Quick Description
Richard Ira "Dick" Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) is the United States' highest-scoring air ace, having shot down at least 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
Why'd We Pick?
He is America's best ace and the inspiration of the famous "Bong Recreation Area" in Wisconsin.
Wingman is a term in the seduction community that a man may take when he goes to a club or bar with an accompanying male. A wingman is expected to support his friend in approaching women. The men often pick a desired woman, who is referred to as the "target". The man intending to seduce the target is often called the "pilot". The wingman is expected to back up the pilot, which typically entails talking to the target's less attractive friend(s) and making comments that will make the pilot seem more attractive.
Why'd We Pick?
Every guy needs a good wingman to be successful in the "game". At this wiki entry you can find out how the term came about, and what things make a good wingman.
Robert Williams (c. 1954 – January 25, 1979), a worker at a Ford Motor Company factory in Michigan, was one of the first individuals killed by a robot.[1][2]
Why'd We Pick?
Although a Japanese factory worker is often cited as the first death by robot, an unfortunate robot mishap killed Robert Williams 2 years earlier.
Early world maps cover depictions of the world from Classical times to the Age of Discovery and the emergence of modern Geography (6th century BC to 16th century).
Why'd We Pick?
It's always interesting to see what our ancestors thought the world looked like. This article includes many fantastic and historic maps.
This is a list of inventors whose deaths were in some manner caused by or related to a product, process, procedure, or other innovation that they invented or designed.
Why'd We Pick?
This list could be a lot longer, but it includes most of the most influential "martyr" inventors of all time.
Quick Description
Mike the Headless Chicken (April 1945 – March 1947) was a Wyandotte rooster that lived for 18 months after its head had been cut off. Thought by many to be a hoax, the bird was taken by its owner to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City to establish its authenticity.[1][2]
Why'd We Pick?
Incredibly, this chicken went on a 13 month tour around the US...without his head.
Quick Description
A cat piano or Katzenklavier (German) is a hypothetical musical instrument designed by Athanasius Kircher. It consists of a line of cats fixed in place with their tails stretched out underneath a keyboard. Nails would be placed under the keys, causing the cats to cry out in pain when a key was pressed. The cats would be arranged according to the natural tone of their voices.
Why'd We Pick?
Although its very cruel, we can't help but wonder if it would actually work.
Quick Description
Celestia is a 3-D astronomy program created by Chris Laurel. The program is based on the Hipparcos Catalogue (HIP) and allows users to travel through an extensive universe, modeled after reality at any speed, in any direction and at any time in history.
Why'd We Pick?
Cause you can visit distant planets rendered in 3-D like Gilese 581c or travel in time to see how the future Earth will look like.
Quick Description
The 2012 Doomsday Prediction is a cultural phenomenon consisting of present-day speculation that cataclysmic and even apocalyptic events will occur in the year 2012. This idea has been disseminated by numerous books, internet sites and documentaries airing on the History Channel since 2006.
Why'd We Pick?
It seem that there's always an "end-of-world" prophecy floating around. What makes the 2012 date so intriguing is that it was predicted by one of the greatest time keepers the world has ever seen.
Quick Description
The world's funniest joke is a term used by Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire in 2002 to summarize one of the results of his research. For his experiment, named LaughLab, he created a website where people could rate and submit jokes.[1] Purposes of the research included discovering the joke that had the widest appeal and understanding among different cultures, demographics and countries.
Why'd We Pick?
It's interesting to see which joke would best appeal to the world. The top joke IS funny, but I think I'd vote for the top joke in the UK.
This is a list of phenomena[1] specific to the Internet, such as popular themes and catchphrases, viral videos, amateur celebrities and more. Such fads and sensations grow rapidly on the Internet because its instant communication facilitates word of mouth. The search and rating features of sites like YouTube and Google then amplify this interest.
Why'd We Pick?
Check out this list to see if you missed any of the "important" internet phenomena.
Quick Description
The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute was a noted black civil rights protest and one of the most overtly political statements[1] in the 110 year history of the modern Olympic Games.
Why'd We Pick?
Looking back on it now, it seems very patriotic and courageous but this political statement caused such a controversy that it lead to a numerous amount of death threats toward the two men.
The Antikythera mechanism (IPA: [ˌæntɪkɪˈθɪərə], an-ti-ki-theer-uh), is an ancient mechanical calculator (also described as the first known mechanical computer[1][2]) designed to calculate astronomical positions.
Why'd We Pick?
Built around 150 BC, machinery with the same complexity weren't seen for another 1000 years.
Commercial games released as freeware are games that, in their original license, were not considered freeware, but were re-released at a later date with a freeware license, sometimes as publicity for a forthcoming sequel or compilation release.
Why'd We Pick?
Who doesn't like getting things for free? Especially things that used to cost a lot of money to buy.
Quick Description
The irony mark or irony point (؟) (French: point d’ironie; also called a snark or zing) is a proposed punctuation mark that was suggested to be used to indicate that a sentence should be understood at a second level. It is illustrated by a small, elevated, backward-facing question mark. The irony mark has never been used widely. It appears occasionally in obscure artistic or literary publications.
Why'd We Pick?
Because it's time for new a punctuation mark...especially one that can be pretty useful sometimes.
The five-second rule is a popular polite fiction regarding the eating of food that has fallen to the floor or ground. The origins of the rule are unknown. The substance of the rule is that if food falls on the ground, it may be safely eaten as long as it is picked up within 5 seconds.
Why'd We Pick?
This timeless classic has been uttered by mainly, but hardly ever understood by any. Is there any scientific value to it?
The following is a list of significant men and women known, following the now largely-discredited great man theory, for being the father, mother, or considered the founders in a field, listed by category. In some fields the title of being the "father" is debatable.
Why'd We Pick?
This is a list of possibly the most influential scientists and people ever to step on the face of the Earth.
Baba Yaga (Russian: Ба́ба-Яга́, Macedonian and Serbian: Баба Рога, Bulgarian: Баба Яга, Polish: Baba Jaga, Czech: Ježibaba (also: Baba Jaga), Slovak: Baba Jaga, Croatian: Baba Roga, Slovene: Jaga Baba) is, in Slavic folklore, a witch-like character who flies around on a giant mortar, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a house on chicken feet.
Why'd We Pick?
This single women is responsible for 99% of all child eatings in the world.
The Streisand effect is a phenomenon on the Internet where an attempt to censor or remove a piece of information backfires, causing the information to be widely publicized. Examples of such attempts include censoring a photograph, a number, a file, or a website (for example via a cease-and-desist letter).
Why'd We Pick?
Next time an inappropriate photo of you ends up on the internet, the best thing to do is just ignore it...and hope no one sees it.
This article is a list of paraphilias, defined as powerful and persistent sexual interest other than in copulatory or precopulatory behavior with phenotypically normal, consenting adult human partners.
Why'd We Pick?
Some people like to dress up as a baby in diapers, some just really really like noses. Then there is the rest of us that can laugh at how weird some people can be.
A fata morgana, Italian translation of Morgan le Fay, the fairy shapeshifting half-sister of King Arthur, is a mirage, an optical phenomenon which results from a temperature inversion.
Why'd We Pick?
It's not your run-of-the-mill desert mirage, but actually a "Superior Mirage" that's been mystifying people for centuries.
Google has a tradition of perpetrating April Fools' Day hoaxes.
Why'd We Pick?
Every April 1st Google tries their best to trick us all in the spirit of April Fools Day. Besides some of the better known tricks;Gmail paper and Virgle, this article has a lot of hidden Google "easter eggs" listed.
This is a list of subcultures.
Why'd We Pick?
The real question is...which one are you?
Frank Woodruff Buckles (born February 1, 1901) is, at age 108, the last identified living American veteran of World War I.[1] He currently lives in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Why'd We Pick?
Any person that can live through more than 100 years and two world wars deserves a little praise.
I Am Rich is an application for the Apple iPhone OS, distributed using the App Store. When launched, the screen only contains a glowing red gem, and a button that when pressed, displays the following mantra in large text:[1]
I am rich
I deserv [sic] it
I am good,
healthy &
successful
Why'd We Pick?
What's really amazing is that eight people actually bought this useless $1,000 iPhone app before it was removed from the app store.
Norse, Viking or Scandinavian mythology comprises the beliefs, myths and legends of the indigenous pre-Christian religion of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Why'd We Pick?
A often overlooked mythology that has plenty of supernatural heroes, gods, and monsters. From Thor's death fight with a giant serpent to the dealings of Sigfried the Dragon Slayer it's evident the Norse really knew how to create entertaining myths.
Quick Description
The Endless Forest is a multiplayer online game for Windows in which the player is a deer in a peaceful forest without goals or the ability to chat. Unique pictograms above registered deer's heads represent their names.
Why'd We Pick?
If you ever wondered what it would be like to be a deer in a forest...here's your chance.
The Mojave phone booth was a lone telephone booth placed circa 1960 in what is now the Mojave National Preserve in California which attracted online attention in 1997 due to its unusual location. The booth was 15 miles (24 km) from the nearest interstate highway, and miles from any buildings.
Why'd We Pick?
It's the story of why someone would place a phone booth in the middle of nowhere and one man's quest to call it until someone picked up.
Quick Description
Joshua Abraham Norton (c. 1819[2] – January 8, 1880), the self-proclaimed His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, was a celebrated citizen of San Francisco, California, who in 1859 proclaimed himself "Emperor of these United States"[3] and "Protector of Mexico."
Why'd We Pick?
Although penniless, Emperor Norton was held in high regard within San Francisco. The most exclusive restaurants and theaters all saved a spot for Emperor Norton should he want to "grace" their presence.
Quick Description
There have been multiple assassination attempts on presidents of the United States; there have been 90 known attempts to kill sitting and former presidents as well as presidents-elect. Four attempts on sitting presidents have succeeded: Abraham Lincoln (the 16th president), James A. Garfield (the 20th president), William McKinley (the 25th president) and John F. Kennedy (the 35th president). Two other presidents were injured in attempted assassinations: then-former president Theodore Roosevelt and then-sitting president Ronald Reagan.
Why'd We Pick?
When people think Presidential assassinations, most automatically think of JFK. This article highlights all of the failed (and successful) presidential assassination attempts.
Parkour (sometimes also abbreviated to PK) or l'art du déplacement[1] (English: the art of movement) is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body.[2] It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment—from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls—and can be practiced in both rural and urban areas. Parkour practitioners are referred to as traceurs, or traceuses for females.
Why'd We Pick?
We still aren't exactly sure what this "sport" entails, but it's definitely catching on amongst people from all walks of life. Next time you see a fence or some other obstacle in your way, try Parkouring your way around them.
David Johnson, also known as the World Famous Bushman, is a busker who has been entertaining passers-by along Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco since 1980.
Why'd We Pick?
Mr. Johnson's full time jobs entails jumping out of bushes to scare unsuspecting passers-by. Even after having multiple charges filed by local merchants, court's have upheld David's right to busk.
Quick Description
The website One red paperclip was created by Kyle MacDonald, a Canadian blogger who bartered his way from a single paperclip to a house in a series of trades spanning exactly one year.
Why'd We Pick?
Despite all odds, Kyle MacDonald, took a single red paperclip and progressively traded it for something better 14 times...until finally he traded a movie role for a two story farmhouse. Now that's determination.
The Yes Men are a group of culture jamming activists who practice what they call "identity correction" by pretending to be powerful people and spokespersons for prominent organizations. They create and maintain fake websites similar to ones they want to spoof, and then they accept invitations received on their websites to appear at conferences, symposia, and TV shows.
Why'd We Pick?
Because the big corporations have been doing what they want for decades, and it's good to finally see individuals doing the same.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill DSO MC,[1] (September 16, 1906—March 8, 1996), nicknamed "Fighting Jack Churchill" and "Mad Jack", was a British soldier who fought throughout World War II armed with a bow, arrows and a claymore. He once said "any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed".
Why'd We Pick?
This bada$$ fighting machine charged enemies with just bow and arrows and his trusty claymore sword. Rambo has NOTHING on this real life hero.
This is a timeline of alternative rock, from its beginnings in the 1970s to the present.
Why'd We Pick?
One of the most popular genres of music in our generation deserves any attention it can get. How'd it start? What were some of the events? Find it all out in this informative timeline.
KEO is the name of a proposed space time capsule which will be launched in 2010 or 2011[1] carrying messages from the citizens of present Earth to humanity 50,000 years from now, when it will reenter Earth's atmosphere.
Why'd We Pick?
Because anyone can add messages to the future inhabitants of Earth by submitting it on the KEO website.
This is a list of legendary creatures from various historical mythologies. Its entries include species of legendary creature and unique creatures, but not individuals of a particular species. Creatures of modern invention are not included.
Why'd We Pick?
If you ever see a one legged dwarf lying on his back hiding in his leg's shadow, you'll know exactly what you're seeing.
Colonel-in-Chief Sir Nils Olav is a King Penguin living in Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland. He is the mascot and Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King's Guard. Nils was visited by the Norwegian King's Guard on the 15 August 2008 and awarded a knighthood. The honour was approved by the king of Norway, King Harald V. During the ceremony a crowd of several hundred people joined the 130 guardsmen at the zoo to hear a citation from King Harald the Fifth of Norway read out, which described Nils as a penguin "in every way qualified to receive the honour and dignity of knighthood".
Why'd We Pick?
As the first non human Knight, Colonel, Major, Sergeant, and Corporal ... this penguin has repeatedly torn down specian prejudices in the Norweign Military.
Quick Description
The Bubble Project, as proclaimed by its manifesto, aims to counterattack the one-sided corporate onslaught of marketing and advertisement messages that propagate public space.
Why'd We Pick?
Just wanted to give a heads up bout a cool ungoing social experiment.
Quick Summary
This list of common misconceptions details various ideas described as widely held by the general populace, but which are false, misleading or otherwise flawed.
Why'd We Pick?
It's hard to pass over a list of hundreds of common assumptions that turn out to be false. This has to be one of the greatest compiled lists on Wikipedia.
Quick Summary
The Bristol Stool Scale or Bristol Stool Chart is a medical aid designed to classify the form of human feces into seven categories. Sometimes referred to in the UK as the "Meyers Scale," it was developed by Heaton and Lewis at the University of Bristol and was first published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology in 1997.[1] The form of the stool depends on the time it spends in the colon.
Why'd We Pick?
Because you probably never knew how to classify your poops before.
The Bristol Stool Scale or Bristol Stool Chart is a medical aid designed to classify the form of human feces into seven categories. Sometimes referred to in the UK as the "Meyers Scale," it was developed by Heaton and Lewis at the University of Bristol and was first published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology in 1997.[1] The form of the stool depends on the time it spends in the colon.
Why'd We Pick?
Because you probably never knew how to classify your poops before.
Paraprosdokian
Quick Summary
A paraprosdokian (from Greek "παρα-", meaning "beyond" and "προσδοκία", meaning "expectation") is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.
An especially clever paraprosdokian not only changes the meaning of an early phrase, but also plays on the double meaning of a particular word, creating a syllepsis.
Why Select?
It's a cool way to be funny.
Quick Summary
In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that combines space and time into a single construct called the spacetime continuum. Spacetime is usually interpreted with space being three-dimensional and time playing the role of the fourth dimension. According to Euclidean space perception, the universe has three dimensions of space and one dimension of time. By combining space and time into a single manifold, physicists have significantly simplified a large number of physical theories, as well as described in a more uniform way the workings of the universe at both the supergalactic and subatomic levels.
Why Select?
Cause your in it...right now!
Roman Numerals Drinking Game
Quick Summary
Roman numerals or poo bum dickie is a drinking game played by a moderate gathering of people, all with alcoholic beverages.[1] The premise is that players must count upwards from one around the circle in Roman numerals.[1] The Roman numerals are replaced by words chosen for their humour, with many variations.
Why Select?
You can never know too many drinking games.
List of Snowboard Tricks
Quick Summary
Snowboard tricks are aerials or maneuvers performed on snowboards for style or competitions.
Why Select?
You can finally follow the X-Games with this list handy.
Quick Summary
André Gardes was an unemployed French nuclear physicist who tried to take over the island of Sark in the English Channel with a semi-automatic weapon in 1990. At the time the Seigneur of the island was John Michael Beaumont.
Why Select?
The thought of someone trying to take over an island with just one gun is quite amusing.
Quick Summary
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book edited by Robert Dimery, released in 2006.
It consists of a list of albums released between 1955 and 2005. The book is arranged chronologically, starting with Frank Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours and concluding with Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes. Each entry in the list is accompanied by a short essay written by a noted music critic. The entries are accompanied by pictures, quotes, and additional information (such as the album's running time and producer).
Why Select?
This list includes some of the best albums ever to be heard.
Quick Summary
"Unsinkable Sam" (also known as "Oscar"[1]) was the nickname given to a ship's cat who saw service in both the Kriegsmarine and Royal Navy during the Second World War, serving on board three vessels and surviving the sinking of all three.[2]
Why Select?
Who knew ships have cats? This cat is the king of all "ship cats"
Quick Summary
Ratatat is a New York City electronic music duo consisting of guitarist Mike Stroud and synthesizer driver and producer Evan Mast.
Why Select?
Unique...Quirky...and just down right fun music
Quick Summary
The travelling gnome prank is a method of returning a garden gnome "to the wild". It involves stealing a gnome, taking it on a trip, and photographing it at famous landmarks, with the photos being returned to the owner.
Why Select?
It's a funny prank that's still in use today.
Quick Summary
A famous misquotation is a well-known phrase attributed to someone who either did not actually say it in that form of words, or did not say it at all.
Why Select?
Because you should always be aware of the truth.
Quick Summary
Ferret legging is a fictional sport allegedly practiced in Yorkshire, England, UK. It was first brought to light by Donald Katz, in an article entitled "King of the Ferret Leggers", in the October 1987 issue of Outside magazine.
Why Select?
One of the finest athletic competitions of our time. Sticking two ferrets down your pants should never go unnoticed.
Quick Summary
On November 20, 2004, at the annual Yale-Harvard football game, Yale students used a card stunt to trick more than 1,800 Harvard fans into holding up placards that spelled "WE SUCK."
Why Select?
Cause this was the most exciting event ever to happen during a Havard football game.
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