United States Facts

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  • The symbol on the "pound" key (#) is called an octothorpe.


  • Ham radio operators got the term "ham" coined from the expression "ham-fisted operators", a term used to describe early radio users who sent Morse code (i.e. pounded their fists).


  • Games Slayter, a Purdue graduate, invented fiberglass.


  • The metal part of a lamp that surrounds the bulb and supports the shade is called a harp.


  • The metal part at the end of a pencil is twenty percent sulfur.


  • The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.


  • The "ZIP" in Zip Code stands for "Zone Improvement Plan."


  • 'Crack' gets it name because it crackles when you smoke it.


  • Heroin is the brand name of morphine once marketed by Bayer.


  • Marijuana is Spanish for 'Mary Jane.'


  • Grover Cleveland's real first name is Stephen, Grover is his middle name.


  • If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.


  • The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing


  • A coat hanger is 44 inches long if straightened


  • If you lace your shoes from the inside to the outside the fit will be snugger around your big toe.


  • If you add up the numbers 1-100 consecutively (1+2+3+4+5 etc) the total is 5050