge. More often than not, it will have an arrow near it, pointing either left or right, that indicates what side of the car the tank is on. Years of business travel and this was just revealed to me this year. Embarassed to say that I just figured that out a few months back myself.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 01 2010 07:45 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Joyce Kilmer was a he.

cooby Apr 16 2010 09:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ5dCfQQczc Always liked this song, Ohio Players, Chili Peppers, whoever. Heard it a million times. I always thought that scream was people on a roller coaster! What an idiot I am! It's a girl getting stabbed by the band's manager while they recorded it! Holy Smokes am I dumb!

Centerfield May 12 2010 12:19 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Buying makeup for your wife for a mother's day gift is a really good way to meet women. Like almost all other good ways to meet women (walking around with a baby etc.) it only presents itself after it's too late.

Methead Jun 10 2010 09:17 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

New Era changed the official on-field fitted caps from wool to polyester, the first major change in 50 years. Problem is, now that I need my new hat to shrink a little, it won't.

MFS62 Jun 11 2010 09:27 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Over 30 dead large sea mammals (whales, dolphins) wash up on US beaches every year. The one that washed up this week on New York was so large (20 tons) they had to bury it at the beach because they couldn't (re)move it. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jun 11 2010 10:21 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

At first, I thought you were talking about Rush Limbaugh's honeymoon.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 18 2010 10:39 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

It just occurred to me that Fred Flintstone wears Mets colors!

Benjamin Grimm Jun 18 2010 10:42 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fred also supports gay marriage. He just said, "I wish there was something else we men could marry."

Willets Point Jun 18 2010 12:42 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I recently learned the meaning of avuncular.

MFS62 Jun 19 2010 09:11 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: I recently learned the meaning of avuncular. Did your uncle tell you? Later

Rockin' Doc Jun 20 2010 09:02 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: I recently learned the meaning of avuncular. Well, after reading your post I just learned a new word. Apparently 62 was way ahead of us on this one.

Willets Point Jun 21 2010 07:16 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Doesn't mean anything close to what I'd imagined it would mean. I though it sounded anatomical.

G-Fafif Jun 22 2010 01:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Smokey and the Bandit is an awesome motion picture in a way that transcends quality.

MFS62 Jun 22 2010 07:53 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There are 92 illnesses/ causes/ symptoms associated with psychotic behavior. That explains a lot. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jun 22 2010 08:04 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I just looked up "avuncular." To rephrase, therefore, something I posted in the dead people thread, "My uncle was more than twice as avuncular than I am."

TheOldMole Jun 22 2010 12:43 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The sound of nails scratching across a blackboard does not bother a monkey.

dgwphotography Jun 22 2010 06:57 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

According to baseball-reference.com, the most similar pitcher to Tom Seaver is, gulp, Tom Glavine (868)...

Edgy DC Jun 25 2010 08:18 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The first season, Magnum, PI had different, far less awesome theme song.

batmagadanleadoff Jun 25 2010 08:36 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

dgwphotography wrote: According to baseball-reference.com, the most similar pitcher to Tom Seaver is, gulp, Tom Glavine (868)... 868 isn't a strong similarity score. This means that there isn't any pitcher quite like Seaver, and that though Glavine might be the closest, he's not significantly close to Seaver.

dgwphotography Jun 25 2010 09:13 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: The first season, Magnum, PI had different, far less awesome theme song. Actually, that's not quite correct - I believe they changed the theme song about half-way through the first season...

MFS62 Jun 27 2010 08:09 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

So we pack the car yesterday morning, pick up our daughrer at her house, and drive two hours to the beach in Rhode Island. Unpack the car, schlep the stuff from the parking lot to the sand, set up the umbrella and chairs. Then we run down to the water, go about three feet in and the lifeguard says "Everyone out of the water. Shark!" We looked out and there was a huge dorsal fin moving through the water about 75 feet offshore. It wasn't until they sent out a boat to check it out that the all clear was given. I asked the lifeguard what it was and he said sunfish. So when we got home, I looked it up. We're not the first folks who have mistaken one for a shark. Fascinating: http://www.earthwindow.com/mola.htm Later

Rockin' Doc Jun 27 2010 12:39 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I was deep see fishing with 5 of my friends several years ago when a large ocean sunfish came alongside of the boat. Huge, scary looking creature, but the captain and first mate assured us totally harmless. It was interesting to watch for the 4-5 minutes it swam along the surface beside our fishing boat.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jun 29 2010 11:56 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Thurgood Marshall was a terrible, no-good, very-bad activist judge. Thanks, senators!

Centerfield Jun 29 2010 12:16 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

dgwphotography wrote: Edgy DC wrote: The first season, Magnum, PI had different, far less awesome theme song. Actually, that's not quite correct - I believe they changed the theme song about half-way through the first season... You'd have to list that among the top ten theme songs I'd guess. Knight Rider and A-Team are in there too. Greatest American Hero if you allow lyrics.

Edgy DC Jun 29 2010 12:31 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Magnum, PI: Mike Post. A-Team: Mike Post. Knight Rider: Stu Phillips Greatest American Hero: Mike Fuckin' Post The other thing these shows tend to share is Glen A. Larson, producer, who was also an award-winning producer himself.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jun 29 2010 12:33 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Sounds like we need a Mike Post Desert Island Mix Tape poll.

Edgy DC Jun 29 2010 12:40 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

On it!

metirish Jun 29 2010 07:57 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That there is a 7 day DL in the minor leagues.

Edgy DC Aug 02 2010 08:39 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Chubby from Our Gang is buried in an unmarked grave in Baltimore.

MFS62 Aug 02 2010 10:04 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Lindsay Lohan was released from jail this morning. Later

metsguyinmichigan Aug 02 2010 10:21 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The guy who plays the tough director on NCIS played a bit part in a West Wing episode as a comedian. (I'm going through my West Wings each morning on the treadmill.)

dgwphotography Aug 02 2010 12:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It just occurred to me that Fred Flintstone wears Mets colors! Black is not a Mets color...

Benjamin Grimm Aug 04 2010 01:58 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Well, there's the blue tie and the orange "suit". Anyway... I just learned (from Wikipedia, so who knows for sure?) that the name of the bread known as "pumpernickel" may come from the German words for "devil's fart."

TransMonk Aug 06 2010 10:45 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

While I typically carry a heavy distain for 80's pop/dance/Top 40 music, I've discovered that I enjoy the music of Duran Duran after hearing random songs by them over the past week or two. I've always listened, but I guess I've never heard.

Ashie62 Aug 06 2010 02:50 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Well, there's the blue tie and the orange "suit". Anyway... I just learned (from Wikipedia, so who knows for sure?) that the name of the bread known as "pumpernickel" may come from the German words for "devil's fart." The word Pumpernickel preceded the bread and was use as slang to denigrate the "unrefined". The bread originally was frowned upon as "crude" as the the word Pumpernickel was attched to it. Deutschland uber alles.

The Second Spitter Aug 09 2010 01:37 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Jani Lane, the lead singer of Warrant, was born John Kennedy Oswald. If this doesn't sound bad enough, he was born less than 3 months after the Kennedy assassination. His parents must have been doing some serious drugs at the time...

Willets Point Aug 09 2010 07:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I've learned that there is an international federation for American Football called IFAF (suspiciously similar to FIFA). It was founded in 1998 ... in France. They sponsor a World Championship won in 1999 & 2003 by Japan. The United Stated finally joined in the world competition of their own game in 2007 and won with a team of amateurs.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 09 2010 09:38 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Kentucky is non-contiguous.

Chad Ochoseis Aug 10 2010 06:02 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

So is Iowa. Also, it's not coincidental that the Philadelphia suburb of Levittown has the same name as the Levittown on Long Island. They were designed by the same Levitt.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 10 2010 06:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Delaware too. Note the little area sticking out from the New Jersey side.

metirish Aug 14 2010 03:35 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That Peter Garrett is seven feet tall.

Willets Point Aug 18 2010 11:06 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

When you open a thread in the Crane Pool Forum that you've read before, there is a button that says "First Unread Post". It works just as advertised. I don't know how I've overlooked this for so long.

metirish Aug 18 2010 11:18 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: When you open a thread in the Crane Pool Forum that you've read before, there is a button that says "First Unread Post". It works just as advertised. I don't know how I've overlooked this for so long. I just found this out right now after reading your post.....never saw it either...

Frayed Knot Aug 18 2010 11:19 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

metirish wrote: That Peter Garrett is seven feet tall. I assume you're talking about the chap from 'Midnight Oil' - in which case he's tall but I don't think he's that tall. I remember reading back when they were first big that he was more like in the 6'6"-6'7" range. I've also seen him a handful of times including one up fairly close (they played a lunch-time show on a Manhattan street a bunch of years back - a form of protest in front of a Oil Co building IIRC) and, again, he looked tall but not freakishly so. He also climbed up on a tower of speakers while singing that day and looked pretty gawky while tumbling down them after losing his balance. Oh the sacrifices artists make for their art. Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 18 2010 02:44 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

"Estoppel."

themetfairy Aug 18 2010 02:50 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: "Estoppel." LOL

Willets Point Aug 18 2010 03:06 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Frayed Knot wrote: Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height We can fix that.

metirish Aug 18 2010 04:08 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Like ken Rosenthal it's hard to find a height online. Wiki Answers has it at 7, that's not where I got it from, actually I can't remember where now but it was only recently.

Frayed Knot Aug 18 2010 04:10 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Aug 18 2010 04:12 PM

Willets Point wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height We can fix that. But first we'd need his actual height ... and a source. Rosenthal probably sees to it that his height is a state secret. To Tim Kurkjian's credit, he publicly admits to being 5' 4". Or is it 5' 5" ? Either way, he and Rosenthal could have a short-off.

themetfairy Aug 18 2010 04:11 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height We can fix that. But first we'd need his actual height ... and a source. Data is so 20th Century....

Willets Point Aug 18 2010 05:55 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Yeah, I was alluding to Wikipedia's reputation for having un-sourced and biased information.

metsguyinmichigan Aug 18 2010 08:09 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height We can fix that. Bad ass!!!

metsguyinmichigan Aug 18 2010 08:31 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height We can fix that. Bad ass!!!

Edgy DC Aug 18 2010 09:44 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Zvon looks a little like Zevon.

The Second Spitter Aug 21 2010 05:26 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Frayed Knot wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height We can fix that. But first we'd need his actual height ... and a source. I took my mom to vote this afternoon, and who do I see at the polling booth handing out "how-to-vote" cards, but the man himself.... so we engaged in the following conversation: "G'day Peter how's it going?" "Good thanks, mate" "Some friends in the U.S were wondering how tall you are?" "Too tall" "Hahaha, but seriously I think it's important for them to know" "These days... about 208" "Cheers, mate and good luck" So there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth. Never let be said that I don't deliver.

Fman99 Aug 21 2010 05:44 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Chad Ochoseis wrote: So is Iowa. Also, it's not coincidental that the Philadelphia suburb of Levittown has the same name as the Levittown on Long Island. They were designed by the same Levitt. David Halberstam's book "The Fifties" devotes an entire chapter to the Levitt brothers and their role in the creation of suburbia, fueled by low cost and mass produced houses and neighborhoods.

Frayed Knot Aug 21 2010 06:56 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Second Spitter wrote: I took my mom to vote this afternoon, and who do I see at the polling booth handing out "how-to-vote" cards, but the man himself.... so we engaged in the following conversation: "G'day Peter how's it going?" "Good thanks, mate" "Some friends in the U.S were wondering how tall you are?" "Too tall" "Hahaha, but seriously I think it's important for them to know" "These days... about 208" "Cheers, mate and good luck" So there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth. Never let be said that I don't deliver. 208 (cms) translates to right around 6' 8" for those not conversant in metric

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 21 2010 07:13 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Second Spitter wrote: Wikipedia mentions nothing about his height We can fix that. But first we'd need his actual height ... and a source. I took my mom to vote this afternoon, and who do I see at the polling booth handing out "how-to-vote" cards, but the man himself.... so we engaged in the following conversation: "G'day Peter how's it going?" "Good thanks, mate" "Some friends in the U.S were wondering how tall you are?" "Too tall" "Hahaha, but seriously I think it's important for them to know" "These days... about 208" "Cheers, mate and good luck" So there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth. Never let be said that I don't deliver. Call him King of the Mountain.

The Second Spitter Aug 21 2010 07:25 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I think it's hilarious his constituency includes Wedding Cake Island (not that anybody actually lives there). He won his seat btw despite an 8.7% swing against, but his party may be voted out of office.

metirish Aug 21 2010 07:34 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Frayed Knot wrote: I took my mom to vote this afternoon, and who do I see at the polling booth handing out "how-to-vote" cards, but the man himself.... so we engaged in the following conversation: "G'day Peter how's it going?" "Good thanks, mate" "Some friends in the U.S were wondering how tall you are?" "Too tall" "Hahaha, but seriously I think it's important for them to know" "These days... about 208" "Cheers, mate and good luck" So there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth. Never let be said that I don't deliver. 208 (cms) translates to right around 6' 8" for those not conversant in metric That's great, how cool is it that we have someone in Australia that happened upon Garrett and fot his height for us?, very cool say I.

Edgy DC Aug 21 2010 07:41 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I think the Second Spitter just took a huge step toward Poster of the Year status. New measurements we need from Second Spitter: How short is Angus Young? What's Rachel Ward's band size? How big are Jacko's biceps? G'luck, mate!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 27 2010 09:17 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Sixpennce None the Richer is from Texas. Texas?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 27 2010 10:00 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Sixpennce None the Richer is from Texas. Texas? Oh, and they're a Contemporary Christian band from Texas. Well, isn't that something. I thought they were ironic.

Rockin' Doc Aug 27 2010 10:52 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

My daughter is a fan of Sixpence None the Richer and has 2 or 3 of their CDs. They have had a few good songs of the pop/rock genre during their careers. Their crossover (into mainstream pop) hit "Kiss Me" is about the only exposure most people have had to their music (unless they've heard "Breathe Your Name"). Their remake of "There She Goes" gained a fair amount of mainstream airplay also.

Edgy DC Aug 30 2010 08:29 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Several years ago, the former John Paul Bonser actually legally changed his name to Boof. "Let's see, I can share a name with both the pope and the bassist from Led Zeppelin, or I can jump through a bunch of legal hurdles and change it to 'Boof.' I'm totally going with 'Boof.' Yeah!"

MFS62 Aug 31 2010 09:44 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: "Let's see, I can share a name with both the pope and the bassist from Led Zeppelin, or I can jump through a bunch of legal hurdles and change it to 'Boof.' I'm totally going with 'Boof.' Yeah!" A few years from now, he will stand before a Judge and ask that his name be changed to "Schmuck". The Judge will ask what his current name is, and when he says "Boof" the Judge will understand. Later

Willets Point Sep 29 2010 12:16 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 29 2010 09:12 AM

x

HahnSolo Sep 29 2010 07:23 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The guy who directed Billy Squier's career-killing music video Rock Me Tonite is the same guy who directed Disney's mega-franchise High School Musical series. Kenny Ortega.

Chad Ochoseis Oct 05 2010 12:40 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Frayed Knot wrote: Maybe the most brazen Francesa 'I know more than you' moment came on 9/11 As a Long Island resident he was the only one who could get in that day w/o needing a bridge Until I read this, thought "WTF?", and started Googling, I had no idea that WFAN's broadcast studios were originally located in Astoria.

Ceetar Oct 05 2010 12:50 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Chad Ochoseis wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Maybe the most brazen Francesa 'I know more than you' moment came on 9/11 As a Long Island resident he was the only one who could get in that day w/o needing a bridge Until I read this, thought "WTF?", and started Googling, I had no idea that WFAN's broadcast studios were originally located in Astoria. Right next to Studio Square, and awesome beer garden. Actually, it's been barely more than a year taht they've been in lower Manhattan.

metirish Oct 05 2010 12:52 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Just learned this morning that Jerry Dipoto was a pitcher and had pitched for the Mets.

MFS62 Oct 06 2010 09:15 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

They closed an airport in China because of a UFO sighting. http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-07/549678.html Later

Edgy DC Oct 06 2010 09:37 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Three consecutive Mets told Bill Robinson they weren't making the last out.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 08 2010 07:39 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Missing Persons' debut album, Spring Session M, is an anagram of the band's name.

Frayed Knot Oct 08 2010 07:41 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: Three consecutive Mets told Bill Robinson they weren't making the last out. All after the fact. Much easier to be right that way.

TransMonk Oct 08 2010 07:59 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That lyric at the end of Rock the Casbah is "Fundamentally he can't take it." You know the one.

TransMonk Oct 08 2010 08:00 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Missing Persons' debut album, Spring Session M, is an anagram of the band's name. What are words for? Making anagrams, obviously.

Edgy DC Oct 08 2010 08:12 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Missing Persons' debut album, Spring Session M, is an anagram of the band's name. You told us that on the MOFo all those years ago.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 08 2010 08:22 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I did not, as I learned that only recently.

Edgy DC Oct 08 2010 09:44 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Must've been Thirteen is all I can say. But if somebody put a gun to me and asked, I'd say, "Sure, I learned that from YGB back in 2000."

Rockin' Doc Oct 08 2010 06:15 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Well, we're all getting older. JCL probably just remembered what he once knew, but long ago forgot.

G-Fafif Oct 11 2010 12:03 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Very recent as in the last hour: Joe Piscopo co-hosts the Columbus Day Parade on Channel 4 and is as unctuous as ever. Not a recent revelation, per se, but: I didn't fully realize for many years that Columbus Day is treated as an Italian-American celebration as opposed to a holiday celebrating the "discovery" of America in general.

Willets Point Oct 13 2010 12:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

#4 on the UK Albums chart? Sir Winston Churchill.

Edgy DC Oct 13 2010 12:53 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I'm almost as surprised to see Manic Street Preachers there. I had no idea they were still bringing it. They would be part of my inaugural class in the Welsh Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Dave Edmunds, The Alarm, Shakin' Stevens, and Badfinger. Sorry, John Cale, year two for you.

HahnSolo Oct 13 2010 01:04 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That The Alarm are Welsh.

Willets Point Oct 13 2010 05:19 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Shirley Bassey too.

Edgy DC Oct 13 2010 07:14 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

You're taunting me, aren't you?

Willets Point Oct 13 2010 07:36 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: I'm almost as surprised to see Manic Street Preachers there. I had no idea they were still bringing it. Hey, Sir Winston is still bringing it and he's dead at the present time.

HahnSolo Oct 14 2010 12:13 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Gil McDougald managed the Fordham U. baseball team. Paul Blair, too (though I already knew that).

seawolf17 Oct 14 2010 12:30 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The gorgeous -- albeit ill-advised in relationship matters -- Minka "Sexiest Woman Alive" Kelly is the daughter of former Aerosmith scab guitarist Rick Dufay.

Edgy DC Oct 16 2010 07:41 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

seawolf17 in the 'Favorite Fab Four-er' Thread wrote: Ringo George Paul John I just learned that Seawolf17 can be quite the contrarian.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 21 2010 11:14 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That Toni Basil's "Mickey" was a re-written cover of this song: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAhuwfaU4vs

metirish Oct 21 2010 11:40 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That Ernie Johnson who I dislike as an announcer worked Braves games from 1993-96 with his father a former major leaguer who was the Braves radio/tv guy from 1962-1999....was a WS winner in 1957.....

metsguyinmichigan Oct 21 2010 02:53 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That extended Cubs manager Mike Quade once managed here in Grand Rapids, skippering the Whitecaps. Before my time, though.

Edgy DC Nov 07 2010 06:57 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Governor Hugh Carey is the father of 14 kids, all with his first wife Helen Owen Carey.

cooby Nov 10 2010 03:12 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

We have cumin in the cupboard

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 10 2010 03:32 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

cooby wrote: We have cumin in the cupboard Are you a KOOmin person or a KYOOmin person?

cooby Nov 10 2010 03:43 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

KOOmin :) As in COOby.

Edgy DC Nov 10 2010 09:06 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Bob L. Miller was born "Robert Lane Gemeinweiser."

Benjamin Grimm Nov 11 2010 07:17 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Did he change his name just to confuse Casey Stengel?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 11 2010 08:32 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

KOOmin :) As in COOby. KOO used to bug me, at least in the actual saying of it (as opposed to hearing). It still feels a little dainty in my mouth, and I don't like the daintiness when I'm making chili or adding kick to my masala. (When working with, say, phyllo, the daintiness isn't as objectionable.)

Willets Point Nov 15 2010 07:55 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The founder of Devo, Gerald Casale, was at Kent State University and fired upon by the Ohio National Guard, standing near one of his friends who was killed that day.

soupcan Nov 15 2010 10:38 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: Governor Hugh Carey is the father of 14 kids, all with his first wife Helen Owen Carey. I knew that only because one of his kids - the youngest maybe - was a student at SU a year behind me when I was an undergrad. Had to kick him out of my apartment late after a party as he was drunk and making out with a girl I liked.

Frayed Knot Nov 15 2010 11:08 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

A Carey drunk? Now whoda thunk that? I lived in Albany for a time while Hugh was in office. There was an Irish pub not far from the Governor's residence that used to openly bill itself in newspaper ads as 'The Second Largest Irish Drinking Establishment on Eagle Street' -- slyly implying without ever actually saying that the Governor's mansion was the first.

TheOldMole Nov 15 2010 11:09 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I learned who the first billionaire sports figure, the first billionaire literary figure, and the first billionaire music figure are. The first two are easy, the third a puzzler.

TheOldMole Nov 18 2010 07:20 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Tiger Woods...J. K. Rowling. The third one -- Andrew Lloyd Webber. Something else I just learned recently. The reason why Dick Clark had all his guest lip synch their songs was so that he didn't have to pay them for live performances.

TheOldMole Nov 25 2010 11:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Blues great T-Bone Walker and Clyde Barrow were childhood friends.

A Boy Named Seo Nov 27 2010 12:15 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Mets employed a guy (in uniform!) named Sheriff Robinson. Twice.

Willets Point Dec 01 2010 10:48 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Merry Clayton who famously sings on The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" recorded her own version of the song which totally rocks. She also sang backing vocals on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" and Tori Amos' "Cornflake Girl."

Edgy DC Dec 31 2010 09:38 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Terri Nunn of Berlin read for the role of Princess Leia.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 10 2011 09:04 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Split Enz was origianlly known as Split Ends, but changed the spelling so as to indicate their origin in New Zealand (NZ). Makes sense, I just never knew it. Also, Split Enz is more awesomer than I ever knew. I mean, I always loved I Got You (find me someone who doesn't) but I really come to admire so many of their songs: Bright, lush and zany. [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWKWBoDoU0c

RealityChuck Jan 10 2011 12:47 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The southern states seceded from the Union because they wanted the Federal government to step in to limit states' rights, not because the Feds were trampling on them. Specifically, they objected to lack of enforcement of fugitive slave laws in Northern states, and singled out a New York law that freed any slave brought into the state. The only right they asserted was the right to leave the US. There was no mention of any direct US government policy against the slave states that made them want to leave.

Centerfield Jan 10 2011 01:09 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The role of Indiana Jones was only offered to Harrison Ford because Tom Selleck was unavailable.

Ceetar Jan 10 2011 01:27 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

RealityChuck wrote: The southern states seceded from the Union because they wanted the Federal government to step in to limit states' rights, not because the Feds were trampling on them. Specifically, they objected to lack of enforcement of fugitive slave laws in Northern states, and singled out a New York law that freed any slave brought into the state. The only right they asserted was the right to leave the US. There was no mention of any direct US government policy against the slave states that made them want to leave. [url]http://www.daylightatheism.org/2011/01/why-the-confederate-states-seceded.html

Benjamin Grimm Jan 10 2011 01:59 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Centerfield wrote: The role of Indiana Jones was only offered to Harrison Ford because Tom Selleck was unavailable. I caught Tom Selleck on Blue Bloods recently and I had to keep reminding myself that he wasn't actually Keith Hernandez.

Edgy DC Jan 10 2011 02:07 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Mets actually traded for Keith Hernandez because Tom Selleck wasn't available. Donald Bellisario could be a real miser once he got somebody under contract.

TheOldMole Jan 10 2011 02:13 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The role of Indiana Jones was only offered to Harrison Ford because Tom Selleck was unavailable. In screenwriting classes, I've used this example, in discussing screenwriting in the real world. You've been given an assignment to write a hard-boiled cop drama for Sylvester Stallone. Sly will play a tough working class cop from a Midwestern rust belt city who has to chase a suspect out to LA, where he has to use his rust belt street smarts to navigate the surreal world of Hollywood. You're well into the project, when suddenly you get a call from the producers -- "Sly dropped out. We've hired Eddie Murphy. I want to see rewrites on my desk in the morning."

Edgy DC Jan 10 2011 02:28 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

But you've still got Harold Faltermeyer on the soundtrack, right? Because I'm walking without Faltermeyer.

RealityChuck Jan 10 2011 06:39 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Ceetar wrote: RealityChuck wrote: The southern states seceded from the Union because they wanted the Federal government to step in to limit states' rights, not because the Feds were trampling on them. Specifically, they objected to lack of enforcement of fugitive slave laws in Northern states, and singled out a New York law that freed any slave brought into the state. The only right they asserted was the right to leave the US. There was no mention of any direct US government policy against the slave states that made them want to leave. [url]http://www.daylightatheism.org/2011/01/why-the-confederate-states-seceded.html Looks like they read the same article I did.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 11 2011 10:57 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Burger King in Australia is known as Hungry Jack's.

Edgy DC Feb 19 2011 02:49 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I knew that Senator Daniel Inouye was highly decorated. I knew that President Clinton had upgraded his Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor. What I hadn't known --- until just now reading the details of his combat distinction --- is that he may just be the most courageous warrior on earth. Wikipedia wrote: On April 21, 1945, Inouye was grievously wounded while leading an assault on a heavily-defended ridge near Terenzo called Colle Musatello. The ridge served as a strongpoint along the strip of German fortifications known as the Gothic Line, which represented the last and most dogged line of German defensive works in Italy. As he led his platoon in a flanking maneuver, three German machine guns opened fire from covered positions just 40 yards away, pinning his men to the ground. Inouye stood up to attack and was shot in the stomach; ignoring his wound, he proceeded to attack and destroy the first machine gun nest with hand grenades and fire from his M1 Thompson submachine gun. After being informed of the severity of his wound by his platoon sergeant, he refused treatment and rallied his men for an attack on the second machine gun position, which he also successfully destroyed before collapsing from blood loss. As his squad distracted the third machine gunner, Inouye crawled toward the final bunker, eventually drawing within 10 yards. As he raised himself up and cocked his arm to throw his last grenade into the fighting position, a German inside fired a rifle grenade that struck him on the right elbow, severing most of his arm and leaving his own primed grenade reflexively "clenched in a fist that suddenly didn't belong to me anymore".[9] Inouye's horrified soldiers moved to his aid, but he shouted for them to keep back out of fear his severed fist would involuntarily relax and drop the grenade. As the German inside the bunker reloaded his rifle, Inouye managed to pry the live grenade from his useless right hand and transfer it to his left. As the German aimed his rifle to finish him off, Inouye managed at last to toss the grenade off-hand into the bunker and destroy it. He stumbled to his feet and continued forward, silencing the last German resistance with a one-handed burst from his Thompson before being wounded in the leg and tumbling unconscious to the bottom of the ridge. When he awoke to see the concerned men of his platoon hovering over him, his only comment before being carried away was to gruffly order them return to their positions, since, as he pointed out, "nobody had called off the war".

Rockin' Doc Feb 19 2011 05:15 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Makes walkoff homeruns, last second field goals, or buzzer beating jump shots seem insignificant by comparison. The people that put their lives on the line for the benefit of others are truly heroes. Thanks for sharing, Edgy. And thank you Senator Inouye for your courage and service.

TheOldMole Feb 20 2011 03:58 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Yes.

Willets Point Mar 26 2011 08:59 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I just learned that The Jerry Springer Show is still on. I figured that train wreck had run it's course 10-12 years ago. The "Be A Guest" page on the website is pretty hilarious.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 26 2011 10:04 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: I just learned that The Jerry Springer Show is still on. I figured that train wreck had run it's course 10-12 years ago. The "Be A Guest" page on the website is pretty hilarious. Same here, via "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." How'd you find out?

Willets Point Mar 27 2011 09:36 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Someone posted a Jerry Springer link on Tumblr on Friday and then I heard "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" yesterday. It's like the cosmos decided that my awareness of Jerry Springer needed to be raised.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 27 2011 07:01 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: Someone posted a Jerry Springer link on Tumblr on Friday and then I heard "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" yesterday. It's like the cosmos decided that my awareness of Jerry Springer needed to be raised. That kinda shit happens to me all the time.

Centerfield Mar 28 2011 07:18 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: I knew that Senator Daniel Inouye was highly decorated. I knew that President Clinton had upgraded his Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor. What I hadn't known --- until just now reading the details of his combat distinction --- is that he may just be the most courageous warrior on earth. Wikipedia wrote: On April 21, 1945, Inouye was grievously wounded while leading an assault on a heavily-defended ridge near Terenzo called Colle Musatello. The ridge served as a strongpoint along the strip of German fortifications known as the Gothic Line, which represented the last and most dogged line of German defensive works in Italy. As he led his platoon in a flanking maneuver, three German machine guns opened fire from covered positions just 40 yards away, pinning his men to the ground. Inouye stood up to attack and was shot in the stomach; ignoring his wound, he proceeded to attack and destroy the first machine gun nest with hand grenades and fire from his M1 Thompson submachine gun. After being informed of the severity of his wound by his platoon sergeant, he refused treatment and rallied his men for an attack on the second machine gun position, which he also successfully destroyed before collapsing from blood loss. As his squad distracted the third machine gunner, Inouye crawled toward the final bunker, eventually drawing within 10 yards. As he raised himself up and cocked his arm to throw his last grenade into the fighting position, a German inside fired a rifle grenade that struck him on the right elbow, severing most of his arm and leaving his own primed grenade reflexively "clenched in a fist that suddenly didn't belong to me anymore".[9] Inouye's horrified soldiers moved to his aid, but he shouted for them to keep back out of fear his severed fist would involuntarily relax and drop the grenade. As the German inside the bunker reloaded his rifle, Inouye managed to pry the live grenade from his useless right hand and transfer it to his left. As the German aimed his rifle to finish him off, Inouye managed at last to toss the grenade off-hand into the bunker and destroy it. He stumbled to his feet and continued forward, silencing the last German resistance with a one-handed burst from his Thompson before being wounded in the leg and tumbling unconscious to the bottom of the ridge. When he awoke to see the concerned men of his platoon hovering over him, his only comment before being carried away was to gruffly order them return to their positions, since, as he pointed out, "nobody had called off the war". Holy crap. How has there not been a movie made about this guy. I never knew he had no right hand.

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 07:25 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Well, he appeared in The Next Karate Kid, so...

Benjamin Grimm Mar 28 2011 07:26 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I did know that he was missing part of his arm, but I had no idea of the heroic circumstances surrounding the loss of that arm. Wow.

Ashie62 Mar 28 2011 07:48 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Elizabeth Taylor was Jewish.

themetfairy Mar 28 2011 08:21 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Ashie62 wrote: Elizabeth Taylor was Jewish. I knew that. She converted for husband number three, Michael Todd.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 28 2011 09:07 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I grew up with piles of Star Magazine as our coffee-table books and I didn't know that. (I knew Natalie Wood as "drowning lady" by age 3, but that's something else entirely.)

Chad Ochoseis Mar 28 2011 09:53 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I knew that Senator Daniel Inouye was highly decorated. I knew that President Clinton had upgraded his Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor. What I hadn't known --- until just now reading the details of his combat distinction --- is that he may just be the most courageous warrior on earth. We've found the only man walking this earth who has earned the right to call Tsunami Scuba Diving Guy a wuss.

Centerfield Mar 28 2011 10:55 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I see a poll in our future. And not for nothing, how tough were the Medal of Honor standards back then? How about the committee that heard that story then decided "Yeah, it's good, but I'm sorry, we're going to take a pass here."

metirish Mar 28 2011 11:08 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Centerfield wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I knew that Senator Daniel Inouye was highly decorated. I knew that President Clinton had upgraded his Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor. What I hadn't known --- until just now reading the details of his combat distinction --- is that he may just be the most courageous warrior on earth. Wikipedia wrote: On April 21, 1945, Inouye was grievously wounded while leading an assault on a heavily-defended ridge near Terenzo called Colle Musatello. The ridge served as a strongpoint along the strip of German fortifications known as the Gothic Line, which represented the last and most dogged line of German defensive works in Italy. As he led his platoon in a flanking maneuver, three German machine guns opened fire from covered positions just 40 yards away, pinning his men to the ground. Inouye stood up to attack and was shot in the stomach; ignoring his wound, he proceeded to attack and destroy the first machine gun nest with hand grenades and fire from his M1 Thompson submachine gun. After being informed of the severity of his wound by his platoon sergeant, he refused treatment and rallied his men for an attack on the second machine gun position, which he also successfully destroyed before collapsing from blood loss. As his squad distracted the third machine gunner, Inouye crawled toward the final bunker, eventually drawing within 10 yards. As he raised himself up and cocked his arm to throw his last grenade into the fighting position, a German inside fired a rifle grenade that struck him on the right elbow, severing most of his arm and leaving his own primed grenade reflexively "clenched in a fist that suddenly didn't belong to me anymore".[9] Inouye's horrified soldiers moved to his aid, but he shouted for them to keep back out of fear his severed fist would involuntarily relax and drop the grenade. As the German inside the bunker reloaded his rifle, Inouye managed to pry the live grenade from his useless right hand and transfer it to his left. As the German aimed his rifle to finish him off, Inouye managed at last to toss the grenade off-hand into the bunker and destroy it. He stumbled to his feet and continued forward, silencing the last German resistance with a one-handed burst from his Thompson before being wounded in the leg and tumbling unconscious to the bottom of the ridge. When he awoke to see the concerned men of his platoon hovering over him, his only comment before being carried away was to gruffly order them return to their positions, since, as he pointed out, "nobody had called off the war". Holy crap. How has there not been a movie made about this guy. I never knew he had no right hand. if they made a movie they'd say Jerry Brukheimer was making the stuff up.....wow and I mean wow what a man ...

Edgy DC Mar 28 2011 11:12 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Centerfield wrote: And not for nothing, how tough were the Medal of Honor standards back then? How about the committee that heard that story then decided "Yeah, it's good, but I'm sorry, we're going to take a pass here." Yeah, I tend to wonder if there was a sense that, "We're putting the families of these guys in detainment camps, we're making them fight in the European theatre even though we could probably really use their knowledge of the region and language in the Pacific, because we really don't trust them, and they've won a ridiculously disproportionate amount of the Medals of Honor? Maybe we need to slow that down a bit." The aftermath is that in the rehab hospital, he meets a guy from Kansas named Bob Dole, they talk about what they're going to do once they re-enter society and learn how to live with one hand, and Dole confesses that he hopes to go to law school and maybe that would lead to a political career, perhaps even to serve in Congress. And the freaking overachiever Inouye ends up getting there first. Probably greeted Dole under the rotunda and asked what took him so long.

MFS62 Mar 29 2011 08:04 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Pauley Perrette is 42 years old. I thought she was much younger. Later

HahnSolo Mar 29 2011 08:37 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That somebody named Pauley Perrette existed. (yup, I googled her; and nope, I've never seen NCIS)

metirish Mar 29 2011 08:41 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Don't care for that show myself...... She is also a published writer[6] and civil rights advocate.[2] Hey , I'm a civil rights advocate too.....wow

Edgy DC Mar 29 2011 08:45 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I'm about to become a published writer... now.

Willets Point Mar 30 2011 07:08 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There were nuclear weapons tests in Mississippi. I thought all the US tests were in the Southwest and South Pacific.

Fman99 Mar 30 2011 08:02 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There was something. Now I forgot what it was. Hopefully I learn it again.

Fman99 Apr 02 2011 05:48 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

OK, I remembered. You can make delicious cookies out of cake mix by omitting water from the recipe. Learned this from my wife's stepmother.

Willets Point Apr 05 2011 10:18 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Paul Winchell - voice of Tigger in Disney's Winnie the Pooh and many other animated characters - also invented and patented an early version of an artificial heart.

metsmarathon Apr 06 2011 08:02 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fman99 wrote: OK, I remembered. You can make delicious cookies out of cake mix by omitting water from the recipe. Learned this from my wife's stepmother. does that mean you can also make delicious cakes from cookie recipes by adding water?

MFS62 Apr 06 2011 08:05 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: Paul Winchell - voice of Tigger in Disney's Winnie the Pooh and many other animated characters - also invented and patented an early version of an artificial heart. Winchell (with his dummy Jerry Mahoney) was a famous ventriloquist in the early days of TV. The fact that he invented an artificial heart seems like it should be the subject of more than a few Psychology papers. Or at least a Twilight Zone episode. Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 06 2011 08:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Apparently, I live a boring-ass life compared to Tigger. Also, Cole Hamels is Colbert Hamels.

seawolf17 Apr 08 2011 06:05 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

My iPod Touch auto-corrects "Crue" to "Crüe." Sadly, it does not do the same for "Mötley" or "Queensr˙che." I need to try "Motörhead" once BabyWolf is done playing SuperWhy.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 08 2011 09:19 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

YoungerPooper does SuperWhy! (She also owns a Motorhead onesie. But that wasn't really her purchasing choice.)

MFS62 Apr 09 2011 03:34 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There was a 30 deniers French coin, minted from 1709 to 1719 that was used in North America. It was called the mousquetaire. I wonder what Annette thinks of that. Later

seawolf17 Apr 11 2011 07:37 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: YoungerPooper does SuperWhy! SuperWhy is one of the few watchable children's shows out there.

Centerfield Apr 11 2011 01:21 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

All four of those characters have the same power.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 11 2011 01:30 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Centerfield wrote: All four of those characters have the same power. Right? The Pig can just pack his lunchbox and go home.

seawolf17 Apr 11 2011 01:43 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Centerfield wrote: All four of those characters have the same power. Right? The Pig can just pack his lunchbox and go home. That's a weakness, yes, but you need them all for diversity purposes. Doesn't make the show unwatchable the way that insipid Pirates show on Disney Junior is.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 11 2011 02:09 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Well, they kinda handle problems of a limited sort of scope, so it doesn't matter SO much that the powers are redundant. It's not like they're trying to repair bridges or save Chilean miners, and they're really hurting for a strongman or winch-arm guy. I'm desperately trying to avoid showing her "Wonder Pets."

metirish Apr 11 2011 02:14 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: I'm desperately trying to avoid showing her "Wonder Pets." my fella turns his nose up at that now , I tell him there was a time when he loved it.....I've sat through it seems dozens of repeat Wonder Pet shows...the one that always sticks is the poodle in Paris....replete with terrible accents , the one in Ireland too.... Lorcan liking Captain America this past week and the Hulk...."the Hulk is big like you daddy ".....

seawolf17 Apr 11 2011 02:16 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I feel like we've done a pretty good job of avoiding the insipid stuff. We openly forbid Barney and Spongebob, so that's a start. They don't get enough Sesame Street, but they both love the word shows like SuperWhy and Word World (which is dumb, but tolerable).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 11 2011 02:26 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Wonder Pets is better than it looks on the surface. Super Why is one of those shows that tries too a little too hard to teach you something, I was always suspicious of those. The whole thing with the secret letters and super computer, etc etc. Too much magical shit happening.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 11 2011 02:28 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Don't ban Spongebob, that show is a riot.

HahnSolo Apr 11 2011 02:48 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

You are totally missing a good time with the Sponge Bob banning. Semi-appalled that you mention it in the same breath as Barney. Wonder Pets isn't terrible, Little Solo was amused by it for a few months or so. The theme song is atrocious.

themetfairy Apr 11 2011 02:50 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Barney is worth banning. I don't watch SpongeBob, but I notice that MK still watches it on occasion. Sesame Street was always wonderfully written on multiple levels :)

Benjamin Grimm Apr 11 2011 02:58 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Don't ban Spongebob, that show is a riot. I agree. My kids are starting to age out of this stuff, but Sponge Bob can be very funny. Not at all Barney-like. We successfully kept Barney out of our lives, but got blindsided by the Teletubbies. And don't get me started on Zach and Cody!

Fman99 Apr 11 2011 03:56 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fboy and I are all in on Phineas & Ferb. These guys kill.

seawolf17 Apr 11 2011 10:10 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fman99 wrote: Fboy and I are all in on Phineas & Ferb. These guys kill. I'm totally with you there.

metirish Apr 12 2011 07:07 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Chuggington & Dinosaur Train are big hits in our house.....my little chugger loves them....

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 12 2011 10:21 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I like the girl-with-magic-shoes one. Artie's hit-or-miss on it.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 20 2011 11:42 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Adam LaRoche and Andy LaRoche are the spawn of Dave LaRoche. ('Cause I'm kind of dim.)

metsguyinmichigan Apr 20 2011 12:18 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I like Wonder Pets. The one with the pigeon on the Statue of Liberty is kinda cool. I think Sponge Bob is a generational thing. It's like nails on a blackboard to me. When my kids were little, Thomas the Tank Engine was big. It was funny to see Ringo and George Carlin as Mr. Conductor, knowing all they had done and said previously....

themetfairy Apr 20 2011 12:21 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I like Wonder Pets. The one with the pigeon on the Statue of Liberty is kinda cool. I think Sponge Bob is a generational thing. It's like nails on a blackboard to me. When my kids were little, Thomas the Tank Engine was big. It was funny to see Ringo and George Carlin as Mr. Conductor, knowing all they had done and said previously.... Ringo was a great Mr. Conductor. But I never understood Carlin playing the role....

Edgy DC Apr 22 2011 01:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

It's "Lands' End" and not "Land's End."

Ceetar Apr 22 2011 01:32 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: It's "Lands' End" and not "Land's End." And Daylight Saving, not Savings. I don't get the Lands' end though. Why is land plural? hmm, is "The greatest knight in all the land" or "The greatest knight in all the lands"?

metirish Apr 22 2011 01:32 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: It's "Lands' End" and not "Land's End." you didn't happen to learn that watching a show last night on PBS did you?

Edgy DC Apr 22 2011 01:37 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Nah, I don't have a show-watching device. I was proofing my magazine and they have an ad in there. (Apparently they have a school uniform division.) I went to correct it, but it was correct.

Willets Point Apr 22 2011 02:53 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

It's "Lands' End" and not "Land's End." The unsourced explanation on Wikipedia: The company is named from its sailboat heritage, after Land's End, but the misplaced apostrophe in the company name was a typographical error that the founder (Gary Comer) could not afford to change, as promotional materials had already been printed. The geographic point at the extreme west of England is Land's End though. OE: More about the apostrophe here: http://www.landsend.com/aboutus/company ... index.html.

metirish Apr 22 2011 03:05 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

See, I thought Edgy was talking about the spot in England, and as it happens there was a show on PBS last night that featured Land's End.

themetfairy Apr 22 2011 03:07 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I love Lands' End. They have pre-hemmed jeans that are short enough so that I don't have to get them altered. When I was losing weight and blowing through sizes, I ordered a lot of Lands' End merchandise.

MFS62 Apr 24 2011 09:25 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The father of a guy I work with plays tennis with Fred Wilpon. I kinda' believe it because the guy I work with is/ was a top amateur tennis player in Connecticut. He says he's met Fred and Jeff and that they're not nice. Later

TheOldMole Apr 24 2011 08:39 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Wizard of Oz was a socialist allegory.

RealityChuck Apr 24 2011 08:39 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Just discovered that Winston Churchill's daughter was a moderately successful movie actress, and even starred opposite with, and danced with Fred Astaire in Royal Wedding.

TheOldMole Apr 24 2011 08:53 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

She was the coat rack?

metirish Apr 24 2011 08:54 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

TheOldMole wrote: She was the coat rack? brilliant!

DocTee Apr 24 2011 09:49 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Wizard of Oz was a socialist allegory Populism, more specifically: [url]http://www.amphigory.com/oz.htm

MFS62 Apr 29 2011 08:43 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There's a street in Los Angeles named after L. Ron Hubbard. Later

Ceetar Apr 30 2011 02:42 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

MFS62 wrote: There's a street in Los Angeles named after L. Ron Hubbard. Later Is it near this building? [url]http://flic.kr/p/9DmR2o

Frayed Knot Apr 30 2011 03:04 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

MFS62 wrote: There's a street in Los Angeles named after L. Ron Hubbard. I did not know that either but, had you told me that there was a street named after L. Ron Hubbard, Los Angeles would have been my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd guess.

Fman99 Apr 30 2011 07:43 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That the Hoops McCann character from the film One Crazy Summer is named after a line from the Steely Dan song "Glamour Profession," a song that I heard on my iPhone while mowing my lawn today.

dgwphotography May 01 2011 08:03 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

After a bombing by Germans in 1940, The Richmond Golf Club, on the outskirts of London, set the following temporary rules of play:

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 02 2011 08:57 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Penalty stroke for a mulligan borne of a Blitzkrieg "Noonan"? Harsh. There is an Islamically-proper method, time and place for burial at sea.

Edgy DC May 04 2011 11:26 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Highbrow cinema classic The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and lowbrow cinema classic Planet of the Apes (1968) were both adapted from novels by the same guy. The same guy!

Benjamin Grimm May 04 2011 11:35 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Isn't that funky? I've always been a bit gobsmacked by that.

Willets Point May 04 2011 11:57 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: Highbrow cinema classic The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and lowbrow cinema classic Planet of the Apes (1968) were both adapted from novels by the same guy. The same guy! Shit, I didn't even know that they were based on novels.

Ceetar May 04 2011 12:30 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Did you know they're making another Planet of the Apes movie?

TransMonk May 04 2011 12:33 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Yet another reboot with James Franco and all CGI apes. Basically, a cartoon.

Benjamin Grimm May 04 2011 02:40 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

It's called Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I read that it takes place in modern day San Francisco.

metsguyinmichigan May 05 2011 09:10 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

You can rent cakes. Seriously. I have no idea why one would want to do that. "Wow that's a neat cake! When to do we cut it?" "Cut it? Don't go anywhere near it! It has to be back by 5!"

Benjamin Grimm May 05 2011 09:14 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Years ago I had a friend who worked weddings at the Huntington Town House. She told me that they had a big fancy fake cake that they'd wheel out for photos, and then they'd bring it back into the kitchen and serve cake sliced from a sheet cake to the guests. They got multiple uses out of that fake cake. (I assume there was a "real" part of the fake cake that could be replenished, so the bride and groom could cut slices from it.)

Edgy DC May 05 2011 09:24 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

That sort of fraud is legion in the bridal industrial complex. The couple would taste a dozen types of cakes, pick some luxurious monstrosity like "velvet champagne raspberry," and the guests at the bridal complex would get the same whatever all weekend, while the couple would be the only ones gobbling down the real magilla that they paid four figures for.

metsmarathon May 05 2011 09:29 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

i just went to a wedding this weekend where they actually doled out the sheet cake before the couple cut the real cake. then, of course, they doled out the real cake. i was a little confused, but happy to have all the cake.

Willets Point May 09 2011 11:15 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Gil Heron, the father of poet/musician Gil-Scott Heron, was a soccer player and the first black player to play for Glasgow Celtic.

Benjamin Grimm May 27 2011 06:04 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Chip Hale hit the ball that caused Rodney McCray to crash through the outfield wall.

MFS62 May 28 2011 07:15 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Chip Hale hit the ball that caused Rodney McCray to crash through the outfield wall. And I learned that McCray didn't make the catch. Later

Fman99 Jun 05 2011 02:12 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I've driven past Plaxico Burress' jail every weekday on my way to work and back for the last 20 months. I had not realized he was serving his time up here.

Edgy DC Jun 13 2011 09:38 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There are coyotes wandering loose like squirrels on the sidewalks of Chicago.

Ceetar Jun 15 2011 06:13 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The connection between intimidate and timid. This came to me while driving when the radio was talking about how Kesha thinks she doesn't get asked out cause she intimidates guys.

Fman99 Jul 08 2011 09:09 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Michael Douglas was on a cop show called "Streets of San Francisco" for more than four years in the 1970s. Until it was used today as a pic in an IGT I had never heard of the show or seen an episode of it in syndication.

Willets Point Jul 08 2011 09:32 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Charles Nelson Reilly was a survivor of the Hartford Circus Fire on July 6, 1944. He was 13 at the time and never sat in the audience for a performance for the rest of his life.

metirish Jul 08 2011 09:32 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fman99 wrote: Michael Douglas was on a cop show called "Streets of San Francisco" for more than four years in the 1970s. Until it was used today as a pic in an IGT I had never heard of the show or seen an episode of it in syndication. wow,I remember watching that in Ireland(not in the 70's though, the 70's didn't come to Ireland until the late 80's) the Beastie Boys video for "Sabotage" may have gotten inspiration from that show among other...

Willets Point Jul 08 2011 09:37 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

metirish wrote: the 70's didn't come to Ireland until the late 80's That's a great line.

Edgy DC Jul 08 2011 09:51 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There was American programming I never saw until I lived in Ireland. Rawhide, for instance. I walked into a room and asked Johnny what he was watching. "Rawhoide, a' course," he responded. It was a revelation. Here was this guy who looked like Clint Eastwood, except he was talking. And being nice to people. What strange world was this?

metsguyinmichigan Jul 08 2011 12:48 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Old/new Marlins manager Jack McKeon's last name is actually pronounced mick-KUOON and not mick-KEY-un. He said he long ago grew so tired of people mispronouncing it that he stopped correcting them.

Willets Point Jul 27 2011 03:16 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean and Black Adder fame did the voice of the bird in The Lion King.

dgwphotography Jul 27 2011 07:15 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Willets Point wrote: Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean and Black Adder fame did the voice of the bird in The Lion King. This. I can't believe I didn't know this...

Edgy DC Jul 27 2011 09:16 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Maya Rudolph is the daughter of the super-ranged Minnie Riperton, and "Loving You" was originally written as a lullaby for infant Maya. [youtube:be732iv8]auYCXBzep9o[/youtube:be732iv8] Is this common knowledge? Listen to the outro there.

themetfairy Jul 27 2011 09:25 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: Maya Rudolph is the daughter of the super-ranged Minnie Riperton, and "Loving You" was originally written as a lullaby for infant Maya. [youtube]auYCXBzep9o[/youtube] Is this common knowledge? Listen to the outro there. I knew that.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 27 2011 10:51 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

themetfairy wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Maya Rudolph is the daughter of the super-ranged Minnie Riperton, and "Loving You" was originally written as a lullaby for infant Maya. [youtube]auYCXBzep9o[/youtube] Is this common knowledge? Listen to the outro there. I knew that. Minnie and film director Alan Rudolph. She was galpals growing up with Gwynnie Paltrow (the dads were friends), among other starlet-types. (I did NOT know the bit about "Loving You," though.)

Edgy DC Jul 28 2011 06:11 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I'm fascinated by that performance. For one, a simple hat of baby's breath in her hair --- the type of thing that you might put on an eight-year-old in a wedding party --- is a sublime choice when you think of the savage things that black female singers have to do to their hair these days. For another, when she sings, "Every time that we... ahhhmmmm" it's gorgeous and filthy and sweet at the same time. The eight year old in me (from 1975) wants to blush, but the horniness is filled with such tenderness, so it's all good. Long live the spirit of Minnie Riperton. It's simultaneously a sexy song to put her man in the mood and a tender song to rock her baby to sleep and I'M OK WITH THAT.

Frayed Knot Jul 28 2011 08:41 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I knew the song and of the Minnie-Maya connection, although was not aware that the song was written with Mini-Maya in mind. I think a few of those high-pitched parts might just scare a baby into never sleeping again but, like you said, a song that can be about both trying to create a baby and trying to soothe one can't be all bad.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 25 2011 07:47 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Scottish pop band Pilot ("whaoh-ho-oh it's Magic, y'know") was named for the band members David Paton, Billy Lyall & Stuart Tosh.

Willets Point Sep 09 2011 03:26 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Founding father, framer of the Constitution, and US Senator from New York Governeur Morris died after sticking a piece of whale bone through his urinary tract to relieve a blockage. Ouch.

Edgy DC Sep 09 2011 07:17 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Crossing that idea off my list.

MFS62 Sep 14 2011 09:35 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Lady Gaga may be an hermaphrodite: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/ ... ks-rumors/ Just wondering, if you have sex with an hermaphrodite, is it considered a threesome? Later

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 14 2011 10:05 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

MFS62 wrote: Lady Gaga may be an hermaphrodite: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/ ... ks-rumors/ Not buying. That's like the kissin' cousin of the Gere-gerbil rumor (Jamie Lee Curtis, David Bowie, and countless other androgynous/not-so-androgynous celebs have been painted with that brush).

Benjamin Grimm Sep 14 2011 11:12 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Only her husband, Lord Gaga, knows for sure.

Fman99 Sep 14 2011 11:18 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Michael Jackson sang background vocals on three songs from the Doobie Brothers' 1978 album "Minute by Minute."

MFS62 Sep 14 2011 09:36 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Lady Gaga may be an hermaphrodite: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/ ... ks-rumors/ Not buying. That's like the kissin' cousin of the Gere-gerbil rumor (Jamie Lee Curtis, David Bowie, and countless other androgynous/not-so-androgynous celebs have been painted with that brush). I'm still not sure, but do you think she was trying to tell us something when she wore that meat dress? Later

Frayed Knot Sep 15 2011 06:46 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

MFS62 wrote: MFS62 wrote: Lady Gaga may be an hermaphrodite: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2009/ ... ks-rumors/ Not buying. That's like the kissin' cousin of the Gere-gerbil rumor (Jamie Lee Curtis, David Bowie, and countless other androgynous/not-so-androgynous celebs have been painted with that brush). I'm still not sure, but do you think she was trying to tell us something when she wore that meat dress? Yes, she was trying to tell us that she's a publicity whore, or at least was trying to tell that to the three or four people who somehow may not already have known it.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 18 2011 08:05 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Discover card was originally introduced by Sears.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 20 2011 08:40 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

C.W. McCall "Convoy" wasn't really a person but a nom de plume/ alter ego of an advertising exec who created a trucker character with that name. Also, he's 81 and a Person Who Is Still Alive.

Edgy DC Oct 20 2011 08:47 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Has his own line of toy trucks.

RealityChuck Nov 06 2011 01:18 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

"TASER" is an acronym for "Thomas A Swift's Electric Rifle." I actually had that book.

Fman99 Nov 06 2011 06:55 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Rufus/Chaka Khan hit "Tell Me Something Good" was written by Stevie Wonder.

Edgy DC Nov 06 2011 07:03 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

You can hear it in retrospect, though, can't you?

Fman99 Nov 07 2011 07:32 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: You can hear it in retrospect, though, can't you? Oh, absolutely. It made me wish, in fact, that he had recorded his own version of the song. I searched YouTube but found only random snippets of him singing it.

Edgy DC Nov 12 2011 01:49 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The intro to "Just What I Needed" is apparently taken from "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy."

RealityChuck Nov 12 2011 04:50 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The element astatine is the rarest of the natural elements. It's estimated that, at any given time, one ounce of it exists, scattered through the Earth's crust.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 12 2011 11:45 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Fman99 wrote: The Rufus/Chaka Khan hit "Tell Me Something Good" was written by Stevie Wonder. I knew that.

Frayed Knot Nov 29 2011 07:08 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Jesse Owens real name was James. When the Alabama-born James Cleveland Owens was transplanted to the north he told his new schoolteachers that his name was J.C. as he was known by his home folks. Unable to decipher his southern accent they thought he said 'Jesse' and that became the name he was known by for the rest of his life.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2011 07:32 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I'm reading an interesting if way-too-hagiographic new biography of Tom Seaver. New things I've learned (besides his apparent ability pitch excellently despite the lack of a left foot) is that, as a child, he dealt with the mystery of his underutilized first name by developing an imaginary friend named "George."

MFS62 Nov 29 2011 07:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: I'm reading an interesting if way-too-hagiographic new biography of Tom Seaver. And all along, we thought you would save that word to describe Jeter biographies. Seriously, your use of that word made the book sound like it might affect my gag reflex. I'll pass. Thanks for the telling one word review. Later

Jazz Radio DJ Nov 29 2011 10:32 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I remember Edgy describing Gil Hodges: The Quiet Man as hagiographic as well, but I ended up reading it anyway (Edgy was correct). I got a free reviewers copy of The Last Icon so I will read that too.

Edgy DC Nov 29 2011 10:54 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Not quite at the level of Gil Hodges: The Quiet Man. Seriously though, hagiographic shouldn't be a disqualifier, just a warning to take it in that context. I mean, the title (or any title beginning with "The Last...") should be warning enough, right? There's a lot of good stuff about the California environment he came out of. Jim Morrison, George Lucas and Tom Seaver at USC at the same time. Can you imagine? I would love to see a sitcom of the three of them rooming together --- Lucas breaking out the super eight to film Tom slapping a wasted Jim in the nutsack for not getting up and joining him for calisthenics at 6 AM.

MFS62 Nov 29 2011 09:23 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

When left in the back of a refrigerator for several days, turkey stuffing approaches the density of weapons grade Plutonium. Later

G-Fafif Nov 30 2011 08:49 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Not quite at the level of Gil Hodges: The Quiet Man. Seriously though, hagiographic shouldn't be a disqualifier, just a warning to take it in that context. I mean, the title (or any title beginning with "The Last...") should be warning enough, right? There's a lot of good stuff about the California environment he came out of. Jim Morrison, George Lucas and Tom Seaver at USC at the same time. Can you imagine? I would love to see a sitcom of the three of them rooming together --- Lucas breaking out the super eight to film Tom slapping a wasted Jim in the nutsack for not getting up and joining him for calisthenics at 6 AM. The author cut and paste a 1969 Mets book a couple of years ago and wrote easily the worst baseball book ever before that, using the 1962 season as an excuse to rail at liberals, San Francisco and Jim Bouton.

batmagadanleadoff Nov 30 2011 09:47 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Not quite at the level of Gil Hodges: The Quiet Man. Seriously though, hagiographic shouldn't be a disqualifier, just a warning to take it in that context. I mean, the title (or any title beginning with "The Last...") should be warning enough, right? There's a lot of good stuff about the California environment he came out of. Jim Morrison, George Lucas and Tom Seaver at USC at the same time. Can you imagine? I would love to see a sitcom of the three of them rooming together --- Lucas breaking out the super eight to film Tom slapping a wasted Jim in the nutsack for not getting up and joining him for calisthenics at 6 AM. The author cut and paste a 1969 Mets book a couple of years ago and wrote easily the worst baseball book ever before that, using the 1962 season as an excuse to rail at liberals, San Francisco and Jim Bouton. I'd rank Travers' 1969 Mets book among the worst. Agreed. I didn't get to read the three seasons book, probably because Travers wrote it.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2011 12:22 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Yeah, I'm not saying it's particularly good either. And yeah, there's some sense of Golenbock-type cut and paste work here. The front cover, well designed but for that missing foot --- clearly necessitated by somebody's head being in the photo --- is a pretty good symbol of the book's shortcomings. A reassembly of already available stuff and therefore necessarily limited.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Nov 30 2011 03:28 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

So what you're saying, then, is I should drop everything and read this Seaver book.

Ashie62 Nov 30 2011 06:13 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Bryan Cranston was Dr. Whatley on Seinfeld.

themetfairy Nov 30 2011 07:16 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Ashie62 wrote: Bryan Cranston was Dr. Whatley on Seinfeld. He was also the dad in Malcolm in the Middle.

Edgy DC Nov 30 2011 07:58 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: So what you're saying, then, is I should drop everything and read this Seaver book. Uh, shit. These guys are totally ruining my bad-books-are-good-books-if-they'e-Mets-books buzz.

Methead Dec 01 2011 05:59 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Shuggie Otis played bass on Frank Zappa's Hot Rats album. He was 15 years old at the time.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 01 2011 06:33 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Methead wrote: Shuggie Otis played bass on Frank Zappa's Hot Rats album. He was 15 years old at the time. Married one of Zappa's gang, too. Ever since I heard his stuff on reissues during high school, I've been Aht Uf Ma Hed waiting for something, anything new. Anyone know whether he's doing anything other than staying black/dying at present?

Methead Dec 01 2011 07:11 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Married one of Zappa's gang, too. Yep, one of the groupies.

cooby Dec 07 2011 11:55 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

I don't like the taste of aluminum water bottles

Benjamin Grimm Dec 07 2011 12:10 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

You're not supposed to eat the bottles! Just drink the water that's in the bottles.

MFS62 Dec 15 2011 08:31 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Whole wheat bread toasts faster than white bread. I just put in two slices, set to "medium" and got two crispy critters. Later

themetfairy Dec 16 2011 08:55 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

You can get a Kindle app on your computer so you can read eBooks without having to buy a Kindle.

Fman99 Dec 17 2011 10:42 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

themetfairy wrote: You can get a Kindle app on your computer so you can read eBooks without having to buy a Kindle. Not only that, you can (depending on the model) get a free app for your phone and have it synced with your computer, and read on either your PC or your phone. I have the Nook as well as the Nook app for the iPhone.

themetfairy Dec 17 2011 01:13 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Good to know!

TheOldMole Dec 17 2011 02:44 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

The Tweed Ring only lasted two years.

G-Fafif Dec 20 2011 05:05 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

One's eyesight can actually improve in his late forties.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 20 2011 06:54 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

G-Fafif wrote: One's eyesight can actually improve in his late forties. Not mine. I almost definitely need glasses for the first time.

Ceetar Dec 20 2011 07:03 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

G-Fafif wrote: One's eyesight can actually improve in his late forties. not that I"m anywhere near my late 40s, nor can my eyesight get much better, but I have noticed my sense of smell seems to have improved.

G-Fafif Dec 28 2011 12:02 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Losing a battle of wits to a cat is far more discouraging than losing a battle of wits to LWFS.

Edgy DC Dec 29 2011 07:48 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

There is a widespread belief in fan death in South Korea.

Frayed Knot Dec 29 2011 07:56 AM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: There is a widespread belief in fan death in South Korea. That probably explains why a fan is one of the weapons in the Korean version of 'Clue' Dr. Rhee ... with the fan ... in the bedroom

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Dec 29 2011 09:07 PM Re: Things You Learned Only Recently

Edgy DC wrote: There is a widespread belief in fan death in South Korea. Holy shit! I think I'm unkillable! (Also, my wife! Also also, my toddler!)