# Are these facts incorrect? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 6, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986 "2001-09-06T03:40:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/1 "2001-09-06T03:40:38Z")
I got an e-mail with the topic 36 facts you may not know. My wife and I know that number 9 is wrong, and I’m just curious about the rest. I think they’re right, but just in case… 1. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. 2. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. 3. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. 4. The average person’s left hand does 56% of the typing. 5. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes. 6. There are more chickens than people in the world. 7. Two-thirds of the world’s eggplant is grown in New Jersey. 8. The longest one syllable word in the English language is “screeched.” 9. On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag. 10. All of the clocks in the movie “Pulp Fiction” are stuck on 4:20. 11. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. 12. “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt.” 13. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill. 14. Almonds are a member of the peach family. 15. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies’ room during a dance. 16. Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. 17. There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous” tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. 18. Los Angeles’ full name is “El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula.” 19. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. 20. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. 21. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. 22. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10. 23. Al Capone’s business card said he was a used furniture dealer. 24. The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” 25. A dragonfly has a life span of 24 hours. 26. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. 27. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge. 28. It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. 29. The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world. 30. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. 31. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. 32. Mr. Rogers (from the children’s’ show) is an ordained minister. 33. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes. 34. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball. 35. “Stewardesses” is the longest word that is typed with only the left-hand. 36. There is only one word in the English language that has a completely different meaning depending upon whether or not it is capitalized: polish vs.Polish. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/2 "2001-09-06T03:45:14Z")
No. 30 is certainly incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/3 "2001-09-06T03:48:36Z")
This was done just a while ago in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=70863). ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/4 "2001-09-06T03:59:53Z")
Well,some of those statements were explored and/or refuted in that thread, but only those that the OP’er thought were questionable. I know that #8 is not strictly true. While “screeched” is one of the longest one-syllable words in the English language, it is not the only one. The word “strengths” is also nine letters long, with only one syllable. Also, it is the longest word in the English language with only one of the five main vowels (A,E,I,O,U). As for the rest, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/5 "2001-09-06T04:07:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\* > 36. There is only one word in the English language that has a completely > different meaning depending upon whether or not it is capitalized: polish > vs.Polish. \*\* tangier vs. Tangier rainier vs. Rainier ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/6 "2001-09-06T04:09:35Z")
oh, and nice vs. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/7 "2001-09-06T04:17:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > **3. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.** I’m sure some math whiz can figure out the veracity of this statement, but I’m no math whiz. \*\* > [@](#): > > 1. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill. \*\* It’s been a while since I’ve been to D.C., But doesn’t the actual Memorial have the states’ names going _around_ the Memorial, not just on one side? If my recollection is true, then this statement would be false. Looking at the $5 bill in my pocket shows 11 names just above the pillars, and I can’t make out anything else. \*\* > [@](#): > > 1. The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” \*\* I can’t find a cite, but I’ve heard before that this isn’t true. \*\* > [@](#): > > 1. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes. \*\* I remember reading this… in a Stephen King book. I think that may be the origin of this “fact.” \*\* > [@](#): > > 1. There is only one word in the English language that has a completely different meaning depending upon whether or not it is capitalized: polish > vs.Polish. \*\* Well there’s the capital of a state, and then there’s the Capital building in Washington D.C. The word kinda changed its meaning there with just a capital letter. ---
**Author:** ![Protesilaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Protesilaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Protesilaus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/8 "2001-09-06T05:06:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\*16. Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. > 17. There are only four words in the English language which end in “dous” > tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. > 22. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10. > 32. Mr. Rogers (from the children’s’ show) is an ordained minister. \*\* 1. Yes, Maine is the only one syllable US state. 2. [Nope.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_236.html) 3. [Not really.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_330.html) 4. I believe this one is true. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/9 "2001-09-06T07:08:35Z")
**5. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes.** A shark (or rather _some_ sharks) are the only fish which even _have_ eyelids! \*\*6. There are more chickens than people in the world. \*\* [True](http://usit.shef.ac.uk/~Animal-Rights/info.htm). The site mentions that “8.459 billion ‘broiler’ chickens” were killed for food in 1998. **14. Almonds are a member of the peach family.** False. Both peaches and almonds are members of the **Rosaceae** family (there is no “peach family”). However, peaches belong to the subfamily _Prunoideae_, while almonds belong to subfamily _Rosoideae_ (which also includes roses proper). **19. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.** False (but close). Only 30. \*\*20. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. \*\* True. The ostrich has the largest eyes of any (extant) terrestrial vertebrate. \*\*21. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. \*\* True. **29. The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world.** True. A giant squid’s eye measures 10" in diameter. \*\*35. “Stewardesses” is the longest word that is typed with only the left-hand. \*\* Not by me it isn’t… ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/10 "2001-09-06T07:32:30Z")
18: True. Almost every day, I used to walk by the official plaque with that name on it, right on the site of the Zanja Madre. It is now Olivera Street, a crappy tourist site. ---
**Author:** ![Corrvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@Corrvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corrvin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/11 "2001-09-06T08:01:20Z")
\<\<21. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. \>\> My cat has black and white fur, and under his fur, his skin is dark and light as well. He has spots on the roof of his mouth, too. Stands to reason other cats would be the same way. Too bad I can never get a pic while he’s yawning… Corr ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/12 "2001-09-06T08:23:34Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament building is an American flag. Man, I haven’t seen a Cdn $2 bill in five years, which should give you some indication of how old this list is. For the record, it’s not an american flag, it’s Canada’s old flag which has a crest. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/13 "2001-09-06T08:26:25Z")
25 and 26 aren’t true. The other thread talked about dragonflies living for weeks/months. I’ve kept goldfish for years - they can definately recall things that happened more than three seconds ago. There are a few threads about that, but [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=73276) is one I made a post on. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/14 "2001-09-06T09:34:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > 1. There is only one word in the English language that has a completely different meaning depending upon whether or not it is capitalized: polish > > vs.Polish. \*\* > > Well there’s the capital of a state, and then there’s the Capital building in Washington D.C. The word kinda changed its meaning there with just a capital letter. \*\* Nope. The word for the building is spelled _capit **o** l_, and refers to a building rather than a city regardless of whether it’s capped. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/15 "2001-09-06T10:03:27Z")
Most of these sound like they came directly out of _Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader_. And this one… > [@](#): > > 1. There is only one word in the English language that has a completely different meaning depending upon whether or not it is capitalized: polish vs.Polish. … Doesn’t even touch on the really odd thing about those two words: They also change their pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/16 "2001-09-06T14:36:14Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > > > [@](#): > > > > 1. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill. \*\* > > It’s been a while since I’ve been to D.C., But doesn’t the actual Memorial have the states’ names going _around_ the Memorial, not just on one side? If my recollection is true, then this statement would be false. Looking at the $5 bill in my pocket shows 11 names just above the pillars, and I can’t make out anything else. > \*\* I see 26 on mine, there’s another row at the top of the memorial. Unless the remaining 24 require a magnifying glass, they’re not there. ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/17 "2001-09-06T14:50:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scott \* > \*\*Well,some of those statements were explored and/or refuted in that thread, but only those that the OP’er thought were questionable. > > I know that #8 is not strictly true. While “screeched” is one of the longest one-syllable words in the English language, it is not the only one. The word “strengths” is also nine letters long, with only one syllable. Also, it is the longest word in the English language with only one of the five main vowels (A,E,I,O,U). > \*\* “Stretched” and “scratched” are just as long as “screeched,” too. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/18 "2001-09-06T15:19:29Z")
If you use a dollar coin, and consider that “making change.” Else, it’s 292. But that’s not correct, either. The half-cent, two-cent piece, three-cent piece, and 20-cent pieces are still all legal tender, though you’re not likely to receive one in change (and it would not be good economic sense to use them at face value). With those coins, the combinations (or is it permutations?) go into the many thousands. ---
**Author:** ![lurkernomore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@lurkernomore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkernomore)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/19 "2001-09-06T16:05:11Z")
31 - It is true. The guy was working on a RADAR set and just died this year. 34 - False. I think it used to be true, all balls did have the same number. Now they vary the size, shape and dimple count for differing balls to affect aerodynamics. ---
**Author:** ![SteverinoAlaReno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SteverinoAlaReno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteverinoAlaReno)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986/20 "2001-09-06T16:48:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\* > > 1. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or > purple. > > \*\* Not quite true. Something I read years ago on the subject of a rhyme for “month” contained this bit of doggerel: Among our numerous English rhymes, They say there’s none for month. I tried and failed a hundred times, And did it the hundred-and-oneth! If you can get a copy of the book “101 Dalmations”, there is a chapter titled “The One-hundred-and-oneth Dalmation”. In America, we’d say “one-hundred-and-first”, so I guess that this is an example of British vs. American English. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-facts-incorrect/79986.md?page=2)