Groucho's Fact Hunt

[Bluesaint]

Despite the state of Iran wanting to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, the capital city, Tehran, has a small Jewish population of around eight thousand. They have a synagogue and are completely safe to worship and are respected members of the city. Iran has the largest Jewish population in the middle East, outside of Israel.

 

[wm02]

Another actually died just 10 days a go...

You are correct!

A grandson of 10th US president John Tyler, who took office in 1841, has died at 95

John Tyler took office after President William Henry Harrison died suddenly. Now, 175 years after leaving office, his grandson has died.

www.usatoday.com

 

[summerisle]

James Mason was a conscientious objector during WW2 - not a lot of people know that.

 

[4737carlin]

The Pink Floyd, the band name came from Syd Barretts cats, one was called Pink and Floyd was the other.

 

[summerisle]

The Pink Floyd, the band name came from Syd Barretts cats, one was called Pink and Floyd was the other.

Or :

50 geeky facts about Pink Floyd

The names Pink and Floyd came from two of Syd Barrett’s favourite Carolina bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, which he merged together and voila! People often assumed Pink Floyd was the name of a person in the band, especially stupid record industry people. The band sent this up with...

www.nme.com

 

[4737carlin]

Or :

50 geeky facts about Pink Floyd

The names Pink and Floyd came from two of Syd Barrett’s favourite Carolina bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, which he merged together and voila! People often assumed Pink Floyd was the name of a person in the band, especially stupid record industry people. The band sent this up with...

www.nme.com

Yeah but I'm sure he called his cats after those two first, even before the band.

 

[summerisle]

Yeah but I'm sure he called his cats after those two first, even before the band.

I suppose we'll never know.

 

[deipnosophist]

Or :

50 geeky facts about Pink Floyd

The names Pink and Floyd came from two of Syd Barrett’s favourite Carolina bluesmen, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, which he merged together and voila! People often assumed Pink Floyd was the name of a person in the band, especially stupid record industry people. The band sent this up with...

www.nme.com

Re point 14 and it’s reference to their roadie manager Peter Watts: he was the dad of actress Naomi Watts

 

[deipnosophist]

Back in 14th Century plague period, ships visiting Venice were required to remain anchored offshore (and isolated) for 40 days. Forty days in Italian is quaranta giorni...giving English the word ‘quarantine’.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Back in 14th Century plague period, ships visiting Venice were required to remain anchored offshore (and isolated) for 40 days. Forty days in Italian is quaranta giorni...giving English the word ‘quarantine’.

Similar root to the word 'quaresma' in Romance languages meaning 'Lent' the 40 day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter.

So in English, Ricardo Quaresma would be called Richard Lent.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

Borlum Farm auditioned for Magnum PI !!

Tom Selleck who applied for the Everton physio job ,was on course to play Indiana Jones ,put his Magnum PI contractual commitment, meant he lost out.

 

[wm02]

Tom Selleck who applied for the Everton physio job ,was on course to play Indiana Jones ,put his Magnum PI contractual commitment, meant he lost out.

Didn’t know that! That’s a great What If

 

[Brendan Janus]

Didn’t know that! That’s a great What If

Johnny Johnny Clinkaaaaard La !!

 

[summerisle]

There were at least forty known attempts to assasinate Hitler. One of the what if attempts :

In 1943 a German officer, Adel von dem Busch, witnessed a massacre of Jews whilst serving in Ukraine. He joined the resistance against Hitler, and by November 1943 was an integral member of a plot to kill him.

New Nazi winter uniforms had been designed and were due to be inspected by Hitler. The plan was for Busch to commit suicide with a bomb in his pocket whilst greeting Hitler, thus killing him.
The inspection was due on the 16/11 but on the previous night the uniforms were destroyed by an air aid, the first of Bomber Harris' carpet bombing raids on Berlin.
He volunteered again for the new inspection in February 1944, but In January was wounded and lost a leg and was forced to cancel. He survived the war.

 

[LostLegend]