Gill & Pete are back again with more Friday Fact Fun!

This week Gill tells us the lovely story of how the term "woollybacks" is steeped in history and is not in fact a derogatory term for people from St. Helens. She also tells us the source of the word "ghost" and is championing the bringing back of the word "copemate". She also tells us how the word gossip was born! Finally she is here to tell you guys that putting your elbows on the table when you eat is absolutely fine... unless you have a dodgy table.

Pete tells us the slightly chaotic story of how animals once ruled the streets of big cities and we didn't mind cos they ate the rubbish. Yes, you read that right. He also tells us of the strange, subliminal messages that certain folded corners of a calling card could convey.

Finally he tells us of the great George Wilson who brought London to a standstill because the public couldn't cope with him walking a very very long way so they just had to gamble and drink. But it wasn't George's fault.

Now we're off to have a have a bet on the Olympic walking event because we love it.

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Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to WTF HQ for another Facts The Way I Like It!

Gill is back in town from her round the world tour and frankly is bristling with more facts. This week Gill tells us of the mad craze that took hold of Victorian Britain and made everyone far too interested in ferns. Yes, ferns.

She also tells us where the phrase "Being in the Limelight" comes from.

Finally, she tells us how Kim Kardashian helped a priceless sarcophagus find its way home after a viral photo exposed the MET's somewhat mirky art purchase history.

Pete weighs in this week with the story of Hedy Lamarr and how she and composer George Antheil developed an ingenious system to help the Second World War effort and prevent radio controlled torpedoes being intercepted by the enemy.

Also, he tells us how that simple yet effective idea has become the bedrock of a vast array of modern technology and communications.

He also shares the current runners and riders in the mid-21st century space race and the roadmap for the next humans to set foot on the moon and what it all might mean for human space endeavour overall.

Finally, Pete has a few quick fire facts including Guy Fawkes' frankly useless ability to choose a pseudonym.

Right, we're off to get some custard creams and methodically disassemble our toys to see how they work...

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Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Friday and we all know what that means... Except we don't because you're wrong. It's not Gill and Pete... It's Karen and Pete!

Yes, stepping in for Gill Smith again, is our favourite stand in presenter and fellow keen fact nerd, Karen Hassan.

This week Karen takes us down memory lane and reminds us of a time when instead of trawling through hundreds of films on Netflix and never making a decision, we would do that in person, standing in a Blockbuster store. She tells us all to dig out the crates in the loft to see if we have an original VHS worth a fortune.

She also tells us the colourful history of Tarot cards and finally she tells us why we say "mind your P's and Q's" or why we think we do!

Pete shares the story of a recently rediscovered composer, Florence Price who overcame prejudice in early 20th century America to achieve a musical first which has lead to her music being finally, rightly performed and appreciated by the world.

He also shares the frankly ridiculous world of the Blanket Octopus and the slight mis-match between the male and the female and finally he suggests that if we're ever lost... Maybe try using a cow as a compass.

Right, we're off to the local Cineplex with a VHS camcorder.

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Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Friday means Facts. It's that simple.

Gill and Pete are delving into more strange stories and lesser known facts from all walks of life.

This week, Gill tells us about how and why Daylight Savings became I thing. She also tells us about the crazy variation in day length - just depending what planet you may find yourself on. If you think your day drags, try being on Venus.

Finally she tells us about the island that changes its nationality every six months! Luckily no-one lives there otherwise it would mean constantly applying for a new passport.

Pete shares the lonely plight of rogue planets and their constant hope for a new solar system / foster home. He also tells us the benefits of an 11 year old kid forgetting what he is doing and how it can lead to the birth of an iconic sweet treat.

Finally, he lists a bunch of frankly mad idiotic laws, some of which are still in force and one of which shows that an "official" in Poland, looks at Winnie The Pooh and his attire (or lack of it) with different eyes to the rest of us.

But anyway, we're off to find a rogue planet and offer it a nice warm home...

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Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's another Friday and another Fact tirade from Gill and Pete.

This week Gill is back home and a bit delirious but she keeps it together for long enough to tell us about the Viking wedding ritual which depressingly involved grave robbing - but in a nice romantic way. She also tells us how F1 Pit stops have helped save many babies' lives. Finally, she tells us that in case of an unexpected war, the Tudors brought in a nice Sunday afternoon law as a way of keeping men's eyes in when it came to archery.

Pete brings us down to earth with the stories of Luke Aikens and Vesna Vulović who both survived falls from great heights, but in very different circumstances.

He also tells us why some buildings in London have "ANCIENT LIGHTS" painted on them and finally he tells us of George Crum who may or may not have invented the potato crisp / chip when a wealthy customer kept complaining about his fried potatoes.

After all this we're off to The Skunk and Bucket (Pete's favourite fictional pub) for some crisps and to sweat our old lives away...

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Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gill is back!! Well, ok she's still on the other side of the world but Gill dials in from Japan to share some local knowledge and some facts and stats about Japan and its culture.

She also tests Pete's knowledge of Typhoons as one is getting a bit close for comfort!

Pete shares a story of a true hero, Christina Santhouse who has had the challenge of living without half her brain and not only has she coped, she has thrived. He also has a Japanese fact of his own relating to food used on cooking shows and how it must never be wasted! Finally he talks band names and shares how PETA wanted the Pet Shop Boys to change their name to something a little less "controversial"!

Now we're off to watch Natalie Portman's Shaved Head in the back room of The Skunk & Bucket.

Follow us on Social Media:

Threads: @WhatTheFactualpod

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Email us..: whatthefactualpod@gmail.com

Youtube...: https://www.youtube.com/@whatthefactualpod

Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Friday again so let's celebrate in the only way we know how which is to sit and share lesser known fun facts and mad stories.

But this week it's a bit different!

GUEST PRESENTER ALERT!!

Yes in a twist, Gill is literally on the other side of the world so we are so grateful and happy to welcome Karen Hassan as a guest presenter!!

Karen brings her own set of facts and frankly enjoys telling the story of the most prolific man-poisoner of all time a little bit too much!

She also shares a fun fact about the harp-based Guinness logo and finally she tells us the inspirational and complex story of Yılmaz Güney, a Kurdish film director, screenwriter, novelist, actor and communist political activist and how his story served as a lesson to us all to not let circumstances stand in out way of achieving our dreams.

In a very similar vein (no, honestly) Pete shares the adventures of Lawnchair Larry who didn't let simple restrictions such as not having a plane or a pilot's license stop him from reaching for the skies.

He also tells us the story of the Phonautograph and its inventor Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville who broke new ground in sound recording but was never able to hear his work.

Pete also tells us how "singing roads" came to be and also how a bird just going about its business nearly sparked a Cold War Crisis.

Gill isn't entirely absent as she calls in with a question from the other side... (of the world).

Follow us on Social Media:

Threads: @WhatTheFactualpod

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Email us..: whatthefactualpod@gmail.com

Youtube...: www.youtube.com/@whatthefactualpod

Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another Friday, another Fact Overload with respected purveyors of fact sharing, Gill Smith and Pete Moor.

This week Pete just hits Gill with far too many facts in the form of 2 rounds of Friday Quiz fun including subjects such as Geography, History, Geographical History, Historical Geography and Goldfish memories (in more ways than one).

Sandwiched between these quiz rounds are some facts including how plants can "hear" the sound of rushing water and also how lightning can be converted into natural glass which reminds Gill of a film she didn't enjoy (may or may not be Sweet Home Alabama)...

Gill in turn shares some lesser known famous last words which somehow sparks a discussion about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She also shares some famous quotes and finally some sayings which are often mis-quoted or misunderstood and some of them mean the exact opposite to what we usually think.

We're off to plant some apple trees... and to live our lives completely guided by a magic 8 ball.

Follow us on Social Media:

Threads: @WhatTheFactualpod

Instagram: @whatthefactualpod

Email us..: whatthefactualpod@gmail.com

Youtube...: www.youtube.com/@whatthefactualpod

Facts The Way I Like It! is written and presented by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Subjects & Research by Gill Smith & Pete Moor.

Sound, Editing & Music by Pete Moor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.