Useless Miscellaneous Facts
Turning a clock's hands counterclockwise while setting it is not necessarily harmful. It is only damaging when the time piece contains a chiming mechanism.
Rubber is one of the ingredients of bubble gum. It is the substance that allows the chewer to blow a bubble.
Of all the world's peoples, the only one known not to use fire are the Andaman islanders and the Pygmies.
The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words. More than 2 billion pencils are manufactured each year in the United States. If these were laid end to end they would circle the world nine times.
The three balls traditionally displayed above pawnshops were inspired by Santa Clause. St. Nicholas, on whom the legend of Santa Claus is based, is said to have turned three brass balls into three bags of gold in order to save the daughters of poor but honest man from earning their living in dubious ways. Since that time St. Nicholas has been patron saint of pawnbrokers as well as of helpless virgins.
The average housewife walks 10 miles a day around the house doing chores. She walks 4 miles and spends 25 hours a year making beds.
Galileo was the first man to suggest using a pendulum to run a clock.
Christendom did not begin to date its history from the birth of Christ until 500 years after his death. The system was introduced in 550 by Dionysius Exigus, a monk in Rome.