# Calling all Cliff Clavens....More Useless, Pointless Facts **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 21, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158 "2007-02-21T23:06:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/41 "2007-02-22T20:14:38Z")
The 1973 top ten hit “Little Willy” was actually written about William of Orange, a monarch known throughout Europe for his star-shooting, shimmy-shuffle style. Eevry US President has carved his name in a floor joist in the White House basement, dating back to James Knox Polk, who, according to graffiti carved by James Buchanan, “sucks.” Gnats have actually been known to read short novels at one sitting. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/42 "2007-02-22T20:22:59Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] Eevry US President has carved his name in a floor joist in the White House basement, dating back to James Knox Polk, who, according to graffiti carved by James Buchanan, “sucks.” [/QUOTE] Oh dear. This one got my coworkers to stick their heads in to see why I was squeeing like a pig. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/43 "2007-02-22T20:27:51Z")
The origin of the word “leftovers” is from the French \* Le Ftovers\* which, loosely translated, means “the stuff we didn’t eat when we should have and now have to try again or else give to the family pet or grind and feed to the baby.” ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/44 "2007-02-22T21:12:43Z")
If a giraffe could leap, pound for pound, as high as the grasshopper, he’d avoid a lot of trouble. That’s SO PC… ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/45 "2007-02-22T21:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Ah. I never read that thread, but I do see the “for 20 minutes in the 60s” references all the time. What I don’t get is how it relates to lox. [/QUOTE] Well, they were both supposedly in the early 60s, which is what made me pick your particular post even though it’s a bit of a stretch since the year isn’t exact, but more importantly, this is a thread about useless, pointless facts, so _ **someone** _ had to bring it up! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/46 "2007-02-22T21:34:12Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] Well, they were both supposedly in the early 60s, which is what made me pick your particular post even though it’s a bit of a stretch since the year isn’t exact, but more importantly, this is a thread about useless, pointless facts, so _ **someone** _ had to bring it up! [/QUOTE] OK, now I see it. You could have also gone with 1920s style death bagels. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/47 "2007-02-23T01:06:34Z")
My favorite Claven-ism involves weak buffalo, brain cells and beer. I’ve been meaning to look it up all day, and I finally got the chance. [The Buffalo Theory](http://www.spidertactics.com/archives/133) > [@](#): > > “Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.” Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/48 "2007-02-23T01:32:57Z")
The origins of Jazz actually date back to the old English tradition of the “pibroche” or “pee break.” Since musicians at that time were not allowed to take intermissions during performances while at the same time consuming copious amounts of mead, a way had to be found for the music to keep flowing while giving the performers the opportunity to relieve themselves. The “pibroche” style was created to allow one musician to play solo while others went to the loo, each taking their turn either playing solo or peeing so the music could continue uninterrupted. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/49 "2007-02-23T04:17:44Z")
[QUOTE=MadTheSwine] This sounds familiar,did Cliff say this in an episode? [/QUOTE] Ah ha! Someone spotted it! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/50 "2007-02-23T04:23:25Z")
[QUOTE=MadTheSwine] This sounds familiar,did Cliff say this in an episode? [/QUOTE] Ah ha! Someone spotted it! ---
**Author:** ![onedayfishsale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onedayfishsale/32/4398_2.png) [@onedayfishsale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onedayfishsale)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158/51 "2007-02-23T04:46:08Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] -We’re all aware that the word ‘cite’ comes from the word ‘citation,’ but did you know ‘citation’ comes from the Aramaic word ‘Sitahwaeg,’ which roughly translates to ‘Up your nose with a rubber hose!’ [/QUOTE] The verb _cite_ was not formally accepted as a noun replacing _citation_ until the SDMB Council of 2003. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cliff-clavens-more-useless-pointless-facts/393158.md?page=2)