Random Fact!

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 13:18

Random Facts please!

##Spiral Staircases in the UK always spiral upwards to the right (clockwise).

Originates from the days of defending castles from an attack. Attackers would be forced to use their left hand for their sword when ascending the stairs, whilst defenders would have full use of their right hand to swing downwards with.

Possibly true with all countries, however i'm not qualified to suggest it as a fact.

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 13:24

Lysander said:
Where did you read this? The intaweb?

No.

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 13:35

meghatronic said:
The same reason we drive on the left, as we marched on the left, and draw swords on the right. Etc etc.

That came up following the conversation in the office.

Apparently the reason the continent drives on the right, is because Napoleon was Left Handed and forced his troops to march on the right. Not sure how true that is!

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 13:44

If you mean the one at/near Covent Garden it's 100% clockwise.

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 13:53

Smit said:
If it was the one at Covent Garden:
From top to bottom it is clockwise yes.
From bottom to top it is not. Therefore it spirals upwards anti-clockwise not clockwise

Clockwise. Upwards to the right, as stated in post 1.

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 14:00

Smit said:
Indeed you are correct

It was actually Russell Square station I was thinking of... That is anticlockwise and has 175 steps. Covent Garden has 195

Russell was French and is therefore unqualified to build spiral staircases correctly!

Or something

Edit: Russell Square Tube Station

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 14:29

Thread fell apart. Fact.

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 15:19

Yeah he mean't Russell Square. The picture i found was labeled Russell Square and also went clockwise up, but apparently it's not Russell Square in the pic. No idea then, never been there myself.

DampCat · 24 Sep 2009 at 18:02

Pish said:
Did these stairs at the weekend and almost died, im so unfit

OT : If you put a pot of blood in a maze and release a leach, it will eventually find the blood. Liquidize that leach and feed it to other leaches, they can find the blood in the same maze almost instantly, due to chemical memory

Quoted from Ricky Gervais

Nice fact, but Ricky Gervais also said the Daddy Long Legs (Cranefly) has the most potent venom of any animal but no way to administer it, which i'm afraid to say is a load of twaddle

DampCat · 25 Sep 2009 at 08:28

SteveOBHave said:
The last time someone went to the bottom of it was in 1960 in the Bathyscaphe Trieste designed by the Swiss scientist Auguste Piccard . On January 23, 1960, Trieste reached the ocean floor in the Challenger Deep (the deepest southern part of the Mariana Trench), carrying Jacques Piccard (son of Auguste) and Lieutenant Don Walsh.

Cool fact for Trekkies - ever the explorer!

Is that where they got the name from? I did always wonder!

DampCat · 25 Sep 2009 at 08:44

lambda said:
2+2=4

That's hilarious, good work. You'll fit in well here with your original humour and subtle, cynical take on life. Well done! 10/10, would watch again.

DampCat · 28 Sep 2009 at 11:10

Tiger Bread is the most delicious thing created by man. Fact.

It's Tigery effect and distinct flavour is created using Seseme Oil and Rice Paste.

DampCat · 28 Sep 2009 at 12:26

Major_Knox said:
Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world.

Nice.

DampCat · 28 Sep 2009 at 15:44

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Having someone shove their finger in your mouth while you're yawning is the most annoying thing ever.

So unsatisfying, isnt it? My girlfriend does it to me.

Although, i have to be honest, i did it to my dog once and i havent laughed so hard since :/

DampCat · 5 Oct 2009 at 10:58

6 out of 7 Dwarves are not happy.

DampCat · 5 Oct 2009 at 12:53

That doesn't sound like a lot, does it?

DampCat · 5 Oct 2009 at 13:04

Honestly if i wasn't allergic i think i could nail those 7 Ferrero Rochers in 1 minute. I need to find something of equal mass and texture to find out.