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Happy Reading from Chewed News!

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#912)
 
A FRUIT-OF-THE-LOOM HEAD-COVER?
 
Mableton Fruit of The Loom

      Mableton, Georgia

 

Preston Womack was arrested in Mableton, Georgia, for violating a local restaurant's dress code. Police Sergeant M. Toler explained Mr. Womack's attire, "Other than wearing his jockey shorts on his head, and his socks on his hands (and nothing else but a smile), he was well behaved."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#913)
 
IT PUTS BACK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WASHING JUST REMOVED
 
Fabric Softeners

 

"Fabric softeners," whether used during the washing or drying cycles, were never designed to "soften" anything. The ingredient that causes the fiber to feel soft is a lubricant commonly known by the name grease.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#914)
 
CHICKEN? HE SHOULD'VE USED KFC'S DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW
 
Francis Bacon

         Francis Bacon

Riding in his carriage, one very cold day in March of 1626, English philosopher, scientist and statesman Francis Bacon (1561-1626) asked his driver to stop at a house, where he bought a chicken. Next, he stuffed the bird with snow, to compare its putrefaction time with another bird he'd kept at room temperature. And, this experiment produced some unexpected results. Bacon, exposed to the snow and cold weather, caught pneumonia and soon died.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, January 04, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#915)
 
HISTORY DEPENDS ON WHO WRITES IT
 
Orville Wright Wilbur Wright Wright Glider

             Orville Wright                          Wilbur Wright                       The Wright Glider

 

Gustave Whitehead

                                    Gustave Whitehead and photo of his aircraft - Whitehead#21

 

Clement Ader Eole Patent

        Clement Ader and his patent (Click on Picture to Enlarge Drawing)

 

Wilbur Wright, brother of Orville Wright, must have been having a bad day in 1901 when he said, "Man will not fly for 50 years." When Wilbur made that statement, Gustave Whitehead had already flown a well documented half mile on August 14th of that year in Fairfield, Connecticut. And,......... Frenchman Clement Ader, had already "flown" at least a short distance in 1890.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#916)
 
FLEAS CAN FLEE FANTASTICALLY FAR
 
Flea images and an American Football Field 53 Story Heritage Plaza Building in Houston Texas Flea diagram

 Flea images and an             53 Story Heritage Plaza
 American Football Field     Building in Houston, Texas
(Click on Picture to Enlarge Drawing)

 

Champion jumpers of the bug world are common dog fleas (Ctenocephalides canis), which can jump 80 times their height and 150 times their length. If humans could do the same, they'd have no problem jumping over a 50 story building, or leaping the length of 3 American football fields.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#917)
 
FAME OFTEN DESTROYS ITS SOURCE
 
Karma Ram (Bhel, Bheel or Bhil)

     Karma Ram Bheel

 

 

     "I ain't got no-body - Mills Brothers on YouTube"

 

Karma Ram (Bhel, Bheel or Bhil), from the Sindhi tribe, was listed in the 1988 Guinness Book of World Records, as having the world's second longest mustache, with a length of 2.3876 meters (7’10”). In 1989, however, his mustache was stolen, along with his head, after it was amputated from his body. (His head should've sung "I ain't got no-body.")

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, January 07, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#918)
 
THIS MIGHT SUM-UP HOW WE ALL FEEL?
 
Quotable Bertrand Russell Book Cover

 

The English philosopher and mathematical wizard, Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), was also a master at bluntness. When asked if he was willing to die for his beliefs, he replied, "Of course not. After all, I may be wrong."



 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#919)
 
ISN'T IT ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE THIS IS TRUE?
 
tatoo Missing Teeth and Bath Tub

 

Hospital emergency room doctors and nurses are exposed to so much pain and death, they often "cope" by making up silly names and speculating on their patient's personal habits. One formula for producing laughter contained this axiom: A patient's number of tattooes, times their number of missing teeth, equals the number of days since they've had a bath.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#920)
 
BET HE WAS FLUSHED WITH PRIDE OVER THIS ANSWER
 
William Whewell Queen Victoria Bridge on the River Cam

       William Whewell                   Queen Victoria            Bridge on the River Cam

 

In 1859, English polymath, scientist, Anglican priest, philosopher, theologian, Master of Trinity College, William Whewell (1794-1866), escorted Queen Victoria over a bridge on the River Cam, which at the time was still being used as an open sewer. When Her Majesty asked what the pieces of paper floating on the water's surface meant, Whewell, with his "suave," perfect English, explained, "Those, Madam, carry notices that the river is not good for swimming."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#921)
 
PICTURE THIS TECHNIQUE WITH BASKETBALL
 
Swimming

 

A swim meet was won by Army over the University of Pennsylvania in 1983, even though the two teams were never in the same swimming pool together, or even the same state. A blizzard prevented travel, so each college team swam in its own pool, while officials stayed in communication by phone, comparing times after each heat.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, January 11, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#922)
 
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO INTEGRITY IN SPORTS, ANYWAY?
 
Stan Musial

           Stan Musial

With ball players making millions, even during a bad season, compare the standards of baseball Hall-of-Famer Stan "The Man" Musial back in 1960. Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, he received a record salary of $100,000 that year. However, his "numbers" were down, so he demanded, and got, a pay-cut of $20,000.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#923)
 
EVEN "MY PLACE OR YOURS?" CONTAINS FOUR WORDS
 
Coolidge Dorothy Parker

  John Calvin Coolidge             Dorothy Parker

 

John Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th President of the United States (1923-9), and a man of few words, was nicknamed "Silent Cal." A dinner guest (Dorothy Parker), seated next to him, once said "Mr. Coolidge, I've made a bet against a fellow who said it was impossible to get more than two words out of you." He smiled slowly and said, "You Lose." (Upon learning that Coolidge had died, Parker remarked, "How can they tell?")

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#924)
 
HE SHOULD'VE LEARNED GOLF WHILE IN THAT "WHITE-COLLAR" JAIL
 
Spiro Theodore Agnew

 Spiro Theodore Agnew

Spiro Theodore Agnew (1918-1996), the 39th Vice President of the United States (1969-1973), serving under Richard Nixon, played in the Pro-Am portion of the Bob Hope Desert Classic golf tournament in 1971. When his first two shots injured 3 spectators, he put his clubs away and joined the audience.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, January 14, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#925)
 
BOTH MEN WERE WELL QUALIFIED FOR THE TITLE
 
Elvis Costello 15 June 2005 Oswald Mosley Lee Harvey Oswald

            Elvis Costello                   Oswald Mosley                 Lee Harvey Oswald

 

Elvis Costello's memorable song Less Than Zero was written about Oswald Mosley (1896-1980), founder of the British Union of Fascists. On Costello's first visit to the United States, he rewrote the lyrics to refer to Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963), motivated by a common misconception among American fans that Lee Harvey was the Oswald referred to in the original lyrics. (This rewrite is referred to as the "Dallas version".)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#926)
 
BET HER KIDS GOT CHEWED-OUT OVER THIS
 
2002 Mercedes-Benz S430

2002 Mercedes-Benz S430

Universal Press Syndicate reported in May 2002, that Ruth Shepard of Uniondale, New York, was extremely thrilled to find a new gold Mercedes-Benz sports sedan sitting in her driveway. Figuring it was a Mother's Day gift from her children, Ms. Shepard began driving it immediately, and persisted ....until she was arrested for not allowing the real owner to take possession. (After the dealership explained their error, she'd hidden "her" car from them.)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#927)
 
A DIFFERENT VERSION OF "NOT TONIGHT, I'VE GOT A HEADACHE"
 
Carl Friedrich Gauss

   Carl Friedrich Gauss

German mathematician and scientist Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) contributed greatly to many fields, including analysis, differential geometry, astronomy, geodesy, electrostatics and optics. One day in his lab, while deep in thought, he was told his wife was dying. His only comment was said to have been, "Tell her to wait a moment till I'm done."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#928)
 
BETTER GET THESE BOYS WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR BIRTHDAY
 
Scrooge

              Scrooge

One way Christmas was "celebrated" in 2004: Cameron Keith Miller, 19, of Alexandria, Louisiana, told his family all he wanted for Christmas was cash. But, when they gave him CDs, Cameron took a shotgun and tried to kill all 4 of his family members. Another celebration example, in that same year: Steven Murray, 21, of Feasterville, Pennsylvania, did not receive any Christmas presents, so he held a house warming by burning down his parents home. (Baa, humbug!)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, January 18, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#929)
 
HOPE HE DIDN'T OFFEND BORDEN'S ELSIE?
 
Anthony Lane Roland Joffe Scarlet Letter

           Anthony Lane                     Roland Joffe                         Scarlet Letter

 

Movie critic Anthony Lane's review of Roland Joffe's The Scarlet Letter: "Roland Joffe's film is, in the words of the opening credits, 'freely adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne', in the same way that methane is freely adapted from cows."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#930)
 
HAD HE WALKED HIS DOG, IT MIGHT HAVE WET ON HIS FRIENDS
 
George III

            George III

George III (1738-1820), King of Great Britain (1760-1820), had five nervous breakdowns between 1780 and 1820. During these demented periods, he'd often be found sitting in the woods, talking to the trees and clouds, and was thought dangerous enough to spend some years locked in padded rooms at Windsor Castle. Theory is, he may have suffered the blood disease porphyria, exacerbated by the arsenic-based powder in his wig. Or, perhaps, just as possible, the lead contained in the cooking vessels used to prepare his favorite meal, sauerkraut and lemonade, could have caused intense paranoia and hallucinations.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#931)
 
THE "UNTOUCHABLES"
 
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Dick Cheney Hunting Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

  Justice Antonin Scalia       Dick Cheney Hunting    Justice Clarence Thomas

 

In 2004, the Associated Press reported, while Vice President Dick Cheney's case linked to Haliburton was being scrutinized by the U.S. Supreme Court, he took Judge Antonin Scalia on a free duck hunt to Louisiana aboard Air Force II. (Scalia later recused himself from the case.) The Dallas Morning News reported Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had accepted many thousands of dollars and gifts from "friends." The Ethics in Government Act of 1989 prohibits all federal employees (including "His Honor") from accepting "anything of value" from a person, or group, with official business before that court. (If they do not have "official" business, there is no limit.)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, January 21, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#932)
 
NOT THOSE SLIMY SLUGS FOUND UNDER ROCKS, EITHER
 
Regnery
Bumper Sticker

 

Waiting on his Congressional confirmation to become head of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, as part of U.S. President Reagan's administration, Alfred Regnery personal car's bumper sticker read: HAVE YOU SLUGGED YOUR KID TODAY?

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#933)
 
A GENIUS WITH NO MONEY SKILLS
 
Nikola Tesla

         Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), inventor of the radio, the coil transformer, wireless communication, fluorescent lights and the alternating-current motor, owned about 700 patents, worth millions of dollars. Yet, with no business skills, he spent his last years feeding pigeons outside New York's Public Library, totally broke. Had he not signed away his AC royalties to George Westinghouse and patent rights to a wireless broadcasting system to J.P. Morgan, he could've died a millionaire many times over.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#934)
 
HISTORY, LIKE GOSSIP, LOSES ACCURACY WITH EACH TELLING
 
Gaius Julius Caesar
Caesar's bust on a Roman Minted Coin
Gaius Julius Caesar

 

There was never a Roman emperor named Julius Caesar. There was, however, Gaius Julius Caesar (101- 44 B.C.), who was classified as a dictator. The Roman Empire didn't come into existence until almost two decades after Caesar's death.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#935)
 
DON'T YOU JUST LOVE DUELING EGOS?
 
Katherine Hepburn and John Barrymore
Katherine Hepburn and John Barrymore

           Katherine Hepburn and John Barrymore

 

After the completion of filming A Bill of Divorcement (1932), the great actress Katherine Hepburn showed her dislike for her co-star, John Barrymore, by exclaiming "Thank God we're finished. I never want to act with you again." To this, Barrymore said, with a tone of confusion, "My dear girl, I wasn't aware that you had."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, January 25, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#936)
 
IF YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE, YOU AIN'T
 
Baron Berners Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson

     A Distant Prospect         Gerald Tyrwhitt-Wilson

 

Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson (1883-1950), 14th Baron Berners, grew tired one day of listening to an upper-middle-class couple telling of their problems getting seated in a restaurant. The wife of the couple said, "Finally we had to tell them who we were." To this, Lord Gerald questioned back, "And who were you?"

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#937)
 
AND MAY A VIRUS TURN HIS HANDS TO RAW FLESH
 
Among The Lowest Of The Dead Electric Chair

 

George Georgieff, was a Florida assistant attorney general in charge of the criminal division, in the early 1980's. During that time, he once told reporters he knew for sure the death penalty was a deterrent to murder. That he, himself, was once strangling his wife during a domestic dispute, when he stopped because, "I found myself choking her, and I saw her eyes start to pop out. and suddenly, off to the left or the right, I saw the electric chair."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#938)
 
WATCHING KFC COMMERCIALS COULD'VE MADE THEM MORE DEPRESSED
 
Roslin Institute and Chicken

          Roslin Institute

 

Farmers who market chicken eggs know laying hens can get depressed and angry jailed inside their small cages, which reduces their egg production greatly. Researchers at the Roslin Institute in Scotland, found a simple solution. They installed television. The chickens soon became addicted viewers, and egg production went back up.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, January 28, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#939)
 
PERHAPS A PERFECT ROBBERY IS POSSIBLE
 
Brinks

 

On January 17, 1950 between 6:55 P.M. and 7:30 P.M., the "great Brinks robbery" occurred. Stolen: $2.7 million. Amount of money recovered: $56,541, approximately 2% ($4,635 in Baltimore and $51,906 in Boston). What happened to the other 98%? (Rumor is that it is hidden in the hills just north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#940)
 
TO POSSESS A TALENT AND NOT SHARE IT ALLOWS IT TO DIE
 
Robert Penn Warren

   Robert Penn Warren

Robert Penn Warren (1905-1989) never wrote a line of poetry after becoming Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. Upon accepting his title in 1986, and a $35,000 salary, he commented, "I don't expect you'll hear me writing any poems to the greater glory of Ronald and Nancy Reagan."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#941)
 
FROM BLANKETS TO BABES
 
Heffner and Bunny Hefner 2006

       Hefner 1979              Playboy Bunny                             Hefner 2006

 

Hugh Hefner, creator of Playboy magazine and the Playboy Bunny, said he created the sexy bunny uniform because when he was a small boy his bed "blankie" was bordered with bunnies. Then, when his puppy got sick, Hefner wrapped the dying animal in his blanket. After the animal died, his mother buried the dog and burned that blanket. Hefner said, "That, when the blanket went up in flames, is when the bunny empire began."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#942)
 
INSTEAD OF A BITE OUT OF CRIME, HE BIT THE BAILIFF
 
Take A Bite Out Of Crime

 Or, It Will Take A Bite Out Of You!

The Dallas Morning News reported in January of 2005, that Lonnie B. Howard had been found guilty in a Fort Worth court of indecency with a child. Hearing this verdict, defendant Howard became upset, first throwing a pitcher of water across the courtroom, then lunging at the victim's family. When the bailiff intervened, Lonnie bit him in the face. For this act, Mr. Howard was charged with aggravated assault on an officer. (Howard's mother, was also arrested for taking part in the melee.)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, February 01, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#943)
 
ALCOHOL OPENED HER POTTY MOUTH
 
Charlotte Whitton

      Charlotte Whitton

Canadian feminist and mayor of Ottawa, Charlotte Whitton (1896-1975), was hosting a reception for the Lord Mayor of London. On her dress, Whitton wore a rose. On the Lord Mayor's chest rested his huge chain of offices. After a few drinks, Lord Mayor asked his hostess, "If I sniff your rose, will you blush?" To this she replied, "If I pull your chain, will you flush?"

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#944)
 
ONE FARMER DIDN'T SEE AN ELEPHANT AS A FERTILIZER MACHINE
 
P. T. Barnum No Plowing

          P. T. Barnum

 

To attract attention to his traveling circus, P.T. Barnum often hooked an elephant to a plow and turn furrows next to the big top (or even beside the train track). One farmer, seeing his land plowed, became so upset, he pushed a bill through the state legislature making it illegal for an elephant to plow cotton fields in North Carolina.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#945)
 
EVEN BEFORE : ALL EMPLOYEES MUST WASH HANDS
 
Fecal Matters in Early Modern Literature and Art

   Fecal Matters in Early
Modern Literature and Art

Brunswick Court Regulations of 1589 stated (and reported to be posted inside Windsor castle in 1590): "Let no one, whoever he may be, before, at, or after meals, early or late, foul the staircases, corridors, or closets with urine or other filth, but go to suitable, prescribed places for such relief." Back then, fancy dress balls inside castles (300 years before toilets), left scores of guests to "go" someplace. So, "after-the-party," servants were left to clean up human waste from almost any place in the castle, which was not occupied during the party, be it kitchen, pantry or library.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, February 04, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#946)
 
EVER WANTED TO DO THIS TO YOUR COMPUTER?
 
Macaca nigra Smashed PC

 Juvenile Macaca nigra

 

In 2003, researchers at Plymouth University in England decided to test the intelligence of Celebes Crested Macaque monkeys (Macaca nigra) by giving them a computer. And, the monkeys soon reacted much as some humans do, by going into a rage. Next they showed their disgust by defecating and urinating on the keyboard, all without producing a single word.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#947)
 
THEY SHOULD'VE RUN A TITLE SEARCH BEFORE PAYING
 
Peter Minuit

      Peter Minuit                                           Guilders                                          Type of beads used for payment

 

History tells of Peter Minuit buying Manhattan island, in 1626, for 60 guilders worth of beads and fish hooks. Not true. He made his deal and gave his booty to the Canarses people, who were only visiting. They lived in what today is Brooklyn. Minuit should have been dealing with the Weckquaesgeek tribe.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#948)
 
SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES STILL SUFFER THIS TYPE LEADERSHIP
 
Luwum_and_Amin

Amin with Archbishop
Janani Luwum (right).
(The archbishop was
later murdered.)

Idi Amin Dada (1924-2003) was dictator of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. During those eight years he deported the entire Asian population (over 70,000) and murdered as many as 500,000 people.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#949)
 
THE NAKED TRUTH WAS HE WAS NAKED, WELL ALMOST
 
Wooten

               Dean L. Wooten

Dean L. Wooten, 65, was fired from his job greeting customers at a Wal-Mart in Muscatine, Iowa, for showing them pictures of himself totally naked, except for a Wal-Mart sack and hat — and of telling customers that the sack was the company's new uniform. Wooten, who was later refused unemployment benefits, said he saw no harm in the photos.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, February 08, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#950)
 
THANKS TO TV, HIS FILMS ARE STILL SHOWN TODAY
 
Darryl F. Zanuck

      Darryl F. Zanuck

Darryl Francis Zanuck (1902-1979), actor, director, Hollywood producer, was not impressed seeing his first television transmission in 1946. In his opinion: "(Television) won't be able to hold on to any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#951)
 
HE THOUGHT HE'D FOUND THE "PURRRFECT" GOOD LUCK CHARM
 
Charles I Black Cat

Charles I, King of England,           Black Cat
from Three Angles

 

It was told that Charles I of England (1600-49) believed his good luck charm was his black house cat. As war ripped through his country, Charles had this cat guarded day-and-night, fearing the worst should it die. He could've been right? The day after the cat died, Charles was arrested and invited to his own execution.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#952)
 
SOUNDS LIKE TIME TO RE-ARRANGE THE BEDROOM FURNITURE
 
Alameda Fire Department

                 Her Heros

A 55-year-old woman was rescued by firemen in Alameda, California, five days after she accidentally fell from her bed and wedged her body between it and the dresser.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, February 11, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#953)
 
GUESS THEY COULD'VE OPENED ALL WINDOWS AND SHOUTED?
 
William Preece 1876BellsOriginalTelephone

 

Before the invention of the telephone, few office buildings were built higher than four stories because of the problem with inter-office communications. The other options were vacuum-tubes and office boys (to run the messages). When asked his thoughts on telephones in 1876, William Preece, Chief Engineer of British Post Offices, explained, "The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#954)
 
SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO PLAY DEAD THE SECOND TIME
 
Judith Barsi Judith Barsi

                     Judith Barsi (1978-1988)

 

In 1984, actress Judith Barsi (1978-1988) played the part of a girl murdered by her father, in the made-for-television movie Fatal Vision. In reality, four years later her father did kill her, before killing her mother and then himself.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#955)
 
TOO BAD THIS JUDGE COULDN'T BE BEATEN WHILE PREGNANT
 
Shawnna Hughes

          Shawnna Hughes

The Stranger, a Seattle, Washington, newspaper, reported in December 2004, that Shawnna Hughes of Spokane, had applied for a divorce from her husband, Carlos, who was under a restraining order and in jail for beating her. (Carlos was willing to sign divorce papers.) The divorce was granted, but four days later it was revoked by Superior Court Judge Paul Bastine when he learned Mrs. Hughes was pregnant. The judge forbid the divorce until the birth of the child, solely because the father of the unborn child was not proven.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#956)
 
A FOOT-IN-MOUTH, TWICE
 
Chretien and Bush shaking_hands Sept 9 2002

                 Is foot-in-mouth contagious?

 

Canadian Prime Minister (1993-2003), Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien once questioned, "Am I the only one around here with half a brain?" And, on another occasion, perhaps on a full stomach, "When you look at the future of agriculture, you realize that food will become very important in the years to come."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, February 15, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#957)
 
GOOD THING HE WASN'T PREACHING HELL AND DAMNATION
 
Pastor Jack Arnold

 

In January 2005, Pastor Jack Arnold was preaching from the pulpit at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oviedo, Florida, when he raised his voice and exclaimed, "... and when I go to heaven..." With that statement, the 69-year-old church leader fell dead of a heart attack.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#958)
 
A GREAT REPARTEE
 
Fourth Earl of Sandwich Statue of John Wilkes

Fourth Earl of Sandwich     Statue of John Wilkes

 

The common name for a piece of meat between two pieces of bread, was named after the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, who liked to play poker without stopping to eat. His name was John Montagu (1718-92). Here are lines from a noted conversation he had with John Wilkes, Lord Mayor of London. "Upon my soul, Wilkes, I don't know whether you'll die upon the gallows, or of syphilis." To which Wilkes, replied, "That will depend, M'Lord, on whether I embrace your principals or your mistress."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#959)
 
MORE COSTLY IN LIVES: THE 2004 TSUNAMI KILLED 230,000
 
1900 Storm Destruction following Hurricane Andrew Louisiana after Katrina

                    1900 Storm                      Destruction after Hurricane Andrew           Louisiana after Katrina

 

In 1900, a hurricane generating a 15-foot "storm surge" super-tide hit the island of Galveston, Texas, killing more than 6,000 people. In 1992, a 24-foot storm surge, created by hurricane Andrew, left behind $44.9 billion in damages, with most of the devastation in Florida. But, thanks to weather warnings, no one was killed. (Twenty-three others did die in other areas, as well as three in the Bahamas.) Hurricane Katrina, hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, in August of 2005, with a vengeance. It caused over $80 billion in damage and killed 1,836 people.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, February 18, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#960)
 
NOT SOMETHING ONE WOULD DO AS A HOBBY
 
What's the Number for 911 again?

 

From Leland Gregory's book What's the Number for 911 again? "Dispatcher: 911. Caller: Help! Help! Send the police! I been shot! Dispatcher: You said you've been shot? Caller: I been shot! Dispatcher: How many times were you shot? Caller: This be the first time!"

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#961)
 
BET THEY POURED THE LIQUOR IN LAST?
 
Aeroflot Logo

 

Before a landing attempt on May 9, 1994, over Arkhangelsk, Russia, Aeroflot Flight #2315 lost hydraulic fluid, making it impossible for the landing gear to unfold. In desperation, the crew poured every liquid they could find (water, wine, milk, juice and liquor) into the pumps chamber, allowing the plane to land safely.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#962)
 
THEY SHOULD CALL THESE FEMALE BIRDS "SLUTTY"
 
Northern Jacana

          Northern Jacana

The most promiscuous creature known is the female Jacana bird. This needy party girl copulates more times per hour than any other on earth. (Their mating system is called polyandry.) DNA studies have shown on average, out of four eggs in a nest, two or three will have different fathers.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#963)
 
ON THE DAY BEFORE HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY
 
Joe Kay

 

Joe Kay was a basketball star at his high school in Tucson, Arizona, as well as a top student, until February 6, 2004. That day, after he made the final basket to win the game for his school, something happened that changed Joe's entire life. Almost the instant Joe Kay made that basket, his fans swarmed the court and, in a frenzied attempt to raise their hero upon their shoulders, they dropped him instead. The 6' 6" player was knocked down and then trampled. Sadly, after being transported to a hospital, doctors found Kay had a torn carotid artery, which had caused a stroke, leaving him unable to speak, or move his right arm and right leg.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, February 22, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#964)
 
NO LAWYER WANTED THE TITLE "DEFENDER OF CHICKENS"
 
Ginny Conley

         Ginny Conley

The Dallas Morning News reported January 13, 2005, that charges would not be filed against workers who were accused of torturing chickens at the Pilgrims Pride Corp. plant in Moorefield, West Virginia. Ginny Conley, Wood County prosecutor, admitted struggling to try and find an attorney willing to prosecute. (Apparently, no one wanted to end-up with egg on their face?)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#965)
 
MAYBE THIS COULD WORK WITH COMPUTERS AND PEOPLE?
 
Holsteins

       "Green" Cows

Near the beginning of serious recycling, in 1980, at a California Energy Commission symposium in Fresno, California, a Holstein cow was milked by an automatic milking machine, powered by the methane gas produced from the animal's own manure. (Of course, some politicians have used this method their entire lives......)

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#966)
 
PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA SANDWICHES, AND 5,300 PILLS
 
Elvis with parents - 1945 Elvis at fairgrounds - 1945 Elvis in concert

  Elvis with parents      Elvis at fairgrounds         Elvis in concert

 

On October 3, 1945, at the Mississippi-Alabama fairgrounds, a grade school teacher entered one of her 10-year-old male students in a talent contest. He sang the song Old Shep and won $5. Between then and June 26, 1977 (his last concert) Elvis Aaron Presley changed music history. He died August 16th, 1977, after Dr. George Nichopoulos prescribed more than 5,300 pills for him during the last seven months of his life.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Monday, February 25, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#967)
 
FIRST, TO FULLY LIVE, ONE MUST ACCEPT DEATH
 
Daniel Auber

         Daniel Auber

French composer Daniel Auber (1782-1871), while attending a funeral at a late age, told one of his fellow mourners, "I believe this is the last time I'll take part as an amateur."

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#968)
 
YOUR FUNERAL SONG COULD BE "I FALL TO PIECES"
 
Da Vinci Vitruve toetag

 

Great way to save money one last time is to make an "anatomical gift" of your own body to a medical school. Upon death, they will gladly pick up your body, store it, freeze it, pick it, poke it, slice it into many pieces, then cremate those meaty chunks and broken bones, all totally free.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#969)
 
AMERICAN AIRLINES MOTTO: "WE KNOW WHY YOU FLY".... TO DIE?
 
Carine Desir

          Carine Desir

On February 25, 2008, The Dallas Morning News reported on Carine Desir, 44, an American Airlines' passenger on flight #896, from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to New York City. During that flight, Ms. Desir experienced difficulty breathing, and asked a flight attendant for oxygen. According to the news article, she was twice denied oxygen. Then, with two doctors and two nurses attending her, Ms. Desir died, perhaps because not only one, but both of the emergency oxygen tanks on board were empty.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#970)
 
MISERY IN AFRICA
 
Rwanda

              Rwanda

A news brief from Parade magazine in February 2008, told of genocide occurring in Congo where 45,000 people were dying weekly. And, in the last decade, disease and Second Congo War had taken the lives of some 5.4 million, making it the deadliest conflict since World War II.

 
Andrew J. Hewett

Copyright ©2006-2008 Andrew J. Hewett. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, or redistributed without the consent of the author.
Friday, February 29, 2008
FACT OF THE DAY (#971)
 
TALK ABOUT DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
 
fraud 500 million bill

 

Scott Goldstein of The Dallas Morning News reported on February 26, 2008, Maria Victoria Hoffman, 48, and two male accomplices had been arrested for trying to sell fake Federal Reserve notes. And not just any notes. Some of the denominations had a phony face value of $500,