Welcome to the Mine of Useless Information on Tuesday 13 May 2008

A random quote from our archives...

"Here am I: at one stroke incestuous, adulteress, sodomite, and all that in a girl who only lost her maidenhead today! What progress, my friends... with what rapidity I advance along the thorny road of vice!"
Marquis de Sade

...more quotes

A random fact...

Mountain goats grow luxurious winter coats — more than three inches of cashmere-quality wool, overlaid with long hollow hairs. The hardy animals can endure winter temperatures as low as minus 50º F, and powerful winds up to 100 miles per hour.

...more trivia

Five random people born today...

• Stevie Wonder, singer and songwriter, You are the Sunshine of My Love (1950)
• Henry William, Baron, Stiegel, early American glassmaker (1729)
• Dennis Rodman, NBA forward, Chicago Bulls (1961)
• William R. Tolbert, president Liberia, 1971-80 (1913)
• David Hughes, cricketer (1947)

Five random people who died on this day...

• Joseph Henry, American Scientist (1878)
• Joaquin Garcia, Mexican comic actor, dies of heart attack at 71 (1993)
• Selma Diamond, comedienne (Selma-Night Court), dies of cancer at 64 (1985)
• Kara Abulfazogli Karayev, composer, dies at 64 (1982)
• Venedikt Jerofejev, Russian writer, dies (1990)

Five random things that happened on this day...

• New York Giant Fred Merkle is 1st to get 6 RBIs in an inning (1st) (1911)
• U.S. passes Tariff of Abominations (1828)
• St. Agapitus I begins his reign as Catholic Pope (535)
• Soyuz T-5 is launched-Berezovoi and Lebedev for 211 days in space (1982)
• Farmer killed by hail in Lubbock, Texas, only known fatality due to hail (1930)

Number One Single this time last year...

UK: -
US: Charts not yet in existence
Australia: Charts not yet in existence

Number One Single five years ago...

UK: R. Kelly - Ignition (Remix)
US: Sean Paul - Get Busy
Australia: Justin Timberlake - Rock Your Body

Number One Single ten years ago...

UK: Aqua - Turn Back Time
US: Next - Too Close
Australia: Shania Twain - You're Still The One

Number One Single 25 years ago...

UK: Spandau Ballet - True
US: Michael Jackson - Beat It
Australia: Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Number One Single 50 years ago...

UK: Connie Francis - Who's Sorry Now
US: Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
Australia: Perry Como - Catch A Falling Star

...more number one singles