Fast Facts

October 1, 2007

In Japan, Godzilla is called Gojira, a combination of the Japanese words for “”whale”” and “”gorilla.””

Despite his name, famous American historian Charles Beard was clean-shaven.

Lyndon Johnson had a special fountain installed in the Oval Office that dispensed only Fresca.

What do Mexico, Zambia, Kiribati, Fiji, Egypt and the Dominican Republic have in common? They all have birds on their flags.

Zugzwang is a situation in chess when all possible moves are to a player’s disadvantage.

In America, 69 percent of men and 57 percent of women drink beer.

Movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn’s real name was Samuel Goldfish.

Since 1600, 109 species and subspecies of bird have become extinct.

Robinson Crusoe was marooned on his deserted island for 24 years.

Pasta vermicelli means “”little worms.””

The letter “”w”” is the only letter in the alphabet with three syllables. No letter has two syllables.

The term “”maverick”” came from Texas rancher Sam Maverick, who refused to brand his calves.

One in every 300 births in the United States occurs in a vehicle.

Ninety percent of Irish women are unhappy with their legs.

You burn more calories sleeping than watching television.

Never wash a wool sweater- the fibers will lock together, and the garment will shrink.

A Laforte fracture is a fracture of every facial bone.

The blood of an octopus is a pale blue-green.

Dogs like squeeze toys because they sound like animals in distress.

The single dot over the lower case letter “”i”” is called a tipple.

The Daily Wildcat