Betcha didn't know..

[blknight3]

Interesting History facts

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image
was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington
showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while
others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were
not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs
were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them
would cost the buyer more. Hence the __expression, 'Okay, but it'll
cost you an arm and a leg.'
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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice
a year (May and October)! Women kept their hair covered, while men
shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men
could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so
to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the
shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and
fluffy, hence the term 'big wig.' Today we often use the term 'here
comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and
wealthy.
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In the late 1700s, many houses consisted of a large room with
only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall,
and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the
chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a
guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair
during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in
charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man' Today
in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of
the Board.'
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Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result,
many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women
would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their
complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to
stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own bee's wax.'
Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term 'crack a
smile' In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would
melt . . therefore, the expression 'losing face.'
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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper
and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced'. . . wore a tightly tied
lace. **************************************************************
Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was
a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the
'Ace of Spades.' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51
cards instead.
Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were
thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full
deck.'
**************************************************************
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine
what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones,
TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns,
pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some ale' and listen to
people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were
dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip
there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring
to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'
**************************************************************
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and
quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the
customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and
remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,'
hence the term 'minding your 'P's and Q's.'

**************************************************************
One more: bet you didn't know this!
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many
freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon
balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However,
how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method
devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four
resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon
balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There
was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or
rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a
'Monkey' with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate were made of
iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the
rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.' Few landlubbers realize
that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.
Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass
indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come
right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to
freeze the balls off a brass monkey.' (All this time, you thought that
was an improper expression, didn't you.)
_________________
For every person with a spark of genius, there are a hundred with ignition trouble.

[tkboxer]

Good stuff. Funny how these terms seem to transcend time and most of us never know their origins. I didn't.
_________________
No matter how many times you try...you can't clone the dirt off your screen.

[sawtooth]

[Uinat]

Interesting...

[fatheralice]

some interesting stuff there

[daripper]

lol!!! loved the last one
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[drastija]

LOL
_________________
"Once you have flown, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward,
for there you have been, there you long to return."
Leonardo da Vinci

[sawtooth]

More spam?

[blknight3]

[daripper]