Buzz
It's been a while since we shared a list of trivia, so today we're bringing you the latest in our ongoing series of fact collections. This time, we explore a variety of topics, all tied together by one theme: facts that are frequently misunderstood (and in many cases, for good reason, as you will see). Don't forget to share any false facts you know in the comments.
1 Factlets 1 – 5
1. When someone is described as 'livid,' they are actually pale (ashen), not flushed red.
2. When the Model T Ford was first released, it came in several colors – not just black. However, between 1914 and 1925, it was only available in black. It's also incorrect to say that Henry Ford claimed buyers could choose any color as long as it was black. The Model T shown above is in Brewster Green.
3. Sticking with our color theme, while most black bears are indeed black, they can also appear in white, brown, cinnamon, and even blue, depending on their location around the globe.
4. The so-called 'black boxes' on airplanes aren't actually black – they're bright orange. This color choice is to make it easier for investigators to find the box after an accident. The name 'black box' was coined humorously.
5. Pirates didn’t force people to walk the plank, nor did they actually walk it themselves. The plank-walking legend is a myth. When pirates wanted to get rid of someone, they simply threw them overboard.
2 Factlets 6 – 10
6. The snapping sound you hear when you flick your fingers isn’t caused by the contact between your fingers – it's actually the sound of your middle finger striking the base of your thumb.
7. Covered bridges were typically constructed not to protect those crossing them, but to preserve the bridges themselves. Early bridges were often made of wood, which needed shielding from the weather. The fact that the bridge also protected pedestrians from rain was just a fortunate side effect.
8. Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize, not for his famous theory of relativity, but for his lesser-known work on the photoelectric effect of light.
9. In the United States, a person can be tried twice for the same offense if it violates both federal and state laws. This is allowed due to a 1922 US Supreme Court ruling that overrules the Fifth Amendment in these instances.
10. The well-known artwork Whistler's Mother (shown above) wasn't originally titled that. It was first named 'Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 1: Portrait of the Painter’s Mother.' Whistler later changed it to Portrait of My Mother.
3 Factlets 11 – 15
11. Rice paper doesn’t come from rice – it’s actually made from the pith of a plant called Tetrapanax papyriferus (the rice paper plant).
12. While there was considerable protest against the Vietnam War in the 1960s, a study from that time revealed that 51% of young people supported it. However, 53% of those over thirty years old believed the war was a mistake.
13. In the US, ship captains are not allowed to officiate weddings on board unless they hold a religious title, such as priest, rabbi, or minister. There are even specific laws that prohibit this, even for those qualified to conduct the ceremony.
14. The radiant glow often seen around the heads of saints in religious art is more accurately called a nimbus or gloriole. While 'halo' is also commonly used, it is a more general term that can apply to both religious and non-religious representations.
15. The white rhinoceros isn’t white (it’s actually grayish-brown); the name 'white' is a misinterpretation of the Afrikaans word 'wijd,' meaning wide, which refers to the animal’s broad lips.
This list is based on the brilliant book Sorry, Wrong Answer, which I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys lists of facts. It's also a fantastic gift idea for Christmas.
