# Lists you know and when you learned them. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296 "2014-10-14T13:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/1 "2014-10-14T13:56:53Z")
Maybe a poll can be developed from replies to this basic question. Add to the list of lists you know and some details about when and how your learned them. US States US State Capitals European Countries European Capitals South American Countries South American Capitals Asian Countries Asian Capitals African Countries African Capitals Books of the Bible Periodic Table US Presidents While we’re at it, please indicate your familiarity with [The Book of Lists - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Lists) and follow-up books. I myself have yet to investigate [List of lists of lists - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lists_of_lists) so if you have, what’s your review of it? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/2 "2014-10-14T14:14:53Z")
I’ll just mention that I can recite the Biological Classifications (Kingdom, Phylum, Class … ) in Order ( no pun ) from memory. Also, the planets. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/3 "2014-10-14T14:38:24Z")
“Being verbs,” fifth grade. Bones in the human body, fifth grade. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/4 "2014-10-14T14:39:38Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Also, the planets. Eight or nine or thirteen or eighteen? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/5 "2014-10-14T14:39:55Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I’ll just mention that I can recite the Biological Classifications (Kingdom, Phylum, Class … ) in Order ( no pun ) from memory. > > Also, the planets. I might be able to name the constellations. I could at one time, even by groups like Circumpolar, Zodiac, etc. Does “Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me” [ring a familiar note?](http://www.experienceproject.com/question-answer/Just-Who-Was-Ruby-Begonia-And-Why-Should-Her-Name-Strike-A-Familiar-Note/507302?) ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/6 "2014-10-14T14:48:35Z")
Baz-mo-cue, 3 n’s and a p! (BASMOQNNNP) - Canadian Provinces, as taught by my 6th grade Social Studies teacher, Mr. Smith. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island. It’s perhaps short, and not very impressive, but a list nonetheless! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/7 "2014-10-14T14:49:11Z")
Do you waste as much time at [Sporcle](http://www.sporcle.com/) as I used to? Timed quizzes are a drag for me because I get such slow response times from my ISP. It’s no fun when a 2-second reply takes 10 seconds to register. But if you are a lists fan, there are some doozies there. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/8 "2014-10-14T15:11:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Eight or nine or thirteen or eighteen? This being from when I was about 10, so nine. As it should be. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/9 "2014-10-14T15:42:57Z")
I loved the Books of Lists as a kid. I just remember scraps of them – the “words for specific objects” one with words like punt and aglet. Or “phrases used wrong” like “control your destiny” since destiny is by definition uncontrollable. Also, the Book of Rock Lists with things like “lyrics that slipped by the censors” and “eerie final hits” like Patsy Cline’s “I Fall to Pieces” before she died in a plane crash. Thanks for the trip down memory lane 🙂 Officially, HOMES - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior, in grade school. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/10 "2014-10-14T16:05:27Z")
I’m not sure where my copy of [Word Menu](http://www.wordmenu.com/) even is, but it fascinated me when I first got it years ago. It was the work of a guy who went to the trouble of collecting and defining and otherwise enlarging on those terms you run across in the dictionary like nautical terms, figures of speech, all sorts of categories. He just went ahead and did what I thought would be a fun project – but was too lazy to do for myself. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/11 "2014-10-14T18:05:42Z")
There’s always [whatis.com](http://whatis.com), with umpteen tech terms. > **[Computer Glossary, Computer Terms - Technology Definitions and Cheat Sheets...](https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/)** > > WhatIs.com is TechTarget’s free encyclopedia and learning center for IT and business professionals. Visit this site to learn about IT management and procurement, as well as emerging technology. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/12 "2014-10-14T18:13:38Z")
The crainial nerves, of course i have to use a mnemonic. Oh, and I learned them in 1971 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/13 "2014-10-14T21:53:09Z")
Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls, But Violet Gives Willingly; Get Some Now. Electrical school in 1968. (resister color code) SOHCAHTOA; high school algebra. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/14 "2014-10-14T22:00:56Z")
I know the seven dwarfs’ names, the modern Greek alphabet, and the 10 films of Astaire-Rodgers. Useful for trivia games and the occasional crossword, not much else. When I was a liberal arts major in a well-known mid-west university that emphasized a well-rounded education, the biology department thought it would be a good idea for all of us to memorize the Krebs cycle (something to do with digestion, not a 50’s beatnik). It’s a list of chemical reactions, I think. I flunked out. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/15 "2014-10-14T22:54:00Z")
I memorized the state capitals and bones in the body for classes in school. Learned many of the elements in the periodic table for Chemistry. All pretty much forgotten now. Once in awhile I can recall a state capital and it is useful playing along with a game show. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/16 "2014-10-14T23:04:37Z")
At age eight I knew all the planets, their diameters, number and names of their (then) satellites, distance from the Sun, and length of revolution. Mostly gone. At twelve, I knew all the Best Picture winners, Best Actor/Actress and Best Director, all the way back to 1927. 99 and 44/100% forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/17 "2014-10-14T23:13:09Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I know the seven dwarfs’ names, the modern Greek alphabet, and the 10 films of Astaire-Rodgers. Useful for trivia games and the occasional crossword, not much else. > > When I was a liberal arts major in a well-known mid-west university that emphasized a well-rounded education, the biology department thought it would be a good idea for all of us to memorize the Krebs cycle (something to do with digestion, not a 50’s beatnik). It’s a list of chemical reactions, I think. I flunked out. I forgot, I also know the seven deadly sins, which I learned from the original movie Bedazzled in 1967 (hey, they had the sense to have Raquel Welch as Lust, or “Lillian Lust the Babe with the Bust”). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/18 "2014-10-14T23:33:05Z")
A stupid song in junior high chorus class taught me how to remember the name of the US states in alphbabetical order. Sometime in high school I could recite, in chronological order, all the reigning kings and queens of England. I still get a litle fuzzy on the early 1800’s and the US presidents though. ---
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/19 "2014-10-15T00:48:55Z")
no pair or high card one pair two pair three of a kind straight flush full house four of a kind straight flush wildcards allowed? – five of a kind aside: a “royal flush” does NOT beat any other straight flush, ACE high ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296/20 "2014-10-15T00:54:57Z")
I still know my list of President’s pretty well. Theres a few obscure ones in the 1800’s that are difficult. I can usually get them out if I concentrate hard enough. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lists-you-know-and-when-you-learned-them/701296.md?page=2)