The truth is sometimes strange and at other times ridiculous. These factoids are a little of both. They’re good for making a few bucks at bar bets on trivia night.

• The term ” soap opera” comes from the fact that shows used to work advertisements for soap powder into the plot lines.

• A champagne cork flying out of a bottle can travel as fast as 100 miles per hour.

• People who fear the number 666 suffer from hexakaosioihexekontahexaphobia.

• On November 21, 1980, 83 million Americans tuned in to watch the finale of the Dallas cliffhanger “Who Shot J.R.?” A few weeks earlier, 85.1 million Americans voted in the Reagan-Carter presidential election.

• During a 60-year life span, an average tree will produce nearly 2 tons of leaves to be raked.

• Dancing the tango was considered a sin in Paris during the early 1900s.

• Those roped off areas where boxing matches take place actually used to be round, hence the term “boxing ring”.

• Pope John XXI (1276-01277) had been in office less than a year before the ceiling on a new wing of his palace collapsed on him while he slept. He died six days later.

• Nearly 4% of American women claim that they never wear underwear.

• The Pentagon goes through more than 600 rolls of toilet paper every day.

TOO WEIRD TO BELIEVE? . . . WELL, BELIVE IT ANYWAY

Quote of the Day

“I have as much authority as the Pope. I just

don’t have as many people who believe it.”

George Carlin