Flugelbinders: the truth

In the 1988, Tom Cruise movie Cocktail, Brian Flanagan explains to Elizabeth Shue's character that someone's probably made gazillions by inventing the "flugelbinder" - the plastic bits on the end of shoelaces.

These are actually called Aglets (from the French word for needle).

So now you know.

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. I have had two children since then! Hence my first topic to get me back into the swing of things is based around some of the pre-school television to which I've been subjected recently.

Did you know that the voice of Grandpa Pig is also the voice of Brains from Thunderbirds? how cool is that?!

Getting the ems on M&Ms

Have you ever wondered how they get the ems on your M&Ms?

A conveyor printing press is used to print the tiny white M's on each M&M - which were originally black, not white. Because the peanut sizes vary, the press must be always adjusted to prevent smashing the peanuts in peanut M&Ms. Regular M&Ms, all the same size, are much easier to send through the printer.

In a packet of regular M&MS you get 33% brown, 22% each of red and yellow and 11% each of green and blue.

In 1981, M&M's® Chocolate were chosen by the first space shuttle astronauts to be included in their food supply. M&M's are now on permanent display at the space food exhibit of the National Air & Space Museum in Washington D.C.

So much tastier now you know these things, no?

Brat Pack-tastic

I've been inspired to re-blog as I watch a late night showing of John Hughes' classic "The Breakfast Club". This was an absolute favourite film of mine growing up - I know pretty much all of the lines. But, I discovered tonight that there's something I missed. The registration number on Brian's mom's car is EMC2 - presumably to represent his position as the brain in the Breakfast Club. Further investigation on www.imdb.com tells of a rift between John Hughes and legendary bad boy Judd Nelson.

Mind the (age) gap

Sorry, I seem to be on a birthday theme - and it's not intentional but I had to share with you that I just discovered that Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas have the same birthday (althought it's a quarter of a century apart). Howzat for a coincidence? Or is it? It seems that the probabilities aren't as high as you'd think.
Have a look

Portent into the future

It's my husband's birthday today. (Happy Birthday darling!)

My Mac widget "this day in history" tells me that he shares it with David Lloyd George and Benjamin Franklin, both distinguished orators.

Franklin is on the $100 bill, the average life of which is around 9 years (as opposed to a British £50, which is around 5 years).

He is also the author of one of my favourite quotes of all time:
"Dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."

This is on the sundial at Twelve Oaks, one of the plantations in the movie Gone With The Wind.

Countryfolk of Borsetshire - in the heart of London

Tim Bentinck who plays David in The Archersis the voice of Mind the Gap on the Piccadilly Line.
That's it, really. I didn't like to adulterate such a good titbit with anything else.