Trivia at Phila. Front Page News by Terence
How hot does it get in Ireland?
The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland, where the climate is temperate oceanic, was 33.3ºC (91.9ºF) at Kilkenny Castle on 26 June 1887.
What does T.A.R.D.I.S. stand for?The time machine that the BBC's Doctor Who travels around in is called a Tardis, which is an acronym for "Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space." A product of Time Lord technology, a properly maintained and piloted TARDIS can transport its occupants to any point in time and space. The interior of a TARDIS is much larger than its exterior, which can blend in with its surroundings through the ship's chameleon circuit. However, the one used by the shows character has a damaged circuit, so it always looks like a police call box.
What happened to the Aggie Bonfire?
The Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing tradition at Texas A&M University as part of the college rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin. For 90 years, Texas A&M students -- known as Aggies --built and burned a bonfire on campus each autumn. The bonfire remained a thriving tradition for decades until, in 1999, a collapse during construction killed twelve people and injured twenty-seven others. The accident led to a hiatus on an official Bonfire. However, since 2002, a student-sponsored coalition has constructed an annual unsanctioned, off-campus "Student Bonfire" in the spirit of its predecessor.
How did Archimedes determine whether the king's crown was silver or gold?
According to Vitruvius, a new crown in the shape of a laurel wreath had been made for King Hiero II, and Archimedes was asked to determine whether it was of solid gold, or whether silver had been added by a dishonest goldsmith. Archimedes had to solve the problem without damaging the crown, so he could not melt it down. While taking a bath, he noticed that the level of the water rose as he got in. He realized that this effect could be used to determine the volume of the crown. By dividing the weight of the crown by the volume of water displaced, its density could be obtained. The density of the crown would be lower if cheaper and less dense metals had been added. Archimedes then took to the streets naked, so excited by his discovery that he had forgotten to dress, crying "Eureka!" "I have found
Did Absinthe make the heart grow fonder?
Absinthe, a distilled, highly alcoholic (45%-75% ABV) also called “wormwood" or “the Green Fairy,†is perhaps best known for its popularity in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among bohemian culture. Portrayed as a dangerously addictive, psychoactive drug it was banned in the United States and in most European countries. However, it's actually no more dangerous than ordinary liquor. A revival of absinthe began in the 1990s, and it is even available in the U.S. in limited quantities.
