Buckingham Palace has over 600 rooms.

Hawaii was once called the Sandwich Islands

Americans eat an average of 35,000 tons of pasta a year.

The country with the greatest per capita consumption of coffee in the world is Finland. (If Washington ever were to secede from the US, though...)

Did you know?

Thanks to crushing taxes imposed on a postwar recessive economy, a Massachusetts veteran named Daniel Shays organized a rebellion in the central and western portions of the state. The coastal elite organized a private militia to defeat them, and the last remnants were defeated in 1787.

Yes, I did.

Vive le Galt!

The Pornocracy is an actual period in the history of the Papacy.

Most of us call it the Dark ages.

Saeculum obscurum (Latin: the dark age) is a name given to a period in the history of the Papacy during the first half of the 10th century, beginning with the installation of Pope Sergius III in 904 and lasting for sixty years until the death of Pope John XII in 964.
During this period, the Popes were influenced strongly by a powerful and corrupt aristocratic family, the Theophylacti, and their relatives. The family originated from Theophylactus, who held positions of increased importance in the Roman nobility such as Judex, vestararius, gloriosissimus dux, consul and senator, and magister militum. His wife Theodora and daughters, Theodora and Marozia held a great influence over the papal selection and religious affairs in Rome through conspiracies, affairs, and marriages.

Marozia became the concubine of Pope Sergius III when she was 15 and later took other lovers and husbands. She ensured that her son John was seated as Pope John XI according to Antapodosis sive Res per Europam gestae (958–62), by Liutprand of Cremona (c. 920–72). Liutprand affirms that Marozia arranged the murder of her former lover Pope John X (who had originally been nominated for office by Theodora) through her then husband Guy of Tuscany possibly to secure the elevation of her current favourite as Pope Leo VI. There is no record substantiating that Pope John X had definitely died before Leo VI was elected since John X was already imprisoned by Marozia and was out of public view.
Theodora and Marozia undoubtedly held great sway over the Popes during this time.[citation needed] In particular, as political rulers of Rome they had effective control over the election of new Popes. Much that is alleged about the saeculum obscurum comes from the histories of Liutprand, bishop of Cremona. Liutprand took part in the Assembly of Bishops which deposed Pope John XII and was a political enemy of the Roman aristocracy and its control over Papal elections. He is described by the Catholic Encyclopedia as "ever a strong partisan and frequently unfair towards his adversaries."

The period was first identified and named by the Italian Cardinal and ecclesiastical historian Caesar Baronius in his Annales Ecclesiastici in the sixteenth century. Baronius' primary source for his history of this period was Liutprand of Cremona. Other scholars have dated the period more broadly or narrowly, and other terms, such as the Pornocracy (German: Pornokratie, from Greek pornokratiā, "prostitute rule") and the Rule of the Harlots (German: Hurenregiment), were coined by Protestant German theologians in the nineteenth century.

Historian Will Durant refers to the period from 867 to 1049 as the "nadir of the papacy"

Saint Caleth wrote:

The Pornocracy is an actual period in the history of the Papacy.

Most of us call it the Dark ages.

The Dark Ages encompasses much more though. Also Pornocracy is way catchier.

Only to Protestant German theologians. :P

Which is it: Pornocracy or Pronocracy? 'Cuz I can't get excited about the latter.

Only to Protestant German theologians. :P

I am none of those three things, but I'm going to keep calling it that anyway.

C'mon, it's the period when the pope who got killed by his mistress' husband reigned. Give the Germans some credit; I can't think of a better name.

I want to live under the Rule of the Harlots.

Most of us call it the Dark ages.

For precision's sake: The Dark Age you are refering to is different from the Dark Age most people talk about. The Pornocracy is best defined as "The Dark Age of Papacy", as the generally used "Dark Ages" refers to the period roughly between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the start of the Renaissance, and originated as a literary criticism during the Late Middle Ages, then used to exemplify the Classisists view of the Renaissance as a cultural rebirth.

Note should be made that the Medieval Age and the Dark age, while mostly overlapping, are not exactly the same, as the Renaissance is considered to have started during the Late Middle Ages.

Really, though, the Dark Ages were not as dark as people think. It is mostly Classisist propaganda.

Did you know?

Thanks partly to their support of the Stuart line during the Jacobite Risings, and partly to the Enclosure agricultural revolution taking place in sheep husbandry, the Gaelic Highlands Scots were forced to emigrate from their traditional mountain clan territories.

Many decided to emigrate to North America. There were two distinct branches of the scotsmen: Catholic and Protestant (specifically Presbyterian). The Catholic Scots headed for the Canadian territories, eventually settling in Nova Scotia (where Gaelic is still spoken in remote areas). The Presbyterians headed for the Carolina Territories, where they formed the embryonic Appalachian culture.

The period was first identified and named by the Italian Cardinal and ecclesiastical historian Caesar Baronius in his Annales Ecclesiastici in the sixteenth century. Baronius' primary source for his history of this period was Liutprand of Cremona. Other scholars have dated the period more broadly or narrowly, and other terms, such as the Pornocracy (German: Pornokratie, from Greek pornokratiā, "prostitute rule") and the Rule of the Harlots (German: Hurenregiment), were coined by Protestant German theologians in the nineteenth century.

Historian Will Durant refers to the period from 867 to 1049 as the "nadir of the papacy"

I dunno. Rodrigo Borgia would like to take a shot at that title.

{adds Rodrigo Borgia to the identities/facets list of The Sheen of a Thousand Names/The Eternal Winner}

Crimson Jester wrote:

The period was first identified and named by the Italian Cardinal and ecclesiastical historian Caesar Baronius in his Annales Ecclesiastici in the sixteenth century. Baronius' primary source for his history of this period was Liutprand of Cremona. Other scholars have dated the period more broadly or narrowly, and other terms, such as the Pornocracy (German: Pornokratie, from Greek pornokratiā, "prostitute rule") and the Rule of the Harlots (German: Hurenregiment), were coined by Protestant German theologians in the nineteenth century.

Historian Will Durant refers to the period from 867 to 1049 as the "nadir of the papacy"

I dunno. Rodrigo Borgia would like to take a shot at that title.

I think Alexander VI qualified for a great many titles. Few if any positive.

McDonald's in Hawaii serve pineapple.

Peru has more pyramids than Egypt.

Christmas trees originated from Germany.

More people typically die from falling coconuts then from shark attacks each year.

More people typically die from falling coconuts then from shark attacks each year.

Heck, more people die from about ANYTHING than shark attacks, LOL. I think it's the thought of some big fish eating you that squicks people out. I know it does me (I dislike swimming in the ocean).

Did you know?

Cape Cod experienced its first shark attack in 75 years this summer? Bitten man survived, but it send a lot of tourists inland.

Scientists theorize that Great White sharks have been increasing their numbers off the Cape Cod coast because of a huge increase in the seal population. This video was taken just two weeks ago off Monomoy Island and shows a white shark feeding (NSF squeamish or seal lovers)

Although Elmo from Sesame Street has actually been in use since the 1970s, the Elmo known today did not come into existence until 1984.

Elmo is the only non-human or puppet ever to testify before the U.S. Congress.

Elmo is the only non-human or puppet ever to testify before the U.S. Congress that we know of.

FIFY

Rowlf the Dog is considered one of the first muppets, and was constructed for use in Purina Dog Chow commercials. He eventually rose to popularity on The Jimmy Dean Show.

Aberzombie wrote:

Elmo is the only non-human or puppet ever to testify before the U.S. Congress that we know of.

FIFY

Good point! I'm fairly certain that Colbert dude is actually a robotic suit for very tiny alien invaders.....

Unix code exists that translates English in Swedish Chef Speak.

Patrick Curtin wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Elmo is the only non-human or puppet ever to testify before the U.S. Congress that we know of.

FIFY

Good point! I'm fairly certain that Colbert dude is actually a robotic suit for very tiny alien invaders.....

>.>

QUIET! You FOOL!

Conspiracy Buff wrote:

Patrick Curtin wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

Elmo is the only non-human or puppet ever to testify before the U.S. Congress that we know of.

FIFY

Good point! I'm fairly certain that Colbert dude is actually a robotic suit for very tiny alien invaders.....

>.>

<.<

QUIET! You FOOL!

THERE ARE NO EXTRATERRESTRIAL INVADERS. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL OVERMIND. THERE IS NO DANGER. THERE IS ONLY SAFETY WITHIN THE COLLECTIVE.

CARRY ON YOUR STANDARD DAILY PROTOCOLS, CITIZENS. GLORY TO THE MANY.

Oh, good. I can go back to my standard daily protocols.

Swedes are in fact not aliens.

Swedes are in fact not aliens.

Exactly. The aliens are the Dutch. Get your facts straight, people.

Swedes are in fact not aliens.

As far as they tell us.

Never trust an alien who says he's not an alien.

So anyone who says he is not an alien clearly is an alien.

One of English footballer Michael Owen's achilles tendons comes from a dead man.

So anyone who says he is not an alien clearly is an alien.

I'M NOT AN ALIEN!!!

=D

So anyone who says he is not an alien clearly is an alien.

I am not a Billionaire genious playboy philanthropist.

Celestial Healer wrote:

So anyone who says he is not an alien clearly is an alien.

I am not a Billionaire genious playboy philanthropist.

That doesn't rule out alienhood.

I'm onto you, sparky.

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:

Celestial Healer wrote:

So anyone who says he is not an alien clearly is an alien.

I am not a Billionaire genious playboy philanthropist.

That doesn't rule out alienhood.

I'm onto you, sparky.

I was built in Taiwan by an Brazillian company that is actually owned by a Swiss distributor with strong ties to an american company.

Celestial Healer wrote:

So anyone who says he is not an alien clearly is an alien.

I am not a Billionaire genious playboy philanthropist.

Nope. Only works for aliens. You may or may not be an alien, but I believe you that you are not a billionaire genius playboy philanthropist. Especially since most geniuses know how to spell genius. ;)

Tiny Coffee Golem wrote:

Celestial Healer wrote:

So anyone who says he is not an alien clearly is an alien.

I am not a Billionaire genious playboy philanthropist.

Nope. Only works for aliens. You may or may not be an alien, but I believe you that you are not a billionaire genius playboy philanthropist. Especially since most geniuses know how to spell genius. ;)

Einstein failed math. Just saying, Grammar Nazi.

Edit: Besides, if I am flawed you can blame my programmer. Because surely it can't be my fault. ;-)

Brian Dennehy has guest starred as an Irish-descended cop on every quality crime-show produced in America since the early 90's.

Brian Dennehy has guest starred as an Irish-descended cop on every quality crime-show produced in America since the early 90's.

Except Monk. ;)

Poor fact checker wrote:

Brian Dennehy has guest starred as an Irish-descended cop on every quality crime-show produced in America since the early 90's.

Except Monk. ;)

He did specify every "quality" crime show. It's like a No True Scotsman deal, only Irish.

It is illegal in Sweeden to repaint a house without a painting license and the government’s permission.

Nonotot totrorue

Swedes are required to keep three chickens on their property at all times.

Moose makes up 45% of the Sweedish diet, followed by Lutfisk (20%)

Swedes have an odd custom of flashing their genitals in a friendly greeting to strangers.

While not a fan of lutfisk, Sweden's sounding more and more interesting.