The other day the local paper published Atlanta’s pollen count. The article proclaimed that the city was approaching a new city record—5,733 particles of pollen per cubic meter of air. That’s a mere 280 below the all time record experienced on April 12, 1999. The information came courtesy of the Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic which assuredly does a brisk business this time of year.

We don’t mean to make light of the pollen—many of us at ICM battle allergies every April. But it sure makes for a good trivia question which got us to thinking. What other obscure facts can we share that will make you appear more informed than your friends, or better yet, your teenage kids who purport to know everything?

The next time someone challenges your knowledge on a particular subject, pull out one of these gems and stop them in their tracks.

World History

Armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute.

The custom of shaking hands with the strangers originated to show that both the parties were unarmed.

Everyone in the Middle Ages believed — as Aristotle had — that the heart was the seat of intelligence.

In 1892, Italy raised the minimum age for marriage for girls – to 12.

The ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of stone.

The seven wonders of the ancient world were:

1. Egyptian Pyramids at Giza

2. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

3. Statue of Zeus at Olympia

4. Colossus of Rhodes – huge bronze statue at the Harbor of Rhodes that honored the sun god Helios

5. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

6. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

7. Lighthouse at Alexandria.

US History

At Andrew Jackson’s funeral in 1845, his pet parrot had to be removed because it was swearing.

New Orleans’ first Mardi Gras celebration was held in February, 1826.

New York’s first St. Patrick’s day parade was held on March 17, 1762.

President George Washington created the Order of the Purple Heart in 1782. It’s a decoration to recognize merit in enlisted men and non-commissioned officers.

The first US Marines wore high leather collars to protect their necks from sabers, hence the name “leathernecks.”

And finally, one fact that we couldn’t resist…..

40% of women have hurled footwear at a man!