# Trivia **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 1999, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309 "1999-10-09T21:45:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/21 "1999-10-13T18:48:00Z")
1. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. She does, regularly, she has to keep the ‘grown up’ politicians in order…and she’s just turned 70…many happy returns. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/22 "1999-10-13T19:47:00Z")
android209, you’re right that the Speaker of the Commons is often heard to say ‘order! order!’, or ‘I call upon the Minister for Education’. But she’s not allowed to take part in the debates - and that’s what they mean by ‘speak’. Perhaps it should be ‘argue’. * * * I just had deja vu, and I’m sure it’s happened before… ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/23 "1999-10-13T19:52:00Z")
Omniscientnot posted: > [@](#): > > If anyone cares for the longerversion: [http://www.iea.com/~lswanson/trivia.html](http://www.iea.com/~lswanson/trivia.html) > {snip} > > And if THAT isn’t enough… [http://www.southhouse.com/](http://www.southhouse.com/) > > P.S.: I’m done You may be Omniscient_not_ but you certainly are Omnilinquent! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![omniscientnot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a5b964/32.png) [@omniscientnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omniscientnot)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/24 "1999-10-13T20:14:00Z")
Polycarp: Is that a compliment?? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/25 "1999-10-13T20:46:00Z")
Pluto - You asked. From [www.usga.org](http://www.usga.org) > [@](#): > > a. Weight > The weight of the ball shall not be greater than 1.620 ounces avoirdupois (45.93 gm). > > b. Size > > The diameter of the ball shall be not less than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm). This specification will be satisfied if, under its own weight, a ball falls through a 1.680 inches diameter ring gauge in fewer than 25 out of 100 randomly selected positions, the test being carried out at a temperature of 23±1°C. > > c. Spherical Symmetry > The ball must not be designed, manufactured or intentionally modified to have properties which differ from those of a spherically symmetrical ball. > > d. Initial Velocity > The velocity of the ball shall not be greater than 250 feet (76.2 m) per second when measured on apparatus approved by the United States Golf Association. A maximum tolerance of 2% will be allowed. The temperature of the ball when tested shall be 23±1°C. > > e. Overall Distance Standard > A brand of golf ball, when tested on apparatus approved by the USGA on the outdoor range at the USGA Headquarters under the conditions set forth in the Overall Distance Standard for golf balls on file with the USGA, shall not cover an average distance in carry and roll exceeding 280 yards (256 m) plus a tolerance of 6%. > > Note: The 6% tolerance will be reduced to a minimum of 4% as test techniques are improved. Dimple them however you want, just stay within the other rules. * * * The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 1999, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/26 "1999-10-13T21:18:00Z")
Speaker of the Commons? I thought the equivalent of the American Speaker of the House is the Keeper of the Woolsack–as according to Jan Harold Brunvand’s urban legend books. 🙂 * * * “If you drive an automobile, please drive carefully–because I walk in my sleep.”–Victor Borge ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 1999, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/27 "1999-10-14T02:12:00Z")
Daniel- you pervert! ---
**Author:** ![lvick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@lvick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lvick)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 1999, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/28 "1999-10-14T02:22:00Z")
How can screech and screeched both be one syllable words? Larry ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 1999, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309/29 "1999-10-14T08:17:00Z")
I think because the third ‘e’ is silent, so basically, no second syllable is pronounced. Screeched would be pronounced as: screecht or screechd. Not scree-ched. ## But you might wanna wait for an answer by a native speaker 😉 Coldfire * * * “You know how complex women are” - Neil Peart, Rush (1993) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia/9309.md?page=1)