Tag Archives: Facts

Pope Benedict XVI

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Pope Benedict XVI

The 256th pope: Pope Benedict XVI.

  • Benedict XVI’s real name is Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger and he was born on the 16th April 1927.
  • Benedict XVI was pope of the Catholic church from 19th April, 2005 to February 28th 2013.
  • Benedict XVI was a priest from 1951 and a full professor in 1958.
  • Benedict XVI was responsible for restarting many old catholic traditions.
  • Benedict XVI resigned in February since he had “lack of strength in the mind and body”.
Pope Benedict XVI, Staff Cross, Catholic, Upper Half, Gold, Yellow, Traditional, Flickr, Catholic Church of England and Wales, Portugal, 2010, Ten Random Facts
Benedict XVI
Image courtesy of Catholic Church (England and Wales)/Flickr
  • Benedict XVI was the first pope to resign in 598 years, the last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
  • Benedict XVI chose to use the name ‘Benedict’ in honour of Benedict XV and Saint Benedict of Nursia.
  • Benedict XVI particularly used the theme of ‘Friendship with Jesus Christ’ in his teachings.
  • Benedict XVI likes classical music and cats, and is a pianist.
  • Benedict XVI has written 66 books.
Bibliography:
Pope Benedict XVI 3 March 2013, Wikipedia,  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI>

Leaning Tower of Pisa

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Leaning Tower of Pisa

Don’t knock it over!

  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a tilted, free-standing bell tower that is part of Pisa’s cathedral.
  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in the city of Pisa, Italy and is famous for its tilt to one side.
  • During the construction process in 1178, the Leaning Tower of Pisa began to tilt since the ground was too soft on one side to support the weight of the building
  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa’s height is 55.9 – 56.7 meters (183.3 – 186 inches) and has a total of 296 steps to reach the  top.
  • Before restoration in the late 1900s, the Leaning Tower of Pisa had a tilt of 5.5°, and after the restorations the tilt was reduced to 3.99°.

Tower, Leaning, Pisa, Italy, Europe, Bell Tower, Cathedral, Ten Random Facts, Free Digital Photos

Leaning Tower of Pisa
Image courtesy of Matt Banks/ Free Digital Photos
  •  The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built from 1173 – 1372 in three stages, although work stopped for more than 100 years during that time.
  • Since the Italian government was afraid of the Leaning Tower of Pisa collapsing, similar to another tower incident in 1989, they removed earth from underneath the tower, which helped to stabilise the tilting.
  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa has seven bells installed in the tower.
  • Since monitoring began in 1911, it was discovered that the Leaning Tower of Pisa was moving at 1.2 mm (o.o5 inches) per year.
  • No one actually knows who the true identy of the architect is, that designed the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Bibliography:
Harris, W n.d, Will the Leaning Tower of Pisa ever fall?, How Stuff Works,   <http://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/will-leaning-tower-of-pisa-fall.htm>

Blimp

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Blimp

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No… It’s a blimp!

  • Blimps are aircraft with no inside framework used for support.
  • Blimps lift due to high pressure and helium pumped in the balloon.
  • The only solid parts of a blimp are the gondola, where the passengers are, and tail fins used for stability.
  • Blimps require propeller motors for steering mobility.
  • Some blimps were used for patrolling purposes for the United States Navy in the World War I period.

Blimp, Blue, Yellow, Side, Stripes, White, Blue Sky, Ten Random Facts, Tom Grinsted, Flickr

Blimp
Image courtesy of Tom Grinsted/Flickr
  • Blimps are commonly used for advertising purposes, and some blimps have 1000s of LED lights on them to shine messages.
  • Blimps are often deflated in transportation processes.
  • The term ‘blimp’ only refers to aircraft that free fly in the air.
  • The term ‘blimp’ is a mix of the original British word for blimp, limp, and the most common type of blimp class, B, thus creating ‘blimp’.
  • In 1925, Goodyear Tire and Rubber created the blimps we now know today.
Bibiliography:
Blimp 28 February 2013 , Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blimp>
Freudenrich, C N.d., Blimp, How Stuff Works, <http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/blimp.htm>

Tennis

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Tennis

Game, set, match.

  • Tennis is generally a sport where you hit a ball over a net with a racquet, towards an opponent who aims to hit the ball back over the net.
  • Artwork from 500BC in Ancient Greece shows an early form of tennis that was played.
  • In France, during the 1400s, a type of tennis evolved and eventually included a tennis racquet and the term ‘tennis’ was used.
  • Tennis was first played as a competitive sport in the early 1870s.
  • Early tennis racquets were constructed from ash wood and modern tennis racquets are made from carbon graphite or fibreglass.

Tennis, Playing, Court, Game, Lady, singles, Flickr, Ten Random Facts, Druh Scoff

  • Tennis racquets must be less than 81.28 cm (32 inches) lengthwise and 31.75 cm (12.5 inches) but can be any shape or weight.
  • The general scoring system is 4 points (15, 30, 45, game) for a game, 6 games equals a set, and 2 sets equal a match.
  • An umpire watches the tennis game from a high chair so he/she can see the players, the ball and the court.
  • There are many tennis hitting techniques such as drives, lobs and smashes.
  • Tennis games can be played single or double, but double games require teamwork to win.
Bibliography:
Vicaro, A 2000, Tennis, oling Kindersly, Great Britian

Photinia

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Photinia

Reddy, hedgy plants.

  • Photinia are trees or shrubs that grow 3m to 15m tall.
  • Photinia are native to the warmer temperatures of Asia and there are between 40 and 60 species.
  • Photinia sometimes have thorns on their branches.
  • Photinia bloom in early summer and have white, five petalled flowers that smell like hawthorn.
  • Photinia produce numerous berries that are small and red in colour.

Photinia, Red leaves, Green, Sun, Hedge, Tall, Australia, Ten Random Facts

  • The berries of Photonia are eaten by birds which spread the seeds of the plant in their droppings.
  • Firethorns, cotoneasters and hawthorns are related to Photinias.
  • Photinia are commonly used for decorative purposes in the garden ands some species are a popular hedge plant.
  • Throughout spring and summer, the new leaves on many Photinia cultivars are a beautiful red, which turn green when the foliage ages.
  • Some Photinia cultivars are poisonous, especially for mammals that chew the cud.
Bibliography:
Photinia 26 February 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photinia>

Lock Key

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Lock Key

Turn, click. Open!

  • There are many different types of keys which are used to open locks.
  • Keys are tools that are used in security and access of homes and cars etc.
  • House keys are the most common type of keys, then car keys.
  • Keys can be double sided or four sided, for extra security.
  • Thousands of years ago, wood was used to make keys.

Keys, Skeleton, Lots, Old, New, Blue, Rad, Small, Car Key, Traditional Key, Tags, Ten Random Facts

  • Some say that Theodore of Samos invented the key in the 6th century BC.
  • Romans used to wear keys as rings as symbols of wealthiness and for security.
  • Key duplicating was invented in 1917 using a blank key and a wheel that cuts the key.
  • Some keys are cylindrical, and are called tubular keys, which are commonly used among vending machines, laptop and bicycle locks.
  • Key cards are alternate keys that are like flat credit cards and are typically used in hotels.
Bibliography:
Key (Lock) 15 February 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_(lock)>
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