# What semi-useless trivia is worth memorizing? What S.U.T. have you memorized? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910 "2013-09-29T11:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/21 "2013-09-30T07:42:23Z")
> [@XRaeth](#): > > I would assume that blood has other pigments than red in it. Normally the red pigments greatly overpower the other colors and that’s all you see. When there is an absence of red light however the other pigments would become visible. That’s my WAG anyways XD. I expect it’s more likely a combination of: [ul] [li]Illumination is progressively attenuated from the red end of the spectrum as you descend through water (per **JBDivmstr** in post #2)[/li][li]The Purkinje Effect (our colour perception shifts toward the blue end of the spectrum as illumination decreases, even if decreasing proportionally across the whole spectrum)[/li][li]Our colour perception attempts to maintain a ‘white balance’ regardless of the properties of the ambient light.[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/22 "2013-09-30T07:54:58Z")
Taumatawhakatangihangakouauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu. I know **π** to 10 digits, which isn’t especially impressive I guess. I try to remember the 50 US States, but I get a bit lost after around 30 and peter out. After some time I eventually get them all, though (I tend to forget Delaware until the very end). I also know the complete lyrics to the theme to _The Gummi Bears_ TV series. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/23 "2013-09-30T09:00:48Z")
Once I could type 370 machine-language programs in hexadecimal at a mainframe’s maintenance console (e.g. for a “scope loop”) without consulting a “yellow card.” I had the oft-used op-codes memorized, not all of them. I’ve memorized some other lists, e.g. the 20 lettered Y-haplogroups and when/where they fit in. > [@](#): > > The colors of a rainbow in order. … Red Orange Yellow … The colored resistor codes known to electronic technicians have the rainbow colors in order; the politically incorrect mnemonic was (bad boys) Rape Our Young Girls But Violet (gives willingly). This code omits Indigo. We could modify Violet to make her Immodest or Indulging, but I think it would be more proper to replace the final clause with “But I’m Virtuous.” ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/24 "2013-09-30T10:17:05Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > In junior high I had to learn that stupid song “Fifty Nifty United States” Dumb song, but part of the lyrics are the fifty states in alphabetical order. I still have them memorized and it comes in handy sometimes. > > I can do the kings and queens things, and also name their spouses. For an American this is truly useless. Knowing the kings and queens in order is useful if you like history (sounds a little obvious, but bear with me) or antiques or art. This is because then you will know what they mean by a Queen Anne chair, or an Edwardian house, or, as long as you remember that George IV ruled for a long time as regent when his dad, mad King George III, was ill, what regency architecture is. Flags of the world might be good to memorise for quizzes and the Olympics. World capitals is another good one, especially since they’re not all obvious. Trick question: what is the capital of South Africa? Think about your own answer before googling. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/25 "2013-09-30T10:26:03Z")
Chemical elements and which groups they belong to. I don’t remember them _all_, but the parts I do remember and the naming patterns are enough to be able to take an over-educated guess over where will any of the others belong; for example, since I do know all the metalloids and noble gases, any I don’t remember has to be a metal. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/26 "2013-09-30T12:07:01Z")
> [@Telperion](#): > > That doesn’t sound right. I’ve been in a submersible, and as best as I can remember the bright red warning labels just looked brown at depth. IIRC, the blood _ **did** _ appear brown at first, as I ascended it turned a bright green. I may be ‘off’ on the depth at which blood appears green, it’s been a _ **long** _ time since I did any spearfishing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/27 "2013-09-30T12:33:30Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > When I was a sorority pledge, we had to say the Greek alphabet three times on a match. > > (This would now be considered hazing, as would many of the things we had to do, but I had a hell of a lot of fun, and I was never asked to do anything that made me feel uncomfortable or unsafe.) > > My pledge sisters and I coached each other until we were all able to do it, and some of us got up to nine or 10 times on a match. As a consequence, I have the Greek alphabet burned into my brain. And scars burned into your fingertips? 😛 > [@feppytweed](#): > > “On a match” means you strike a match, and before the match burns down to your fingers, you must complete the task. I can do that- with a fireplace match. 😃 Anyway, my contribution: 355 divided by 113 gives Pi to several decimal places; good enough for almost any practical engineering purpose. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/28 "2013-09-30T13:14:59Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > 1. Kings & Queens regnant of England/Great Britain/United Kingdom, 1066 to present. > [@Baker](#): > > I can do the kings and queens things, and also name their spouses. For an American this is truly useless. I’m duly impressed. I’m British – can do the kings and queens regnant in order from 1066 on, thanks to the useful rhyming ditty which helps with same – most of the spouses, no way. And I couldn’t name more than a handful of US presidents, in approximate order, to save my life. > [@septimus](#): > > The colored resistor codes known to electronic technicians have the rainbow colors in order; the politically incorrect mnemonic was > (bad boys) Rape Our Young Girls But Violet (gives willingly). > > This code omits Indigo. We could modify Violet to make her Immodest or Indulging, but I think it would be more proper to replace the final clause with “But I’m Virtuous.” I’ve seen it suggested that the “indigo” bit is basically nonsense – blue and violet shade straight into each other; the “Indigo” thing was invented to make pronounceable drawing-room-suitable aide-memoires possible – VIBGYOR or ROYGBIV. I’m a railway nut – would bet on my ability to tell you off the top of my head, the predominant track gauge (distance between the rails) in any country in the world that has public railways. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/29 "2013-09-30T13:18:04Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Trick question: what is the capital of South Africa? Think about your own answer before googling. Haven’t googled – in the old days, the capital’s role was divided between Cape Town and Pretoria. God knows what’s done in these more enlightened times. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/30 "2013-09-30T13:24:36Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > I’ve seen it suggested that the “indigo” bit is basically nonsense – blue and violet shade straight into each other; the “Indigo” thing was invented to make pronounceable drawing-room-suitable aide-memoires possible – VIBGYOR or ROYGBIV. I’d also probably go with “six” if someone asked me how many colors I see in a rainbow. But the inclusion of Indigo, whether mistaken or not, is much more venerable than you suggest: [QUOTE=Sir Isaac Newton] The Original or primary colours are, Red, Yellow, Green, Blew, and a Violet-purple, together with Orange, Indico, and an indefinite variety of Intermediate gradations. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/31 "2013-09-30T13:26:31Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad; I know **π** to 10 digits, which isn’t especially impressive I guess. [/QUOTE] I was wondering when someone would mention Pi. When I was 17, on our way back home to Michigan from Tennessee, I memorized the first 100 decimals of Pi. I’m 45 today and still have it memorized. For some reason, it doesn’t seem to break the ice at parties. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/32 "2013-09-30T13:28:35Z")
Pi to 11 decimal points. My 15 digit driver’s licence number. My 13 digit bank card number. My 9 digit social insurance number. I know the resistor colour code too, and the rainbow. Is there anyone who doesn’t know SOHCAHTOA? ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/33 "2013-09-30T13:50:49Z")
I know the first 20 powers of two, which was less useless when I learned them. Used to be able to recite _The Walrus and the Carpenter_. I could get through most of it right now. Could name 50 states given a blank map, but probably not from a memorized list. (I’ve been to 40 or so of them). Probably could list the Presidents if I had to, from knowledge of history, as mentioned upthread. One semi-useful skill: I can convert measurements back and forth from metric to US units. Outside of the US, that would be pretty much useless, and even here it’s not something people do all that often. (The illicit drug trade uses grams. What to know if your teen uses drugs? Ask how many grams there are in an ounce.) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/34 "2013-09-30T14:07:22Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > One semi-useful skill: I can convert measurements back and forth from metric to US units. > Outside of the US, that would be pretty much useless, and even here it’s not something people do all that often. > (The illicit drug trade uses grams. What to know if your teen uses drugs? Ask how many grams there are in an ounce.) Indeed, [one study found that teenagers in the nation’s inner cities excel in metric based calculations.](http://www.theonion.com/articles/metric-system-thriving-in-nations-inner-cities,458/) ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/35 "2013-09-30T14:14:28Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I’d also probably go with “six” if someone asked me how many colors I see in a rainbow. But the inclusion of Indigo, whether mistaken or not, is much more venerable than you suggest: (Quoting Sir Isaac Newton): “The Original or primary colours are Red, Yellow, Green, Blew, and a Violet-purple, together with Orange, Indico, and an indefinite variety of intermediate gradations.” Aar, 'e were a funny feller, that Sir Isaac, surely – and 'e loved words as long as my arm. Seriously, though – point taken. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/36 "2013-09-30T14:16:16Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Is there anyone who doesn’t know SOHCAHTOA? Is it something North American? (That would let me out.) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/37 "2013-09-30T14:19:25Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > Is it something North American? (That would let me out.) Mathematical Sine = Opposite/Hypotenuse Cosine = Adjacent/Hypotenuse Tangent = Opposite/Adjacent ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/38 "2013-09-30T14:26:18Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > That can be really useful if you like to drink and drive. _ **Saying the alphabet backwards is a sobriety test cop sometimes use** _. Hardly anyone ever gets it right even stone sober so that skill just might be the edge you need someday. > > I know the generic and brand names of a lot of drugs, especially psychoactive ones, even though I have never done illegal drugs myself. I also know the full names of the active ingredients in many drugs. Lots of people can tell you the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is THC for example. Not many people can tell you what that stands for off the top of their head like I can however. > > delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (bolding mine) I’ve performed LEO administered field sobriety tests quite a few times over the years and I’ve _ **never** _ been asked to say the alphabet ‘backwards’. :dubious: AFAIK, ‘saying the alphabet backwards’ is not an [accepted sobriety test](http://www.fieldsobrietytests.net/recitingthealphabetfieldsobrietytest.html). Not quite the ‘semi-useless trivia’ that the OP asked for, but the following was information well worth learning, IMHO. 😉 First and foremost, I am not advocating ‘driving while impaired’. But with the lowering of legal ‘accepted limits’ of BAC to .08%, it’s a good idea to know how to comport ones self when confronted with having to demonstrate sobriety. As for a “skill [that] just might be the edge you need someday”, IMHO these are the things that are most likely to make the difference between driving _ **your** _ car home, or going to jail for DWI. :eek: You have the ‘right to remain silent’, _ **use it** _. (even though you haven’t been charged and/or haven’t been arrested yet) Respectfully and politely answer any questions, _ **as succintly as possible** _. Don’t be talkative and don’t ‘volunteer’ _ **anything** _. **Listen** _ **carefully** _ to the instructions given, concerning the skill you are about to perform. These are two things that a LEO will be paying particular attention to, your demeanor and your ability to listen and to comprehend. If you _ **have** _ been drinking, when the LEO asks you, “Have you had anything to drink?”, he’s not ‘_wondering_’ if you’ve been drinking, he already suspects that you have, and is wanting to see what your response will be. **Don’t** lie, (They hate that.) tell the truth. It’s how _ **much** _ you admit to drinking, that will make a difference. The correct answer is, "I’ve had _ **a** _ beer (or _ **a** _ mixed drink), **not** “a _couple_ of beers” or “a _couple_ of drinks”. One 12 oz. beer or one mixed drink per hour is enough to put the average person close to the limit of .08% BAC. You don’t want to confirm that you’ve had enough to put you _ **over** _ the limit. :smack: Sorry for the ‘hijack’. "Not many people can tell you what that [THC] stands for off the top of their head… " _ **I** _ can. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/39 "2013-09-30T14:30:57Z")
I memorized the presidents (back in high school), and the Kings of England/UK from 1066. I memorized pi to 14 places. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910/40 "2013-09-30T14:41:08Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Indeed, [one study found that teenagers in the nation’s inner cities excel in metric based calculations.](http://www.theonion.com/articles/metric-system-thriving-in-nations-inner-cities,458/) That’s funny because it’s true. 😃 > [@](#): > > “They were able to identify a kilogram of weight by merely tossing it back and forth in their hands.” I can do this with ounces. I guess that’s a semi-useless skill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-semi-useless-trivia-is-worth-memorizing-what-s-u-t-have-you-memorized/669910.md?page=3)