Notes

[deckardcanine]

To parents out there: Teach your kids not to put too much stock in any "strange facts" section of a magazine or another kid-oriented publication. It is likely to contain many urban legends, already outdated stats, and questionable scientific claims. As a kid, I took their veracity for granted; only in my 20s have I learned of the falsity of several items.

To self: When a DVD is labeled "Bonus Material," it is not the same as a special edition. It is only the bonus material without the movie itself. Never again will you order one from Netflix, especially for a movie you haven't seen yet.

To musicians: Bruce Springsteen is the only singer who IMO has ever sounded cool while singing about Santa Claus. Even for him, it was a stretch.

Comments

[billis.livejournal.com]

On the "strange facts" you retained, do you have an example?

[deckardcanine.livejournal.com]

1. Most dinosaurs were the size of chickens. There were some, but they did not comprise a majority in population or in species number.

2. A hundred and sixty babies are born every minute. Within a couple years after this figure was released, I learned from a more trustworthy source that it was more like 270. (I'm sure it's changed since.)

3. Captain James Cook asked a native the name of a strange animal. The native said "Kangaroo," which meant "I don't know." This is a popular false legend, often with the meaning given as "I don't understand."