Odd factoids

[Mad Doug Biker]

@matticus The

kyirb

Is the former currency of Kyrgyzstan.

 

[bruce1530]

Kyrgyzstan is named after Kyrg, the Emperor of the Zoragons in "Flash Gordon's Mission to the Planet Zog".

 

[bruce1530]

There are several countries in Central Asia who's names end in -stan. Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Khasakstan, Uzbekistan, and many others. Many are former parts of the Soviet Union, and are located in the region between Iraq, Russia, India and China.

They are all named after Stan Laurel, who was regarded as a comedy genius by the Soviets. Laurel was awarded the Order of Lenin by Nikita Khrushchev, who was a personal fan of slapstick comedy.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

People living in the above countries are known to all be descended from Oliver Hardy. Hence they are known as being a Hardy folk.

 

[Drago]

Tom Hardy the actor is not at all hard since his doctor stopped prescribing viagra. He is now billed as Tom Flaccid.

 

[bruce1530]

Elton John's song "Nikita" is about a crush he had on Nikita Khrushchev. It was a mutual admiration; indeed the name "Khrushchev" literally translates as "Crush on the little balding chap"

 

[Drago]

USSR stands for United Slimline Salad Relish. Ironically this was something its citizens never ate.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

USSR stands for United Slimline Salad Relish. Ironically this was something its citizens never ate.

The USSR changed it's name from CCCP after it was pointed out that it could be construed as being a bit pervy.

 

[Seevio]

Flash Gordon (orig. Xhash Ghordori) was born and raised in Albania and was a staunch royalist. He named the planet he discovered in Albania's one and only space mission after the nation's last king.

 

[HMS_Dave]

After a state visit to Italy with Mussolini, King Zog was accused of stealing Mussolini's Des O'Connor music collection whom Zog was a great fan of.. After phoning and asking nicely, stating he could not replace this music due to a trade embargo. Zog still denied all involvement, despite Des O'Connors greatest hits playing in the background of the call. Mussolini, not at all fooled launched an invasion of Albania to retrieve the music collection, forcing Zog to flee to Greece with his stolen but beloved collection of music forcing Mussolini to then invade Greece which some say was the beginning of the end for him.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

The convoluted and jagged path followed by Zog on his travels is the origin of the phrase "Zig Zog lines"

 

[Drago]

Zig zag lines outside achools exist because the very first set were supposed to be straight but the yellow line painter was attacked by a swarm of bees as he went round. Ever since highway engineers have copied this example.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Car drivers think the zig zag lines outside schools mean they have to park in zig zags all over the road. Hence the chaos seen each day.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Sustrans used to be an ace stunt bicycle rider. Thus cycle routes were designed as a supreme test of their abilities.

 

[Drago]

Stunt riders on days of yore did not get their title because they did stunts, but rather because poor nutrition had sounded their growth. BMX was thus invented to serve the stunted, latterly the stunt, market