The weekly collection of useless and fun facts. In this week’s edition: A Buttload Measurement, Oxymorons, A Persistent Lightbulb, Wal-Mart Dating, and Lamborghini’s Revenge.

Who knew units of measure could be such a funny thing? The word “butt” has many different meanings in the English language. It can mean an overlapping joint, to strike or thrust, to place end to end, the end of a handle, the unused portion of something that is smoked, and of course the fleshy backside of our bodies. But, the word “butt” also has a distinct meaning dealing with measurement.

The term “butt” was a medieval unit of measure for wine casks, and the measurement was standardized in 1707. The largest unit, a tun (not to be mistaken for the weight measurement, ton) was about 252 wine gallons. From there, other units were derived. A butt was a half of a tun, a puncheaon was a third of a tun, a hogshead was a fourth of a tun, and two hogshead made a butt (each 63 gallons). These were followed by a tierce, a barrel, and a rundlet, which all decreased in size. So when you ask a friend to get you a “buttload” of something, it would measure about 126 gallons. Be careful what you ask for if your friend is a expert in medieval measurements. You could end up with more than you could handle. Source

The word “oxymoron” is actually an oxymoron. It comes from the Greek “oxy” meaning sharp or keen, and “moron” meaning dull or stupid. Its origin is from the 1650s. The pictures are just a few examples in our oxymoronic world. Be careful when you call someone an oxymoron because you may be giving them a compliment.



The next fact is a fascinating in its persistence. The world’s longest lasting light bulb has been burning in a Livermore, California Fire Station since 1901. That’s 114 years that the bulb has been in operation with over 1,000,000 hours of use. It has been off at various times in its history. Once in 1937 for a week when the firehouse was being renovated, and for nine and a half hours in 2013 when a back-up system failed in keeping it lit. The next fact is a fascinating in its persistence. The world’s longest lasting light bulb has been burning in a Livermore, California Fire Station since 1901. That’s 114 years that the bulb has been in operation with over 1,000,000 hours of use. It has been off at various times in its history. Once in 1937 for a week when the firehouse was being renovated, and for nine and a half hours in 2013 when a back-up system failed in keeping it lit.