# Your SINGLE favorite piece of information **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907 "2005-06-04T18:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/121 "2005-06-07T07:28:11Z")
> [@Mycroft Holmes](#): > > Also, the Ulmer Muenster has a higher tower than the Cologne Cathedral (161 meters compared to 154 meters) and it’s tower was completed in 1854 (even though the cathedral itself wasn’t complete until 1890) so many people consider it the tallest man-made structure until the Washington Monument and then the Eiffel Tower came along. > [@Robot Arm](#): > > And for a couple of Euros, you can climb almost to the top. If you’ve got a fear of heights, you’ll probably want to pass on that. I’ve actually climbed the Ulmer Münster several times (my grandmother leaves near Ulm) and it’s a lot of stairs, but the view from the top is breathtaking. On a really clear day you can see the Alps in the Allgäu on the horizon. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/122 "2005-06-07T12:43:21Z")
I have spent most of my life in parts of the world with a complete absence of big, honkin’ cathedrals, so I was more interested in the Münster itself than I was in the view. (Which was good, since it was overcast the one time I’ve been there.) From the pictures I’d seen, I always thought cathedrals and their towers were pretty much solid stone, with just enough space carved out inside for a stairway and a big bell. I was amazed how open and airy the tower of the Münster was. It almost seemed fragile. I’m not usually afraid of heights, but that place was starting to get to me. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/123 "2005-06-07T12:52:49Z")
> [@](#): > > After a few years of trying to disprove this, I’ve given up… : > > There is no word in the English language that rhymes with Orange. > > Never found any other words that have no rhyming companions either. _silver_ has already been mentioned, along with its almost-rhyme _pilfer_. In the same vein, Kurt Vonnegut mentioned (I don’t know if he came up with) _doorhinge_ as an almost-rhme for _orange_. Ripley’s Believe it or Not mentioned Orange and silver and … **Oblige** as rhymeless words. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/124 "2005-06-07T13:48:18Z")
I like Tom Lehrer’s solution: Eating an orange, while making love, leads to bizarre enj- oyment thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/125 "2005-06-07T14:04:14Z")
> [@Leviosaurus](#): > > Another interesting fact from Michigan: possibly the largest living organism is a fungi spread across 38 acres of forest near Crystal Falls, MI. Called the “[Humongous Fungus](http://www.crystalfalls.org/humongou.htm)”, the organism is from a strain called Armillaria bulbosa. It’s estimated to be between 1,500 and 10,000 years old and weight over 100 tons. According to [this site](http://capemaywhalewatch.com/blue.html), the largest blue whale may have weighed over 200 tons, and it is implied that 150 tons is typical. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/126 "2005-06-07T14:29:50Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Hawaii is the only [US] state to have once been a sovereign nation, recognized as such by other sovereign nations. It has it’s own [palace](http://www.iolanipalace.org/) and everything. The two nations that it was closest to politically are reflected in the state flag. Wasn’t Texas also an independent state? Was it not recognised by other nations? ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/127 "2005-06-07T14:42:54Z")
What about Purple? When I hear the list of rhymeless words, it’s usually orange and purple, and sometimes silver. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/128 "2005-06-07T16:21:22Z")
Yalmar Vahm invented the first patented, releaseable ski binding. Too bad Bogataj’s didn’t work quite properly, no? ---
**Author:** ![Lennon\_Lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Lennon\_Lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lennon_Lives)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/129 "2005-06-07T16:46:07Z")
Eleven states are smaller (area wise) than the county of San Bernardino, California. LL ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/130 "2005-06-07T16:55:59Z")
> [@](#): > > The Rhymeless of the Ancient Mariner > > * * * > > What about Purple? When I hear the list of rhymeless words, it’s usually orange and purple, and sometimes silver. It’s hard to find A word to rhyme with _purple_ But in a pinch The contraction _burp’ll_ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/131 "2005-06-07T17:07:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Sam Houston is the only person to have served in the U. S. Senate after having served as the Chief Executive of a foreign nation. Houston was also _governor_ of two different states (Tennessee and Texas). I’m not sure if he’s the only one, though. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/132 "2005-06-07T19:03:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s hard to find > A word to rhyme with _purple_ > But in a pinch > The contraction _burp’ll_ How would we use that in a sentence? Something like “Uncle Frank! You’re so rude! That burp’ll echo for days!” I guess? ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/133 "2005-06-07T19:15:37Z")
“Roses are red and violets are purple Sugar’s sweet and so’s maple syrple.” - Roger Miller ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/134 "2005-06-07T19:27:31Z")
> [@Robot Arm](#): > > Whose name is Vinko Bogataj. > > (I consider that to be the gold standard of trivia. Everybody has seen that clip. Everybody knows he’s the “agony of defeat” guy. Nobody knows his name. For those of us who have crappy memories or who never saw World of Sports, here’s a linky to a pretty cool article about the guy, which also has an offsite link to an .avi of the clip. [Linky](http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Vinko-Bogataj) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/135 "2005-06-07T20:24:28Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Some of my favs: > > 1. There’s more hydrogen in gasoline than in liquid hydrogen. > > 2. A telegraph cable was installed between Ireland and Newfoundland in 1866. > > 3. The United States doesn’t have a national government. It has a federal government. > > 4. After taking various distance measurements and measuring the length of a stick’s shadow, an Egyptian named Eratosthenes used geometry to calculate the diameter and tilt of the earth. In 200 B.C. A few more of my favs: The average voltage at a 120 VAC outlet is 0 V. The hops used in Samuel Adams Boston Lager are grown on only 400 acres of land. In 1900 deer were virtually extinct in Ohio. Today Ohio has around 500,000 deer. Dry air is a better thermal conductor than humid air. Other than absolute zero (which cannot be realized in the lab), the only defined temperature is the triple point of water (273.15 K). Let’s say a pebble is stuck in the tread of one of your tires, and you’re driving at a speed of 60 MPH. When the pebble is on top (farthest away from the road), the pebble is traveling at 120 MPH relative to the road. A few milliseconds later, when the pebble is between the tire and the road, the pebble is traveling at 0 MPH relative to the road. When the pebble is (again) on top, the pebble is traveling at 120 MPH relative to the road. As the temperature of a pond falls from 34 °F to 33 °F, the warmer water will sink and the colder water will rise. It is possible for something to have a temperature but no mass. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/136 "2005-06-07T20:42:45Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Dry air is a better thermal conductor than humid air. It’s also more dense than humid air. So if you’re trying to beat air resistance (e.g. throw/hit a ball further, or go faster in a vehicle), a humid day is better. > [@](#): > > Other than absolute zero (which cannot be realized in the lab), the only defined temperature is the triple point of water (273.15 K). Nitpick: It’s 273.1 **6** K (=0.01 C). ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/137 "2005-06-07T21:03:47Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Other than absolute zero (which cannot be realized in the lab), the only defined temperature is the triple point of water (273.15 K). What is the _triple point_ of water? I always thought that the freezing point of water (0 C / 32 F) was a “defined point.” ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/138 "2005-06-07T22:17:40Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Nitpick: It’s 273.1 **6** K (=0.01 C). Dammit, I knew that! :smack: Thanks. > [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > What is the _triple point_ of water? I always thought that the freezing point of water (0 C / 32 F) was a “defined point.” It used to be. But physicists found out that the TP of water was more reproducible and more accurate. In 1960 the FP of water was officially dumped in favor of the TP of water. This also means that the FP of water is not exactly 0 °C; I read somewhere that it’s really around -0.00001 °C. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/139 "2005-06-07T22:43:09Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > What is the _triple point_ of water? I always thought that the freezing point of water (0 C / 32 F) was a “defined point.” Water freezes at 0°C (273.1K) at SP (“standard” atmospheric pressure at sea level). However, the freezing point and boiling point changes with pressure; hence, why you have to boil water longer at altitude. The [triple point](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_point) is a unique state in which water is at liquid, solid, and gaseous form simultaneiously, and should be stated in both terms of temperature (273.16 kelvins (0.01 °C)) and pressure (611.73 pascals). This state occurs uniquely at those conditions and thus makes a more controlled point from which to measure temperature. Those who’ve read Kurt Vonnegut’s novel _Cat’s Cradle_ are familiar with his McGuffin, ice-nine, a state which catalytically causes water to freeze at ambient temperture. [Ice-nine](http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/ice_iii.html#icenine) does, in fact, exist, but fortunately not at under pressure conditions which will cause the world’s oceans to freeze solid. And if anyone offers to sell you some [polywater](http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/water/anmlous.html) give 'em the blow-off. Ain’t no such creature. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![pestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907/140 "2005-06-07T23:03:20Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > I don’t know whether that’s true or just a linguistic myth, but my father, who hails from darkest West Virginia, says, “Balls!” when he’s frustrated. I’ve never heard anyone else use “balls” as an oath.? A very good friend of mine has been doing this for years. I have no idea where she picked it up, though. She’s also prone to saying, “Well, fuck me runnin’!” but I only mention that 'cause it amuses me, not because it’s particularly relevant here. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-single-favorite-piece-of-information/306907.md?page=8)