I didn't know that! Tell us something interesting!

There used to be a London Street called Gropecunt Lane.,
(I have Bill Bryson’s ‘Mother Tongue’ to thank for that little gem.)

From same source, a lovely archaic English word was ‘ugsome’ (ugly). Dds and I love ugsome, though, and think it’s due for a revival.

The actor who played Les Battersby (in Coronation Street), at the age of 23 stumbled across the dead body of a victim of Peter Sutcliffe. Nigel Havers' dad was the defence lawyer in the case of PeterSutcliffe's trial.

If you're pregnant, don't eat pawpaw - it causes the baby to abort

Callistemon21

Shinamae

Alfred Hitchcock was frightened of eggs!

Is that why he made The Birds?

(Sorry, couldn't resist! ????????)

I just knew someone would!! ??

Shinamae

Alfred Hitchcock was frightened of eggs!

Is that why he made The Birds?

(Sorry, couldn't resist! ????????)

Alfred Hitchcock was frightened of eggs!

They are cyclones in Australia too; I've never experienced one but have listened to one on the phone!

Cyclones (by any other name!) spin counter-clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.

Did you know that tropical storms are called different names depending where they are?
In the China Sea area, they are called “Typhoons”, in the Indian Ocean, they are called “Cyclones” and in the North Atlantic they are “Hurricanes”!

Rabbitgran

Rabbits are unable to vomit.
I always wondered why my husband's family took so much glee from using stamps upside down, didn't realise that it's treason.

Horses can't vomit either. That's why it is so dangerous if they get colic.

Witzend

CountryMouse22

Shinamae

Heroin was once used to treat children’s coughs. (Up to 1912 apparently)

And Coca Cola used to contain cocaine, hence the name.

You used to be able to buy Collis Brown’s Compound, for tummy upsets/cramps, which I believe contained morphine - a derivative of heroin, isn’t it?
It was magic, anyway -just a few drops in a small glass of water.

Unsurprisingly it was withdrawn many years ago, but was def. available in the 70s. A lot of us (airline crew) used always to have some in case of Delhi belly.

You could still buy Collis Browns up until about 4 years ago as I bought some for an old Aunt who would never go on holiday without some. I had to ask for it and explain why I needed it but I did get some. I agree - it works very well as does Kaolin and Morphine. Both I believe still available from Pharmacists but hidden away.

If I’ve remembered correctly, the ancient Greeks didn’t have a word for ‘art’ as such, they used the word for ‘skill’.

Something that comes to mind when I see ‘conceptual’* art, and mentally compare it to Old Masters, or classical type sculptures in museums.
*Not that I’m writing all that off by any means, but I do think about the ‘skill’ factor.

giulia, my Mum also told me to eat jelly cubes for my nails. I am 75 and have always had extremely strong nails, so always believe your Mum

The Scottish bagpipes have been in existence for several hundred years, but their origins can be traced back to as early as ancient Egypt, making them one of the oldest instruments known to man.

Latin and Greek references point to the bagpipes being used in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Aegean, the Caucasus and the Mari of Russia from c.100. They came to Europe as early as c.800 and to Scotland as late as 1750.

Rabbits are unable to vomit.
I always wondered why my husband's family took so much glee from using stamps upside down, didn't realise that it's treason.

CountryMouse22

Shinamae

Heroin was once used to treat children’s coughs. (Up to 1912 apparently)

And Coca Cola used to contain cocaine, hence the name.

You used to be able to buy Collis Brown’s Compound, for tummy upsets/cramps, which I believe contained morphine - a derivative of heroin, isn’t it?
It was magic, anyway -just a few drops in a small glass of water.

Unsurprisingly it was withdrawn many years ago, but was def. available in the 70s. A lot of us (airline crew) used always to have some in case of Delhi belly.

Most kangaroos are left handed. Just heard that on Radio 4 today!

You are right! I never knew that either.

Interesting fact - I've never heard of Mariska Hatigay.

Do we know Anne Boleyn's size from her clothes if any remain?
There are no contemperaneous portraits of her remaining, although Venetian diplomat, Francesco Sanuto did say she had a bosom not much raised!

BeverleyJB

“Anne Boleyn had a bigger bust than Jayne Mansfield, and both died by decapitation.”

I just looked up Jayne Mansfield's death JaneD666 and found out something else interesting….
She was the actress Mariska Hatigay's mother!

Yes, I have known that for a long time.

You might be on the wrong thread, SylviaPlathssister ?

This is Chat not News and Politics.
Interesting facts which we didn't know (or had forgotten).

The publicly owned U.K. laboratories have been decimated by the present Government. So C-19 tests had to be outsourced to private laboratories. Consequently the private sector during the pandemic has made a fortune from the Tax payers, Veterinary state Laboratories have gone the same way. They got closed down.
We don’t have enough trained Vets and so they can charge hefty fees.
We also have a shortage of Pharmacists.

I missed the Edinburgh fact, who knew.

Occasionally it snows in the Sahara.

What an interesting thread!
I was amazed when I read that Edinburgh is further west than Bristol.

100-plus Jews in Rome were saved by three doctors who invented a highly contagious disease called Syndrome K. In October 1943 it frightened off the Nazis from arresting the Jews.