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Clearing stuff out; found I kept @prospect_uk early 2000s “in fact” pages for a while.
Some make interesting comparisons with now (oil consumption), some are just interesting.
We start with a banger. Hitler was shortlisted for the 1938 Nobel Peace Prize
Clearing stuff out; found I kept @prospect_uk early 2000s “in fact” pages for a while.
Some make interesting comparisons with now (oil consumption), some are just interesting.
We start with a banger. Hitler was shortlisted for the 1938 Nobel Peace Prize
(That was from January 2003)
February 2003. Toilets flush in E flat. What ZIP Code stands for. The Amazon was doing pretty well (then).
July 2003. The Nazis used the guillotine more than the French. Britain a safer place to work than the EU or the USA. Peanuts are in dynamite.
August 2003. South Koreans throw out more food than North Koreans eat.
September 2003. Natural blondes: 1 in 20. Blondes: 1 in 3. Men salivate twice as much as women.
December 2003. Italian soldiers in north Africa had their own espresso machines (my paternal grandfather served in NA and took the surrender of a column of Italians - I wonder if he got a coffee maker?)
February 2004 gives us my favourite ever fact. 2.5m Mills & Boon books beneath the M6. It makes the tarmac buoyant.
(Also, the US outpatented the EU in high tech by miles; in the 60s Brazil made it illegal for a foreign club to buy Pele)
(Also, the US outpatented the EU in high tech by miles; in the 60s Brazil made it illegal for a foreign club to buy Pele)
March 2004. Not 72 virgins for you, I’m afraid - 72 raisins. Which doesn’t seem all that generous. Sadly suicidal Scots. Americans drink coke at breakfast 
April 2004. Swot Deane annotation can be seen showing that 1964 was the exceptional US election year. This pattern has of course now been broken.
If you were in Predator, chances are you governed a state somewhere.
If you were in Predator, chances are you governed a state somewhere.
May 2004.
Fewer Brits have no teeth. The U.K. is the only major country in which French is the main foreign language in schools. 1/2 of Aussies get skin cancer.
Fewer Brits have no teeth. The U.K. is the only major country in which French is the main foreign language in schools. 1/2 of Aussies get skin cancer.
June 2004.
John Kerry was only the 3rd Catholic to run [for a major party, presumably] for the Presidency. I imagine that you can name one since.
Flowerpots are bloody dangerous.
![June 2004. John Kerry was only the 3rd Catholic to run [for a major party, presumably] for the Presidency. I imagine that you can name one since.Flowerpots are bloody dangerous.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmTsDWGW4AE9m8D.jpg "June 2004. John Kerry was only the 3rd Catholic to run [for a major party, presumably] for the Presidency. I imagine that you can name one since.Flowerpots are bloody dangerous.")
John Kerry was only the 3rd Catholic to run [for a major party, presumably] for the Presidency. I imagine that you can name one since.
Flowerpots are bloody dangerous.
July 2004
“Broadcast” comes from sowing seeds. The Belgians had mucky water.
“Broadcast” comes from sowing seeds. The Belgians had mucky water.
August 2004
Glenys Kinnock, Chris Huhne & Caroline Lucas: comparatively famous MEPs.
Almost all young Irish people visit the U.K.
Pro cyclists had appalling life expectancy.
American garages - bigger than Japanese homes.
*Christiano Ronaldo was named after Ronald Reagan*
Glenys Kinnock, Chris Huhne & Caroline Lucas: comparatively famous MEPs.
Almost all young Irish people visit the U.K.
Pro cyclists had appalling life expectancy.
American garages - bigger than Japanese homes.
*Christiano Ronaldo was named after Ronald Reagan*
September 2004
Dallas Fort Worth airport is bigger than Manhattan.
The Greek national anthem has 158 verses.
Dallas Fort Worth airport is bigger than Manhattan.
The Greek national anthem has 158 verses.
October 2004
Bush Snr and Clinton both favoured the death penalty in 1992, but only 15% of likely voters knew it.
Libyan diplomats don’t pay parking fines.
Sex is inefficient.
Bush Snr and Clinton both favoured the death penalty in 1992, but only 15% of likely voters knew it.
Libyan diplomats don’t pay parking fines.
Sex is inefficient.
November 2004.
Male life expectancy in Russia was lower than in Bangladesh.
Pre 1939, 3% of Brits cremated; 70% by 2004.
American Indians making a comeback in California
If you’re Jamaican and well educated you leave.
Male life expectancy in Russia was lower than in Bangladesh.
Pre 1939, 3% of Brits cremated; 70% by 2004.
American Indians making a comeback in California
If you’re Jamaican and well educated you leave.
December 2004.
90% of British trade done by sea. This one has cropped up a few times since...
Britain’s oil output was on a par with Kuwait’s.
Most voters had highly unfavourable views of both presidential candidates. Thank goodness this one has changed so much since...
90% of British trade done by sea. This one has cropped up a few times since...
Britain’s oil output was on a par with Kuwait’s.
Most voters had highly unfavourable views of both presidential candidates. Thank goodness this one has changed so much since...
January 2005.
The most generous US states are in the south.
North Koreans mourned for Arafat for days.
The most generous US states are in the south.
North Koreans mourned for Arafat for days.
February 2005.
As a % of population, the Aussies sustained the most First World War losses.
2/3 of Palestinians think violence achieved more than negotiations.
There’s no rhyming word for
- month
- orange
- purple
- silver
As a % of population, the Aussies sustained the most First World War losses.
2/3 of Palestinians think violence achieved more than negotiations.
There’s no rhyming word for
- month
- orange
- purple
- silver
March 2005.
Fewer animals were culled or slaughtered during foot and mouth than usual.
Over a ten year postwar period, a translation of The Odyssey was our bestselling book. I love this one.
Fewer animals were culled or slaughtered during foot and mouth than usual.
Over a ten year postwar period, a translation of The Odyssey was our bestselling book. I love this one.
April 2005.
Domestic gardens in London: 20% of the space, 70% of the trees.
On the 3rd & 4th days after a heavyweight prize fight, the US homicide rate jumps 9%.
Domestic gardens in London: 20% of the space, 70% of the trees.
On the 3rd & 4th days after a heavyweight prize fight, the US homicide rate jumps 9%.
May 2005.
Serbs in Pristina:
1999 - c. 40,000
2005 - <100
French marriage age not the same for men and women (boys and girls?)
Serbs in Pristina:
1999 - c. 40,000
2005 - <100
French marriage age not the same for men and women (boys and girls?)
June 2005.
Hague was the first Tory leader since 1922 not to be PM. But not the last.
Russia’s population dropped by a million every year. Then, anyway.
Redheads need more anaesthetic than others!
Hague was the first Tory leader since 1922 not to be PM. But not the last.
Russia’s population dropped by a million every year. Then, anyway.
Redheads need more anaesthetic than others!
July 2005.
Only one in every 3,400 Americans is an selves impersonator. Sad.
Queen Victoria spoke Urdu and Hindi.
Casanova was a librarian. Figures.
Only one in every 3,400 Americans is an selves impersonator. Sad.
Queen Victoria spoke Urdu and Hindi.
Casanova was a librarian. Figures.
Obviously the autocorrect of Elvis to selves is infuriating.
August 2005.
It rains twice as much in Sydney as in London. (no surprise. It’s like Brussels, where it rains almost 100 days a year more than London, and the native invariably says to the Brit “you brought the weather with you” when it rains)
Princess Anne has an HGV licence
It rains twice as much in Sydney as in London. (no surprise. It’s like Brussels, where it rains almost 100 days a year more than London, and the native invariably says to the Brit “you brought the weather with you” when it rains)
Princess Anne has an HGV licence
September 2005.
Australia emits more than USA per capita
98% of electricity used by a lightbulb goes into heat
The Dutch love a smoke (views on pancakes not recorded)
Australia emits more than USA per capita
98% of electricity used by a lightbulb goes into heat
The Dutch love a smoke (views on pancakes not recorded)
October 2005.
Monarchs face in different directions on coins, one after another.
David Miliband used to be in the cabinet.
In the 1830s, Ireland’s population wasn’t much below GB’s.
Monarchs face in different directions on coins, one after another.
David Miliband used to be in the cabinet.
In the 1830s, Ireland’s population wasn’t much below GB’s.
November 2005.
Turkey gave women the vote before the French did.
Scots are murderous; the reason will shock you.
New Labour was successful.
The Canadians are burgled more than Americans (whether they have more or fewer guns is not recorded).
Turkey gave women the vote before the French did.
Scots are murderous; the reason will shock you.
New Labour was successful.
The Canadians are burgled more than Americans (whether they have more or fewer guns is not recorded).
December 2005.
Lauren Bacall & Shimon Peres - cousins
Protestantism on the rise in LatAm
Yeats was investigated by the revenue because they couldn’t believe his sales were so low
Tate Modern - inexplicably popular
Lauren Bacall & Shimon Peres - cousins
Protestantism on the rise in LatAm
Yeats was investigated by the revenue because they couldn’t believe his sales were so low
Tate Modern - inexplicably popular
January 2006.
People still had B&W TVs
Who fought the most wars post WWII? The answer will SHOCK YOU
Hitler - popular PLO name.
People still had B&W TVs
Who fought the most wars post WWII? The answer will SHOCK YOU
Hitler - popular PLO name.
February 2006.
If in
on 9 November, keep your head down.
The French love a riot
USA approved much higher % of patents than Europe.
If in
on 9 November, keep your head down.The French love a riot
USA approved much higher % of patents than Europe.
