Did pirates really make captives “walk the plank?”

To continue with the theme of Halloween costumes, I have found a costume source that might be of some enjoyment.

The shop I discovered offers “themed” ideas based in the last few decades of the 20th century. Out of curiosity, I checked out the 1970s, since that was when I graduated from high school.

The “costumes” would bring guffaws from today’s teens … that was what we were actually wearing back then!

Hairstyles that were “mod” or “poofy” for men … thick, wide sideburns … mustaches … and the disco styles … my eyes rolled back into my head as I realized I had actually worn clothes like that to school.

Maybe I should scope some of the other decades out instead. In the meantime, you should scope out some of this week’s trivia!

Did you know …

… the first time a cow flew in an airplane was in 1930? On February 17 of that year, a cow was placed aboard an airplane, and the milk that was produced by the cow in flight was put into containers and parachuted over the city of St. Louis, Missouri. (Now that’s udder-ly ridiculous.)

… the world’s oldest profession isn’t what you think it is? For a long time, prostitution has been referred to that way. But anthropologists say that the world’s real oldest profession is toolmaker. Humans and their ancestors have been crafting tools for 2.6 million years.

… fingerprints serve a function? I mean besides identification. The fingertip ridges provide traction for the fingers to be able to grasp things. (Like something you’d leave a fingerprint on, perhaps.)

… termites work 24 hours a day? They also do not sleep. (See what “all work and no play” leads to? Early death.)

… decaffeinated coffee is not totally caffeine-free? Even after the complete process, about 2% of the caffeine still remains in the coffee. (The devil’s in the details, it seems.)

… several species of frogs are able to be frozen solid, thawed, and survive? (The frogs don’t necessarily enjoy the process, however. I wouldn’t.)

… the historic home of our third president concealed a secret? Monticello, the Virginia home of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), has a dome over part of its roof. The dome conceals a billiards room. The room had to be kept secret because, in Jefferson’s day, the game of billiards was illegal in Virginia.

… no evidence exists that pirates actually made people “walk the plank?” Featured in pirate lore, the image of a swashbuckling privateer prodding a prisoner out on the plank at the point of a sword never actually happened. Walking the plank, it seems, was actually made up by Hollywood because what pirates really did was too violent for movies. The only “confession” of a person at sea using this method of execution was made in 1769, when a mutineer told his chaplain in prison that he’d done so. The fabricated confession had nothing to do with pirates anyway. It is generally believed that pirates would rather have used the “heave-ho” method of execution – grabbing the victim and throwing him overboard. (Whether you walked the plank or were thrown overboard, you got the “point” either way.)

… a bizarre equestrian contest takes place in Iceland? Called the Beer Tölt, the game involves people carrying mugs of beer while riding horses, and trying very hard not to spill any. At the end of the game, the rider who spills the least gets to drink the most. A version exists for young riders in which root beer is the preferred beverage. The word tölt is an Icelandic term for a fluid, steady gait found in horses in that country. (Sounds like something one could get a rein on.)

… nine percent of Americans skip breakfast daily? (Most people make up for it at lunch, though.)

… a popular bottled water brand had its advertising slogan turned against it? In 2006, the popular brand Fiji Water™ ran an ad stating, “The label says Fiji because it’s not bottled in Cleveland.” The city fathers of Cleveland, Ohio, took offense, and ran some tests. As it turns out, Cleveland’s tap water was of a higher quality than the bottled Fiji Water. (At least something good can be said for Cleveland!)

… the state of Michigan hosts an annual competition involving spitting cherry pits? The event is held at the Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan, and the competition – as you’ve probably already guessed – is to see who can spit a cherry pit the farthest. (This competition is really the pits.)

… in the city of Morrisville, Pennsylvania, a woman cannot legally wear cosmetics without a permit? (Who issues the permit? That’s what I’d like to know.)

… science sometimes takes the fun out of things? Many examples exist, but this one bothers me the most: Scientists in Norway have developed a hypothesis concerning why Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer has a very shiny red nose. The conclusion must be a parasitic infection of his respiratory system. (Killjoys.)

… you may be a sufferer of akousticophobia? It’s the fear of noises. (Hey, did you hear that?)

… a platypus can eat its weight in worms every day? (That diet will never worm its way into my world, I can assure you.)

… girls have more taste buds than boys? (Girls have more taste than boys do, as well.)

… porpoises swim slowly in circles while they sleep? (They do it on porpoise, too.)

Now … you know!

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