Trivia Time

[billyjoe]

Many years ago an avid coin collector told me this story.

At one time there was a coin called a dolar. This coin had eight evenly divided pie-shaped wedges minted into it. Since this was the smallest denomination coin, if you wanted 1/8th of the value, a person would literally "saw off" one of the wedges. This portion of the dolar was called a bit. So, if you wanted 1/4 of the coin, it took 2 bits. Thus the etymology of "two bits" being one quarter.

Another piece of trivia relating to "sawing off" edges of coins. People used to smash edges of gold coins then cut off the elongated chunk making it appear round again. That's why they started putting reeded edges on especially gold and silver coins.

-----------------billy

[mimo_100]

Another piece of trivia relating to "sawing off" edges of coins. People used to smash edges of gold coins then cut off the elongated chunk making it appear round again. That's why they started putting reeded edges on especially gold and silver coins.

-----------------billy

Thanks billy - I love reading these stories. Here is another one.

When people talk about “the whole nine yards,” just what are they talking about?

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/27/books/the-whole-nine-yards-seeking-a-phrases-origin.html

[Louetta]

Trivia buffs might enjoy this. It shows the US presidents arranged by height, smallest first. One might first reflect on who was the tallest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jImZ4SXP--4

[jiesen]

Trivia buffs might enjoy this. It shows the US presidents arranged by height, smallest first. One might first reflect on who was the tallest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jImZ4SXP--4

Well, I already knew who the tallest president was, but sadly, this made me realize that at 5' 7" I do not meet the height requirement to be elected president of the US.
(that's it... I'm moving to Japan)

[Louetta]

Well, I already knew who the tallest president was, but sadly, this made me realize that at 5' 7" I do not meet the height requirement to be elected president of the US.
(that's it... I'm moving to Japan)

Kamala Harris is listed as 5'2" so if she wins she'll set a shortness record that likely will stand a good long time.

[BlueWolf]

A new trivia brain twizzler for you:

What is the largest fish living today?

[billyjoe]

Some fish are mammals so I'll say sturgeon.

------------billy

[BlueWolf]

Some fish are mammals so I'll say sturgeon.

Nope, not sturgeon, billy.

[jiesen]

A new trivia brain twizzler for you:

What is the largest fish living today?

Whale shark?

[BlueWolf]

Whale shark?

We have a winner! Congratulations, jiesen. You have won an all expense paid trip to your mailbox. Be on the lookout for the prize certificate.

[BlueWolf]

What is a more common word for a Fata Morgana?

[billyjoe]

I know this one! The answer is mirage. I saw one once and shortly after it was a $500,000 question on "Who wants to be a millionaire". A fata morgana can be a reflection off a body of water and a cloud cover.

-------------billy

[BlueWolf]

Goodness gracious, we have a bunch of ringers here. Mirage it is! You win a 30% discount certificate for the next Atari computer to be released.

[jiesen]

We have a winner! Congratulations, jiesen. You have won an all expense paid trip to your mailbox. Be on the lookout for the prize certificate.

ah sweeeet! I'm so excited, and love going to the mailbox to look for prizes!! Just like Publisher's Clearinghouse always says... the next big winner could be YOU!!!

[Louetta]

Janis Joplin is closely associated with the song "Me and Bobby McGee", written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster and originally performed by Roger Miller, whereas in the original writing Bobbi is a girl. Joplin's version topped the charts in 1971 becoming the second posthumously released No. 1 single in U.S. history. What was the first?