# Basic facts you learned late in life that you didn't really know. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 19, 2010, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711 "2010-02-19T23:37:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/221 "2010-03-09T18:20:53Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > Well, besides the fact that there is no Rocky seven, Adrian was his wife. > > Actually, it’s unintentionally funnier now, because I just read on Wikipedia that she died in **Rocky Balboa** (2006) which means that she would have to rise from the grave to get her revenge. OK, I’ll continue the “Really? I didn’t know that!” Calvacade of Ignorance (Fought) then. I always thought Adrian was the kid Rocky palled with in whatever movie it was. I had no idea he was even married! Of course I’ve never seen any of the movies, and am only familiar with the “ADRIAN!” line ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/222 "2010-03-09T19:22:51Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Until a thread about it a couple of years ago I thought pineapples grew on trees. I thought this too, must have been from all those years of watching **Gilligan’s Island** when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/223 "2010-03-09T19:54:25Z")
I just found out last Sunday that Wasabi peas are baked peas (to make them dry, and possibly crunchy) with wasabi on them. The ones I’d eaten were green… as was the wasabi paste I’d eaten at the sushi restaurant; so I thought it was a different form of the same thing, and that wasabi in its natural form was a pea looking food. Evidently it’s a root. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/224 "2010-03-09T20:37:33Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > What \ everything you thought was true when you were 4 turned out to be true? You need to go make this question into a separate thread. 😉 I can only imagine what the world would be like 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/225 "2010-03-09T20:54:19Z")
My boyfriend knows a girl who thought seahorses were imaginary, like unicorns. They went to the aquarium together and saw some to her shock and amazement, and he was soooo jealous, because imagine if you went to the zoo and they had a unicorn? It would be _awesome._ ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Goliath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rex\_Goliath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Goliath)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/226 "2010-03-09T21:11:19Z")
There are no [wild buffalo](http://www.notitia.com/bison/Buffalo.htm) in North America, only Bison. Buffalo are native to Asia and Africa. eta: The plural of Bison is not “Buffalo.” I learned that one in January. D’oh. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/227 "2010-03-09T21:21:50Z")
Prior to the Internet (or at least, the Internet as we know it today) I thought that Cecil Adams is a real person. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/228 "2010-03-09T21:27:38Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > OK, I’ll continue the “Really? I didn’t know that!” Calvacade of Ignorance (Fought) then. > > I always thought Adrian was the kid Rocky palled with in whatever movie it was. I had no idea he was even married! > > Of course I’ve never seen any of the movies, and am only familiar with the “ADRIAN!” line And I thought it was spelled “Adrienne”. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/229 "2010-03-09T21:32:45Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Prior to the Internet (or at least, the Internet as we know it today) I thought that Cecil Adams is a real person. He ISN’T? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/230 "2010-03-09T21:41:02Z")
Sadly, no. The consensus is that Cecil Adams is the nom de plume (is that supposed to be italicized? I could never get that straight) of whoever happens to be writing the column at the time. The name is a registered trademark. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/231 "2010-03-09T21:43:07Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > He ISN’T? Eh, there’s a little bit of Cecil in all of us. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/232 "2010-03-09T21:46:28Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > This one was embarrassing but apparently I was not alone in this: > > As a kid I found it odd that when dividing fractions you got a bigger number than when you started. I mean, if you divide something it has to be smaller right? Well no, 0.5 / 0.25 = 2 > > My whole life I never understood that but just did the math problems like I was told and left it at that. I never got it when I was young and originally taught it and never thought to seek a better answer when I was older. > > Move forward to when I was entering a tutoring program for inner city kids (I was to be a tutor). They brought in some teachers to give myself and the other tutors in the program a quick refresher on a lot of the basics so we could explain them to the kids if asked. I asked about the bit above and got numerous murmurs of agreement from around the room. Even the teacher paused for some seconds trying to figure how to explain it. > > Then she did and it was simple and obvious and I saw the light and all that (phrase the question as how many time can 0.25 go into 0.5). A great, “Ahhhh!” was heard in the room. > > Silly I know but there it is. This always bugged me too because like you it made no sense to me and god forbid any teacher to actually explain this to their students. So thank you for clearing this up for me and now that you did it makes perfect sense. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/233 "2010-03-09T21:49:17Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Hahaha! I thought about it, but I’m not sure how angry people on these boards get about repeat posting, threadomancy, etc. Multiquoting is generally the preferred method; otherwise people who get email updates get spammed. > [@StusBlues](#): > > Eh, there’s a little bit of Cecil in all of us. Not unless he buys me dinner first, there’s not. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/234 "2010-03-09T22:08:48Z")
You’re that cheap? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/235 "2010-03-09T22:23:32Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Sadly, no. The consensus is that Cecil Adams is the nom de plume (is that supposed to be italicized? I could never get that straight) of whoever happens to be writing the column at the time. The name is a registered trademark. … =O So you believe it’s more than one person? I was hoping it was just a pen name or something… \>.\< That biting wit! That cold sarcasm! I was completely fooled! All his responses seemed pretty consistent in tone! Though I guess him being the smartest man alive makes more sense if he’s actually the combined knowledge of many people. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/236 "2010-03-10T00:13:13Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Would have been funnier if you would have continued a whole string of these incredulous posts. 😃 It WOULD?! 😃 I didn’t realize until I was 22 that Chris Rock and Chris Tucker were two different guys. :smack: In my defense, both are smallish black comedians who joke about race. The difference is that Chris Rock is a bit more deadpan, while Chris Tucker is, well… This youtube video should explain it best: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DK8ednS0skQ/hqdefault.jpg "Chris Tucker - Ruby Rap") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8ednS0skQ) (Warning: Link may contain Ruby Rod) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/237 "2010-03-10T01:15:26Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Multiquoting is generally the preferred method; otherwise people who get email updates get spammed. > > Not unless he buys me dinner first, there’s not. Red Lobster, at the very least! ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/238 "2010-03-10T03:00:21Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > Eh, there’s a little bit of Cecil in all of us. Gee, do you have to keep bringing that up? Look it was one night, we were both drunk, we both did some things we regretted the next day … ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/239 "2010-03-10T03:47:17Z")
Bullshit matters, the second mouse gets the cheese, and all the charisma in the world won’t help you if you can’t swing some dick. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711/240 "2010-03-10T12:11:59Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Bullshit matters, the second mouse gets the cheese, and all the charisma in the world won’t help you if you can’t swing some dick. These are opinions, not facts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-facts-you-learned-late-in-life-that-you-didnt-really-know/529711.md?page=13)