The Useless Facts Thread

Pixel_Outlaw · Post by **Pixel_Outlaw** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:56 am

The Moai of Konami fame are drawn damaged. Initially they had round red volcanic stone hats and white eyes with a central pupil.

also a fact: Konami not Namco created the Gradius series.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:40 pm

And this just in: Generalíssimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:50 am

It is said that Alfred Hitchcock was once driving through Switzerland when he suddenly pointed out of the car window and said, "That is the most frightening sight I have ever seen." It was a priest in conversation with a little boy, his hand on the boy's shoulder. Hitchcock leaned out of the car window and shouted, "Run, little boy! Run for your life!"

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:48 am

Bungie's first console game was Super Marathon for the Apple Pippin.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 7:53 pm

Steve Jobs explains the naming of his company:

I was actually a fruitarian at that point in time. I ate only fruit. Now I'm a garbage can like everyone else. And we were about three months late in filing a fictitious business name so I threatened to call the company Apple Computer unless someone suggested a more interesting name by five o'clock that day. Hoping to stimulate creativity. And it stuck. And that's why we're called Apple.

From Fire in the Valley, by Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:00 am

This is one of the weirdest coincidences I ever heard of...

Back in the 70s, there was a short-lived but influential british punk rock band called Big in Japan.

Years later, german synthpop band Alphaville had a song titled "Big in Japan". The title was inspired by that band.

In april 1984, Alphaville's "Big in Japan" reached #1 in Germany, replaced "Relax" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood's singer, Holly Johnson, used to be Big in Japan's bassist.

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:13 pm

The currency of Zimbabwe is Zimbabwean dollars. The most valuable bill in this country is worth 10 million zimbabwean dollars.

With the current crisis going on there, with 10 million zimbabwean dollars you can afford...

...a chicken.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:32 pm

Ruldra wrote:The currency of Zimbabwe is Zimbabwean dollars. The most valuable bill in this country is worth 10 million zimbabwean dollars.

With the current crisis going on there, with 10 million zimbabwean dollars you can afford...

...a chicken.

Since you wrote that post the 10 million Zimbabwean dollars will buy you a beef bullion cube

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:55 pm

In Iron Maiden's song "The Angel and the Gambler", the chorus is sung 22 times.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:02 am

Don McLean's starting point to compose the hit song "American Pie" was an article by philosopher Ayn Rand about the death of Marilyn Monroe. (thus, 'miss American Pie' is Marilyn.) The article can be read here.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:07 am

Damn those non-pure-of-heart non-heroic no-do-gooder badniks! They killed Marilyn!

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:00 am

Stormwatch wrote:Don McLean's starting point to compose the hit song "American Pie" was an article by philosopher Ayn Rand about the death of Marilyn Monroe. (thus, 'miss American Pie' is Marilyn.) The article can be read here.

"What kind of pie is American Pie? Maybe it's Hershey's Sundae Pie. It already has a city named after it. That puts it way in front of pecan for sure."

Gonna read this carefully later. Personally, I think it's a bit simpler than this (see: South Park episode on the celebrity sacrifice ritual, which is itself too complicated; I think maybe Monroe's death has a bit of "rocker who doesn't know better" in it), but good for Ayn Rand anyway; I like what I skimmed so far (am I really saying that?

)

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:25 pm

Lord British's father is a retired astronaut.

lgb · Post by **lgb** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:48 pm

The new Treasure shooter is *not* related to RSG or Ikaruga in any way, except it's being made by Treasure.

ED-057 · Post by **ED-057** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:51 am

Back in the 70s, there was a short-lived but influential british punk rock band called Big in Japan.

Years later, german synthpop band Alphaville had a song titled "Big in Japan". The title was inspired by that band.

Hmmm... I had a piece of music on my Amiga that was included with the demo "Wild Copper" and it was titled "Big in Japan." I wonder if it is this Alphaville song? I'll have to check it out.

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:05 am

ED-057 wrote:
Back in the 70s, there was a short-lived but influential british punk rock band called Big in Japan.

Years later, german synthpop band Alphaville had a song titled "Big in Japan". The title was inspired by that band.
Hmmm... I had a piece of music on my Amiga that was included with the demo "Wild Copper" and it was titled "Big in Japan." I wonder if it is this Alphaville song? I'll have to check it out.

There also was a lousy cover by another german band, the guano apes.
in my humble opinion, they are just hilariously bad.
check out the cover version here ^_~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFojdQ8d7DY

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:20 am

Jockel wrote:
ED-057 wrote:
Back in the 70s, there was a short-lived but influential british punk rock band called Big in Japan.

Years later, german synthpop band Alphaville had a song titled "Big in Japan". The title was inspired by that band.
There also was a lousy cover by another german band, the guano apes.
in my humble opinion, they are just hilariously bad.

Horrible indeed.
But I'll forgive them for Lords of the Boards

Such a kickass song, that always gets the adrenaline pumping.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:55 am

Jockel wrote:There also was a lousy cover by another german band, the guano apes.
in my humble opinion, they are just hilariously bad.
check out the cover version here ^_~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFojdQ8d7DY

ED-057 · Post by **ED-057** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:55 am

There's something about this thread that is different than how I remember it. http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.ph ... c&start=30

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:09 am

"Snake oil" is a slang for a fraudulent medicine; but actual snake oil, a traditional chinese medicine, is very rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a powerful anti-inflammatory. The infamous "Stanley's snake oil" did not really contain any snake oil; however, it contained some capiscum, which can also relieve pain.

Don't feel like putting yucky reptile substances on your skin? Eat oily fish, like salmon, herring, or sardines - they are rich in EPA as well.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:37 pm

Journey found their new vocalist, Arnel Pineda, on Youtube.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:06 pm

if you put a drop of whisky onto a scorpion it will sting itself to death

DJM · Post by **DJM** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:34 am

Justice is blind.

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:23 am

That reminds me of that joke...

People say I am a nobody.
Nobody is perfect.
Therefore, I am perfect.

I am perfect.
But only God is perfect.
Therefore, I am God.

Also, God is love.
Love is blind.
Therefore, God is blind.

God is blind.
Stevie Wonder is blind.
Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.

Stevie Wonder is god.
But, as stated before, I am God.
Therefore, I am Stevie Wonder.

Oh my God! I’m blind!

JoshF · Post by **JoshF** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:28 am

Superstition aint the way.

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:07 am

jpj wrote:if you put a drop of whisky onto a scorpion it will sting itself to death

Videoooo prooooooof xDDD

Stormwatch · Post by **Stormwatch** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 4:13 pm

Led Zeppelin has a song called "Houses of the Holy", and an album of the same name. But that song is actually in their following album, Physical Graffiti.

Jockel · Post by **Jockel** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:50 am

The song "Rock'n'Roll Terrorist" by Generation X-ed contains the same sample, that's used for the boss fights in the DDP DOJ Arrange Soundtrack.
I just found that out myself >.>

Lordstar · Post by **Lordstar** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:10 am

Stormwatch wrote:Led Zeppelin has a song called "Houses of the Holy", and an album of the same name. But that song is actually in their following album, Physical Graffiti.

same can be said about the band gomez. There first album is called "bring it on" but the first signle off the second album is of the same name. This was due to lack of time in the studio.

they also hail from a town about 7miles away from me called southport

this town used to be one of the bigger sea side resorts in the UK in right up until the early to mid nighties. at one time it it had more jamma cabinets inside that one town than a lot of major cities. it now has fewer than three (three if you count the one which is not working) this does not include dedicated cabinets though.

Ruldra · Post by **Ruldra** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 1:29 pm

I bet no one of you ever realized this:

The same sprite is used for the cloud and grass. Only the color is different.