Non-motoring > Fact of the Day	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Zero	Replies: 29

New Fri 24 Dec 10 12:39   Fact of the Day - Zero

It is extremely dangerous to stand under a tree during a thunderstorm. It is more dangerous to stand under an oak than any other kind of tree. The next most risky trees to stand under are poplars and Scots pines. If you are determined be a complete maniac and stand under a tree during a lightning strike, but don't actually want to die, head for a beech. They are ten times less likely to be hit than oaks. According to the very few studies done, you are also much less likely to be hit by lightning under a sycamore, hawthorn or holly tree. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 12:51   Fact of the Day - Badwolf

Boxing Day as a tradition which originated in the middle of the nineteenth century under Queen Victoria. It is so called as it was on this day that tradesmen used to collect their Christmas gifts, or boxes, in return for good and reliable service throughout the year. Real Radio in the northwest have a 'Fact of the Day' thingy on their drive time show - there are some proper random facts on that sometimes! Last edited by: Badwolf on Fri 24 Dec 10 at 12:52 Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 12:54   Fact of the Day - Chris S

There are two main dangers standing under a tree in a thunder storm: 1) The tree can act as a lightning conductor and pass the charge on to you; 2) The lightning will vapourise the sap causing the bark to explode sending a potentially lethal volley of splinters in to anyone in the vicinity. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 13:07   Fact of the Day - Hard Cheese

>>you are also much less likely to be hit by lightning under a sycamore, hawthorn or holly tree. >> How about a Christmas tree? Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 13:39   Fact of the Day - Old Navy

>> 2) The lightning will vapourise the sap causing the bark to explode sending a potentially >> lethal volley of splinters in to anyone in the vicinity. >> Also applies in forest fires, particularly Eucaliptus (Gum) trees in Australia, if you are daft enough to hang around during a fire. Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 24 Dec 10 at 13:40 Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 13:46   Fact of the Day - FotheringtonTomas

>> Eucaliptus (Gum) trees in Australia, if you are daft >> enough to hang around during a fire. These can spread fires very rapidly - and not by burning splinters, either. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 13:53   Fact of the Day - Old Navy

I know people who have had their cars overtaken by gale driven fires, and they were not hanging around. Some did not make it. I have been in Australia in the spring when the fire precautions are implemented, they may seem paranoid to us but the Australians take it very seriously, with legal penalties if certain preparations are not done. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 13:06   Fact of the Day - CGNorwich

Nine out of ten amazing facts are copied from the QI website Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 14:05   Fact of the Day - madf

Nine out to ten C4Play members forget these facts within five minutes of reading them. (For the remaining one out of ten, it's senile dementia so they forget before they finish reading) Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:20   Fact of the Day - Runfer D'Hills

For every 10mm longer someone's feet are than someone else's they are only 9mm wider. On average. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:22   Fact of the Day - Tooslow

73% of statistics are made up. John Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:23   Fact of the Day - Runfer D'Hills

....and the rest are estimates. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:26   Fact of the Day - Runfer D'Hills

Shoe factory workers can and do have real job titles of.... Skiver Clicker Bonker Shanker Bottom Filler Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:50   Fact of the Day - Cliff Pope

In a thunderstorm stand next to a member of the House of Lords. No peer has ever been struck by lightning. Fact invented by Peter Simple alias Michael Wharton, but quite possibly true. Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:51   Fact of the Day - Tooslow

Are you sure it's not pier? John Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:53   Fact of the Day - RattleandSmoke

My grandmas cousin was killed trying to shelter from a thundering storm. The lightening hit the tree and he was fried. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 15:57   Fact of the Day - Manatee

>> In a thunderstorm stand next to a member of the House of Lords. No peer >> has ever been struck by lightning. A tall one would be better though. From the same school of statistical analysis - if you want to make your chances of being blown up on an aeroplane even lower, then take a bomb with you. The odds of there being two bombs on an aeroplane are vanishingly small. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 16:45   Fact of the Day - Kevin

>In a thunderstorm stand next to a member of the House of Lords. No peer has ever been struck by lightning. It usually strikes the person stood next to them ;-) Kevin... Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 17:13   Fact of the Day - Dog

If you take one pound of cobwebs and spread them out in one straight line, it will go around the earth twice. There are three golf balls on the moon. Last edited by: Dog on Fri 24 Dec 10 at 17:14 Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 18:38   Fact of the Day - Fursty Ferret

>> If you take one pound of cobwebs and spread them out in one straight line, >> it will go around the earth twice. >> >> >> Easier to go once around for 50p. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 19:06   Fact of the Day - AnotherJohnH

>> here are three golf balls on the moon. Hell of a drive. Maybe use an iron next time? Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 28 Dec 10 20:00   Fact of the Day - devonite

>>There are three golf balls on the moon.<< Don`t you mean on a "film-set" somewhere in Area 51 at Roswell? Reply to this message | Report message       1

New Fri 24 Dec 10 17:13   Fact of the Day - Ted

>> Shoe factory workers can and do have real job titles of.... >> >> Skiver >> Clicker >> Bonker >> Shanker >> Bottom Filler >> Sounds like Big Dave's CV ! Ted Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 17:31   Fact of the Day - Dog

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 17:38   Fact of the Day - Zero

white no sugar please. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 18:22   Fact of the Day - Robin O'Reliant

And can you carry on for another few years, I fancy some toast. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 18:49   Fact of the Day - Dulwich Estate

A human being typically radiates about 75 watts to 100 watts in heat. Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 19:13   Fact of the Day - PhilW

" 100 watts" Slow down a bit or the EU will ban you for being energy inefficient and causing global warming - especially since you are a carbon based lifeform (or something) Reply to this message | Report message

New Fri 24 Dec 10 19:19   Fact of the Day - Dog

A rhinoceros beetle can support up to 850 times its own weight on it's back. That would be the equivalent of a man carrying 76 family-sized cars around on his back. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 28 Dec 10 11:53   Fact of the Day - BobbyG

Which tyre manaufacturer produces the most tyres each year? Lego!! Thank you James May! Reply to this message | Report message