Thursday, March 01, 2007

Things I didn't know: No 5

In antiquity silent reading was uncommon, not unknown. (The reference here is to my reading of Henry Chadwick's translation of Augustine's Confessions, ft 5, p93, commenting on Augustine's observation that Ambrose would sit and read in silence.)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What, more things that the Shed doesn't know! Sit back and be educated:

1. John Lennon's first girlfriend was named Thelma Pickles. I wonder why she didn't feature on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band -"Thelma had marsmallow thighs and kailidoscope eyes / saw the truth behind his lies...took LSD in her tea"

2. Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots.

3. Of the three members of ZZ Top, the only one who doesn't have a beard is the one whose name is 'Beard'.

4. The airplane in which Buddy Holly died was the "American Pie." (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.)

5. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. My deepest sympathy to any person of the same name - especially if he's a guy.

6. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. (Don't try this at home - it might be dangerous!)

7. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. Therefore if you arrange to go out on a date with one and it forgets to turn up, don't let it affect your self esteem.

8. Every person has a unique tongue print. So if you ever murder someone, under no circumstances lick the furniture prior to leaving the scene of the crime.

9. Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.

10. On average, 100 people choke to death on ball-point pens every year.