Fact-A-Day from Harry K. – January 15, 2008

Fact-A-Day from Harry K. In the spirit of C.A.N.I. (Continuous And Never-ending Improvement), here are this week’s new facts—one for each day of your coming week. Pass them on to others to keep the spirit alive or invite your friends and family to visit our blog where they can also view previous entries.

Frogs estivate, which is like hybernating, except that it is usually done during dry times rather than cold times.
The “Mayflower” was a small ship with a length of only 95 feet. The vessel was not much larger than a modern tennis court, but it held 102 people.
On the television show, “Sesame Street,” one man, Carroll Spinney, plays Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. From within the 8′ 2″ yellow-feathered suit, Spinney watches a small monitor with the same view as the audience. He operates Big Bird’s head with one hand while working the bird’s hand with his other. When Oscar and Big Bird are in the same scene, Spinney speaks for both Muppets, while another puppeteer operates Oscar.
Chester A. Arthur dedicated the Washington Monument on February 21, 1885. The very peak of the Washington Monument is not stone, but a 100-ounce solid aluminum pyramid, constructed as part of the monument’s lightning protection system. In the 1880s, aluminum was a rare metal, selling for $1.10 per ounce and used primarily for jewelry. The pyramid at the top of the monument was the largest piece of aluminum of its day, and was such a novelty that it was displayed at Tiffany’s jewelry store before it was placed atop the structure.
The Panama Canal is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic Ocean.
Alaska is the only state in the United States that borders on a Canadian territory. All of the other states border on provinces.
There are 27,572 wires used in one main cable on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The bridge has two main cables.

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services.