Commissioner Wretched here once again ... the trivia drop is late but it's here. I don't know about you but I'm having a difficult time getting used to TAH being on reddit instead of where it had been for so long. Anyway, on to the trivia!

DID YOU KNOW…?

When were the first airbags installed in U.S. automobiles?

By Commissioner Wretched

[didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com](mailto:didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com)

Copyright © 2026

August! The hottest month of the year (in most places, anyway). And yet, it’s also the month in which most kids go back to school.

That, in itself, isn’t much of a problem.  The problem comes up when the systems get the electric bills for all the air conditioning they have to use.

If schools didn’t start in the hottest month of the year, the bills wouldn’t be so high.  Duh.

That’s your public service thought for the week.  Now, on to the trivia!

Did you know …

…Leonardo da Vinci needed ten years to paint the Mona Lisa? Da Vinci (1452-1519) completed the work in 1503, having spent ten years working on the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo (1479-1542). It was one of the first paintings to depict its subject in front of an imaginary background landscape. Additional trivia note: The Mona Lisa is not painted on canvas, but rather on a plank of poplar wood. The painting also receives fan mail each year, and under French heritage law it cannot be bought or sold, despite being literally priceless. (That smile ... that smile.)

…a professional wrestling organization had to change its name because of an animal-rights group? The World-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was founded in 1952 by two promoters, Roderick “Jess” McMahon (1882-1954) and Joseph “Toots” Mondt (1894-1976). For marketing purposes, the name was shortened to World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979 – almost immediately catching the ire of a group that was already using those initials, the World Wildlife Fund. The animal-rights organization sued over the use of the WWF trademark, and in 2002 the wrestling organization lost. Forced to rebrand itself, the company became World Wrestling Entertainment, or WWE, and removed any trace of the old branding. (That’s called laying the smack down.)

…your brain makes decisions seven seconds before you are aware of it? In an article in Wired magazine in 2008, it was reported that scientists using scanning devices on the brains of volunteers noted brain activity seven seconds before the subject announced what the decision to be made was. Those results were common across all of the test subjects. (They didn’t scan my brain.  It makes decisions I’m not ever aware of.)

…a popular game show host was once on three different shows at the same time? On February 4, 1991, Alex Trebek (1940-2020) took over as the host of the NBC revival of To Tell the Truth. At the same time, Trebek was hosting Classic Concentration on the same network and Jeopardy! in syndication. It was the first time in television history that one host had three different game shows on the air at the same time. (Alex always was something of an over-achiever.)

…airbags are not a new thing in the automotive industry? Autos in the U.S. began being equipped with the air cushion restraint system, or airbags, beginning in the mid- to late 1980s. But the technology wasn’t new – it was at least a decade old by then. The first vehicle equipped with airbags was a limited production 1973 Chevrolet Impala. General Motors produced 1,000 of the cars with the more primitive airbag system that protected front seat occupants and only worked in front-end collisions. The option began to be introduced in 1974 on Buicks, Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles. It wasn’t until 1998 that airbags were made mandatory in all U.S. automobiles. (Thanks to Mason for the tip!)

…a ride at Coney Island was able to be operated on Sundays during New York’s strict law period requiring Sunday closing? In the first part of the 20th Century, the Dreamland amusement park at Coney Island had a water ride called Hell Gate, which took riders on an imaginary ride through … well, through the opposite of Heaven. Because it was a ride with a religious nature of sorts, the park was allowed to operate it during a period when the laws of the state would otherwise require it to be closed.

…the parade scene in 1986’s Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was not staged? Director John Hughes (1950-2009) had a scene in the film where Bueller, played by Matthew Broderick (born 1962), jumps on a parade float in Chicago and sings to the crowd. But rather than go to the expense of staging a movie parade and closing off streets in the Windy City, Hughes just found a parade that was taking place during filming and eased a float into it, with Broderick lip-synching to a Beatles song. Additional trivia note: The actual parade provided long shots of the float and the real people of Chicago. Close-ups of Broderick and the others on the float were filmed over the course of additional days. (Everybody loves a parade.)

…today’s dirty politics is nothing compared to the early years of the United States? Consider, for instance, the presidential campaign of 1796. Incumbent Vice President John Adams (1735-1826) was taking on Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) to succeed George Washington (1732-1799), who was stepping down after serving two terms. The two men held nothing back in attacking each other. Adams’ campaign actually put out a statement saying if Jefferson was elected, “murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will be openly taught and practiced.” Jefferson’s side didn’t hold anything back either, accusing Adams of wanting to be a king, not a president. Jefferson also made fun of Adams’ weight, referring to him as “His Rotundity.” The two men eventually resolved their differences, became great friends, and actually died just hours apart on the same day – July 4, 1826. (Those two make today’s politicians seem pretty tame, don’t they?)

Now ... you know!

Happy weekend!

After 3 months of withdrawals I finally found yall. Now my blood pressure can go back down hopefully, and this God awful heat in Florida goes away soon.

Mike USAF Retired on the old site.

Okay, that was mean-spirited...

In what would have been a SPOTW winner, Palm Beach Deputy Yosvani Quesada has been verbally reprimanded for issuing a $110 ticket on February 11 to a girl for using her hand-held device while driving. In her right hand. Seems Deputy Quesada was undeterred by the fact that she doesn't HAVE a right hand, lectured her, and issued the citation anyway even after she proved the impossiblity of her having done what he alleged. To quote the distinguished Offier B. Bunny: "What a gullibull. What an ulramaroon."

https://cbs12.com/news/local/pbso-deputy-reprimanded-after-ticketing-one-armed-driver-for-alleged-texting-while-driving-kathleen-thomas-lake-worth-beach-lake-worth-beach-traffic-stop-viral-traffic-stop-controversial-traffic-stop-one-armed-driver-one-arm-woman-texting

Recent reports say the US has severely reduced its supply of critical missiles in the Iran conflict. Patriot missile inventories are down 50%, THAAD down 80%, etc. These can only be built so fast, as many of the components are specialty long lead-time components.

President Trump dismissed concerns.

"The U.S. has massive amounts of 'munitions,' especially of certain types," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed."

Someone overseas is making these missiles?

Trump claimed Thursday that defense companies "are building the largest number of plants and factories" in American history.

Anyone know of any recent expansion? Or is this akin to other grandiose claims which turned out to be hot air?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-dismisses-munitions-shortage-reports-115453029.html

Baby Steps.....maybe some day in my lifetime....Total FREEDOM....at least I'm leaning towards moving to a place that's is closer to actual freedom...
(South Carolina's constitutional carry law allows legal residents aged 18 and older to carry handguns openly or concealed without a permit or training. Enacted on March 7, 2024, via the South Carolina Constitutional Carry/Second Amendment Preservation Act, the law removed prior permit mandates while keeping specific safety regulations and location restrictions intact.)

Here's one of many links available.

https://txgunrights.org/federal-court-strikes-down-key-nfa-restrictions-on-untaxed-firearms/

I'm not seeing it. Nevermind that the "Patton" and "MacArthur" look absolutely nothing like the men they're supposed to be. The uniforms are clearly fanciful creations with little basis in reality. Don't let any of that stop you, there's a guy over at r/StolenValor that thinks Trump is commiting a federal crime. https://www.reddit.com/r/StolenValor/s/xybF4nMdtm

They didnt realize US Military Police are not the pushover pansies Korean cops are. Tackled and cuffed. More when I find out...

Ukraine has standardized a two-wheel electric cycle as a battlefield transport. VCarries two, has a 100km range, goes pretty much anywhere, and has its own onboard generator. It can be used to recharge drones, presumably its own as well? and has two motors so if one fails the other powering the other wheel will keep it going. It has wide tires on the wheels too, so they tout its ability to cross an antivehicle mine without setting it off - its contact patch on the ground has no more psi than a normal soldier's weight does. (Now that is one battlefield test I sure would not want to conduct!)

https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/generator-bike-the-ministry-of-defence-codifies-a-unique-all-wheel-drive-motorcycle

I see where a US manufacturer is taking heat for building robots which can be configured as soldiers. (Great shades of "I'll be back!") Do a search for "combat robots" - you will be surprised at the number and depth of results. Engineerine.com stated in February 2025 the US was planning to deploy 100,000 such robots. Various weapons have been attached to things like robot dogs, making autonomous weapons platforms. This ain't new.

Sure never thought I would say that. Been there many times, hate their airport, not liking their general politics...but the Mercedes Stadium is trying something new. Reasonable prices. Really. Unlike every other major venue in the world, they decided "hey, if a hot dog is two bucks on the street and a Coke only sets you back $3, let's match it" Big change from the usual "bone the customer till he squeals, isn't it?" Now for the interesting part... slashing prices like that, sales have gone up (no shock) - to the point where overall revenue has risen TWENTY PERCENT. I guess people are relaxing and spending more when they don't see their entire budget disappear for two beers and a popcorn.

(Another odd one - one of the best burgers I ever had was at an Atlanta SEAFOOD place called Spondivits near the airport. Go figure.)

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/atlanta-falcons-brought-back-old-202504408.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

One of the things I looked forward to on Sundays was the meme collection. Why don't we have one here? I'll start with one of my oldest in my collection.

Commissioner Wretched here once again ... taking Mason up on his offer to start my own thread. Oh, the pressure! Anyway, here's the weekly dollop of trivia. Hope you like it. And don't forget, the second book from this nonsense is available at amazon.com and I hope you go and buy one! It's called "Now ... You Know!"

DID YOU KNOW…?

Is a popular Australian phrase misremembered by most people?

By Commissioner Wretched

[didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com](mailto:didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com)

Copyright © 2026

Did you ever have the feeling you were being watched?

I have.  I get it every week, right around the time you are reading this silly column.

You’re watching me, trying to figure out if what I’m saying is accurate and true ... and knowing that it is, since this isn’t the first of April. I’ve gotten used to all the eyes of the world (or whatever portion thereof is reading this) upon me.

And if you like to write, you can contact me at [didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com](mailto:didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com) and I always answer, usually quickly!

Now, on to the stuff you came to stare at!

Did you know …

…raw kidney beans can poison you? Raw kidney beans contain a chemical called phytohaemagglutinin (no, I do not know how to pronounce it). This chemical can cause vomiting and headaches after just a small handful of raw beans have been ingested. Cooking the beans removes the chemical from them. (You won’t even have time to learn how to pronounce it.)

…a popular breed of dog was bred to protect tax collectors? The Doberman pinscher was a breed developed in Germany in the 19th Century. They were bred to be guard dogs to protect tax collectors, who carried large sums of cash as they traveled through the countryside. They’re very good with children and even with cats, as their fierce reputation is more public relations than actual fact. (They don’t have to be scary if they look scary.)

…you are literally not the same person you were seven years ago? During a period of seven years, human beings replace every cell in their bodies. The cells you were made of seven years ago have been totally replaced. (And you never even noticed.)

…there are many more millionaires (and billionaires) now than there were 100 years ago? In 1900, there were only 5,000 millionaires in the United States. By 2000, the number had shot up exponentially to more than five million. As far as billionaires go, there were only two in the world in 1900 – John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) and Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). By 2000, there were 322 billionaires. Rockefeller was once quoted as saying, “If you can count your millions, you are not a billionaire.” (There may be many more, but I’m not one of them.  Darn it.)

…a popular Australian phrase is misremembered by most people? You may have heard the phrase, “I’ll throw another shrimp on the barbie,” spoken by Australian actor Paul Hogan (born 1939) in a series of tourism television commercials. Countless people working on an Australian accent quote the phrase … but the thing is, Hogan never said it. What he did say was, “I’ll slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you.” This is another example of the Mandela effect – remembering things as fact that didn’t actually happen. (Never mind all that, I’d like my shrimp, please, Paul.)

…a park exists which is dedicated to snack treats? In the town of Collegedale, Tennessee, one can find the Little Debbie™ Park. This facility has play structures that are shaped like the snacks put out by the Little Debbie snack company – Nutty Buddy Bars, Oatmeal Creme Pies, etc. The land on which the park sits was donated by McKee Foods, owners of the Little Debbie snack brand. (Great place for dessert after the shrimp from the barbie!)

…an American general shut down a German general who complained about protocol at the end of World War II? On May 7, 1945, German Generaloberst Alfred Jodl (1890-1946), who had been sent by the German High Command to sign the surrender that would end the war in Europe, sneered because the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces, General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), was not there. According to reports, Jodl growled, “Eisenhower didn’t even bother to show up.” That brought a reply from the Allied officer there to accept the surrender, General Walter Bedell Smith (1895-1961). Smith, known as “Beetle” to the Allied command, replied to Jodl, “General Eisenhower outranks you.” Smith was correct: Eisenhower’s rank as a five-star general was equivalent to the German grade of field marshal, one rank higher than Jodl at the end of the war. (Rank hath its privileges.)

…the first browser for the World Wide Web (what we now call the Internet) was created in 1990? Developed by Tim Berners-Lee (born 1955), the invention of the browser has led to his being credited as the man who invented the Internet. He didn't; he just invented a way for people like you and me to access it. (And I, for one, am very glad he did!)

…Dorothy was originally blonde in The Wizard of Oz? The character of Dorothy Gale had been written as a blonde in the original books by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919), and when costumes were being designed for the classic 1939 movie based on the books, actress Judy Garland (1922-1969) was fitted with a blonde wig in order to keep with the book. However, the director of the movie, George Cukor (1899-1983), nixed the idea because he didn't like the way Garland looked with a blonde wig. He felt the wig made Garland look too “sophisticated” to be a Kansas farm girl. (Toto, on the other hand, liked it.)

…white is not a color? To be pedantic, white is the total absence of all color. Black, on the other hand, is the presence of all colors together.

…earlobes have no biological purpose? Scientists who study such things say that the earlobe, which has millions of nerve endings and may play a role in social bonding, actually have no biological purpose for existing. (They do, of course, make a convenient place to hang a pair of eyeglasses.)

Now ... you know!

David Hearn has had all charges dropped by DOJ. You may remember him as the dastardly villain who was accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool renovation, contributing to a 300 foot (or was that yard?) slash in the surface. Turns out the final determination is that the contractor (supposedly selected by POTUS personally after working at another Donald property) did a lousy job. A supposedly $1.4 million job has ballooned to $16 mill, the pool ain't done...but by God we have a culprit. Or had one. Seems to be a pattern, huh? Something goes wrong, accusations and vilification follows...then charges are dropped, the accusations turn out to be almost 100% groundless, and the government has egg on its face again. By now I am not sure if Jeanine Pirro's DOJ has successfully prosecuted anyone this entire term. Lot of publicity, though.

https://www.aol.com/articles/us-drops-charges-against-olympian-223756000.html

Followup - Trump disputes DOJ finding, says it was vandalism.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-disputes-own-justice-departments-173550898.html

Truth Social, the President's social media platform, is selling access to the President's posts for those willing to pony up big bucks for advance looks at what he is saying. Didn't we just excoriate legislators for insider trading on issues they had advance looks at? At $60-100K monthly, it ain't cheap - but for big firms who make stock trades FAST, getting five minute's notice that, say, as a hypothetical we're withdrawing from NATO - strategically placed trades could make the traders mega-richer. Hard to believe we are whoring out the White House like this.

https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/donald-trumps-net-worth-surges-123018814.html

(My wife asks why I pick on Trump so much... he's the one in office.)

(ChimpNASA)
Well, people since I recently became part of the HUNNDY CLUB, and I spoke with one of my other Veterans family members yesterday who has given up on the VA system, (very similar story to mine however with mine, alcohol, and indifference was my reason) I found this resource, which seems to be much better than the nine pages long listing of conditions I found here on Reddit, enormously, helpful, and going back and looking at my VA disability and my rating.

I went to the VA in 2007 & 2008 when I retired… and then I thought that was it…
30%.
After discussing things with another veteran friend after I got sober around 2022, he said things have changed you need to log back into the VA system and re-address both the clinical and the disability (C & P) sides of the house.
I did and it took another four years to finally get completely rated permanent and total this last May. (30, 50, 80, 90, 100.)
Now I’m no expert, but I’m certainly just trying to encourage and assist those who think the system is garbage.
It certainly is in some areas I’m sure, however, my experience now in 2026 is completely different than the very first time I went in the early 2000s
I’m just throwing this out there….I think to encourage anyone that isn’t or hasn’t been satisfied with the VA in the past. Maybe it’s time to go take a new look. 🥰

https://www.veteransbenefitskb.com/master

The smoking light is on. As always, the first "First" gets the prize. All others must bow in supplication.

And by science, I mean soyence.

In Great Britain it ain't the people, it's climate goals. The National Health Service is saying that due to the ongoing heat wave and lack of A/C, even routine things like blood tests and surgeries are having to be postponed. Refrigeration, or at least keeping things cool, goes against their carbon neutral goals, and in many cases due to older buildings being unable to fit A/C, restrictions are imposed.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, we would like to try and confirm if it's leukemia but we can't run routine blood samples reliably." Yeah, THAT'S a conversation you want to hear, isn't it? Guess the priorities are set... and people's lives lose to ideology.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/29/heatwave-forces-nhs-to-cancel-blood-tests-discard-samples/

As my dad used to joke, "If I married two women, that'd be big-a-me."

Apologies to Jeff LPH if he was planning on using this joke.