Hey Freak!

It's been a few weeks since I've learned anything, so I'm counting on you folks to give me some good ones. Here are a few things I know:

• I know that Arizona State is still alive in the Men's NIT after beating Southern Illinois in the second round. Go Devils!



• I know that ladybugs eat, among other things, aphids. I know this after wondering for months why I see bags of ladybugs for sale at The Home Depot. I finally looked it up.



• I know that the Uni-ball pen (the kind that's kinda wide with a squishy grip) is endorsed by Secure Document Expert Frank W. Abagnale, Jr. Mr. Abagnale is credited with inventing and implementing the watermarking system (you know, that little "lock") you see on checks that's now an industry standard.
  
  He's probably better known as "the guy who Leonardo DiCaprio played in Catch Me If You Can."



• Speaking of people who've had movies made about them... I know that Adrian Cronauer (of "Good Morning, Vietnam" fame) was in the movie "Street Fighter" (or, at least he's credited as such). What the hell?
  
  In case you're wondering, yes, I watched "Street Fighter." Last night. Well, the UCLA/Miss. Valley St. game was boring as hell. Plus, I wanted to see just how bad the movie was. Trust me when I tell you - it was bad. But I'll admit, I did laugh pretty hard once or twice. "Quick! Change the channel!" Yeah, that was pretty funny.



• I know that I love stories like this: Dolphin rescues stranded whales. Oddly enough, the dolphin was named "Lassie."
  
  OK, I made that last part up. His name is really "Moko." Well, that's what the residents call him.



• And finally... I know it didn't happen on this exact date, but the Good Friday earthquake of 1964 (March 27) in Alaska was the largest in North American (recorded) history. It had an (adjusted) magnitude of 9.2 on the Richter Scale, and the shaking lasted for over four minutes.

So. What do you know?

OK people, it's time to unload all of the trivia that you know. Or, at least some of it. A smidgen.

Like you, I too sometimes find it difficult to think of something I know right off the top of my head. But there's always something, so don't give up on that whole "thinking" or "trying to remember" thing. Because eventually, it'll happen, and you'll come up with little gems like...

I know that the FedEx logo contains a negative space arrow that I can't help but look at (since I know that it's there). The "arrow" is between the E and x.

I know that blue whales are the largest creatures that inhabit the earth, and that whale sharks are the world's largest fish. And I know that Robert Wadlow is the tallest man in recorded history (he was 8'11"). And I know that he wore glasses.

I know that Eddie Van Halen played the guitar solo in Michael Jackson's "Beat it," and that it's Sting who wants his MTV in Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing."

I know that Ron Jeremy has a Masters in Special Education. No, seriously.

I know that there's a guy named Eddie Paskey who appeared on more episodes of (the original) "Star Trek" than many of the show's stars. More than either Sulu or Chekov, for certain. He always played "the background guy." You know, the random officer/security/hall passer by. He was like an extra extraordinaire. His (last) name on the show was Lesley, and he's actually pretty easy to spot if you're looking for him.

I know that the largest earthquake in North America happened on Good Friday (March 27), 1964 in AK, between Valdez and Anchorage. It was a magnitude 9.2 on the Richter Scale (adjusted), and lasted for over four minutes. Now, anybody who's been in an earthquake will tell you, it's kinda scary when you feel that first shake, because you're waiting to see if it's a "real" quake or a random shake. But in the back of your head, you're always bracing for a big one. Can you imagine shaking for over four minutes straight? Damn, that'd scare the shit out of anyone.

So, people... what do you know?

OK, so last week, I made a post asking people what do you know?. And I learned some stuff. So now, I want to know more. Hell, I want to make this a weekly thing. Yeah, I'm sure some people will get bored of it, but not me. Hey, who doesn't like to trade trivia?

So, what do I know?

I know that Alaska is by far the largest state in the US (followed by TX, CA, MT, and AZ). I know that Indianapolis is the only state capitol whose name contains the state in which it resides (Indiana). I know that, for a few years, the opening theme for the old sitcom "Three's Company" was filmed at the San Diego Zoo. And that, consequently, the theme for Three's Company always pops into my head when we goto the zoo.

Come and knock on our door... take a step that is new...

Oh. Sorry about that... anyway...

So, I know that the Komodo Dragon is the world's largest lizard. I know that the platypus is the world's only poisonous mammal. I know that polar bear skin is actually black. And I know that when pandas are born in zoos, it's customary not to name them until they're 100 days old.

So, people... what do you know?

This is one of my favorite questions.

"What do you know?"

You see, I like to know stuff. I'm a trivia buff. I'm a knowledge buff.

For instance... I know that the largest (and loudest) volcanic eruption in recorded history occurred in 1883 on the island formerly known as Krakatoa. I know that it takes roughly 7 to 8 minutes for light to travel from the sun to the Earth. I know that the first interracial kiss on American TV happened on an episode of Star Trek. I know that the highest concentration of Polish people outside of Warsaw is in... Chicago, IL. I know that "baby on board" signs aren't for you to advertise to the general public that you've got a baby and that everyone needs to drive safer - they're so that, if you're in a car accident, rescue workers will know to look for a baby in the wreckage.

See? I know a few things. Random things.

What I find funny is... when you ask people that. What do you know? It's funny to hear what random things first pop into their heads. Whether they're facts (the humuhumunukunukuapua'a is also known as the Picasso Triggerfish) or opinions (chocolate cures everything), it's funny what comes off the tops of people's heads.

Or. Sometimes. People just don't know what you're talking about. "What do you mean, 'what do I know?' Is this a trick question?" No. It's just a chance to prove that you know something. It's a chance to be proud that you know something. It's just fun to know things, yanno?

So.

What do you know? Go on. Tell me.