MetaChat - Heh, this list amuses me.

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11 October 2008

Heh, this list amuses me. And I tried to lick my elbow

post by: moonshine at: 13:33 | 14 comments

A bunch of those are urban myths, especially the language ones (so-called "folk etymologies").
Rule of thumb
Origin of "golf"
Green Coke?

The Cable Cars aren't a National Monument, they're a designated National Historic Landmark, and there are sailing vessels and short rail lines also designated, so it isn't "the only mobile" one.

etc.

posted by stilicho 11 October | 13:50

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

This is pretty much a function of base-10. If you write out the multiplication longhand (like you used to do for math class), the reason why this is true becomes trivially obvious. You can do the same thing in just about any base. For example, in base-5, 1111 × 1111 = 1234321.

posted by Eideteker 11 October | 14:55

(If you don't believe me, try the same thing in a few other bases.)

posted by Eideteker 11 October | 14:56

Interesting, but i knew most of them and--
Ty, stilicho, for making the corrections (i had heard them before and didn't believe them true (besides the green coke, new to me), except the cable car one, but that seems merely sloppy.))

Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the U.S. Treasury.

i should hope so.
Now i question almost every one i don't know.

posted by ethylene 11 October | 15:01

Alas, my elbow remains unlicked. Although, not by much.

posted by MonkeyButter 11 October | 16:06

Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter ‘A’?
A. One thousand

Rubbish.
One hundred and one.

posted by essexjan 11 October | 16:30

Monkeybutter, i thought about it, too.
Looked at it, twisted it around, fought the urge.
Now i'm thinking about it again.

Ok, fighting the urge to attempt it.
i've had quite enough failed attempts for one day.

posted by ethylene 11 October | 17:54

Bah. These are mostly urban myths, as has been pointed out.

The info about about the kings on a deck of cards is bupkis; the modern deck evolved from Chinese and Indian cards. Horse stance to indicate cause of death? Pah. The first cited instance of "sleep tight" is apparently in 1866. Honeymoon?

Sorry to be a scrooge, I'm in a bad mood.

posted by Specklet 11 October | 18:02

Maybe it's cranky day. i certainly am.

posted by ethylene 11 October | 18:05

I bet Gene Simmons can lick his elbow.

posted by treepour 12 October | 01:42

I tried to lick my elbow

You can, however, lick your own nipple. Sometimes.

I discovered this on a visit to New Orleans.

I think I'll go to bed now.

posted by BoringPostcards 12 October | 02:15

I actually found a blog devoted mainly to refutations of this list and other e-mails. (It's defunct.) He debunks the Monopoly money claim (five times less) and the playing cards claim (the French deck did this but the names were assigned after adoption of the cards from the Orient).

posted by stilicho 12 October | 14:58

Rats. Thanks for all the debunking. I'd rather know the truth, even if it's rather less fun.

posted by moonshine 12 October | 16:11

Q. What is the only food that doesn’t spoil?
A. Honey

Pretty positive this one is true.

Damn well was not gonna let something from a chain letter make me lick my elbow.

posted by ethylene 12 October | 16:39

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