Fast Facts
October 23, 2007
The first U.S. phone book was issued in 1878 in New Haven, Conn. It contained 50 names.
Actress Swoosie Kurtz got her unusual first name from the type of plane her father piloted during World War II.
The odds against a professional golf player scoring a hole-in-one are 15,000 to one.
Connecticut’s state song is “”Yankee Doodle.””
An elephant can smell water three miles away.
In New Guinea, more than 700 different native languages are spoken – a third of the world’s known languages.
The holy cities of Islam are Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.
The Irish baron of Kinsale has the privilege of retaining his hat in the presence of royalty.
Helen of Troy was Queen of Sparta.
The word “”robot”” comes from the Czechoslovakian word robotovat, which means “”to work very hard.”” It was created by Karel Capek.
Dr. Seuss wrote a few books under the name Theo. LeSieg – a variation of his real name, Theodore Geisel.
Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern have the same birthday: Jan. 12.
About half of all sandwiches Americans consume are eaten at lunchtime.
The name Santa Claus is not mentioned anywhere in the poem “”‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.””
Labor Day was first celebrated in 1894.
The song “”You’re a Grand Old Flag”” was originally entitled “”You’re a Grand Old Rag.””
Maine is the only state with a one-syllable name.
The last historical event mentioned in Billy Joel’s “”We Didn’t Start the Fire”” is the “”Cola Wars”” – the ongoing rivalry between Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola.
The three Andrews Sisters were Patty, Maxene and LaVerne.
The pogo stick was invented by George Hansburg in 1919.
