Interesting Things I Bet You Didn't Know

It is rainy cold spring evening, the wife and children have retired to bed for the evening, and I was browsing through some of my books and thought that I would share with everyone some interesting facts that you may or may not know.

It seems at least for me the everyday items we use and take for granite we know little of the history of those items, or who created these products to help simplify our lives. We are all in such a hurry these days and these common household items come in very useful, to keep us on the go.

I have only included information I thought you would be interested in so if you want a full history of these items please take the time to research this information yourself.

1) Toothbrush:

Originally called Chewsticks, there were originally used by the Babylonians and have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back 3000 years.

The likes of modern toothbrush was invented by the Chinese in the 15^th century. The necks of Siberian hogs were plucked and fastened to bamboo or bone.

In 1938 the Dupont company created the nylon toothbrush the modern day toothbrush.

The first electric toothbrush was created in Switzerland in 1939.

2) Toothpaste:

The Egyptians were the first to use toothpaste made of powered pumice stone and vinegar roughly two thousand B.C..

In the 1800's the British chemist added bicarbonate of soda and strontium to toothpaste.

Dr. Washington Sheffield's introduced the collapsible toothpaste tubes in 1892.

3) Deodorant:

The fourth millennium B.C. Sumerians left records of their deodorants.

The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used perfumed oils to mask body odor.

In 1888 the U.S. came out with deodorant in Philadelphia.

Spray on deodorants came out in the 1960's.

4) Razors:

Cave paintings and archaeologist have evidence that people were shaving 30,000 years ago. They used flint, volcanic glass and sharks teeth.

The Greeks and Romans used iron for shaving.

Roman women also used razors, tweezers and pumice stones.

In 1903 King Camp Gillette began mass producing the likes of the modern day razors.

5) Toilet Paper:

Joseph Gayetty invited the modern day toilet paper in 1857.

The ancient Romans used sponges on a stick.

Through our history man has used wool, cotton, lace or whatever they could find.

Corncob was the preferred choice with the settlers of America.

The outhouses were generally equipped with old newspapers, flyers, and catalogs.

6) Tampons:

Egyptian women used soft papyrus or pellets of linen.

The Romans used wool, Indonesians used vegetable fibers (what's that?), Africans used grass.

Early American women used old rags or towels.

In 1920 Kimberly-Clark company introduced Kotex disposable sanitary napkins, beginning the age of tampons.

7) Combs: from Greek (GOMBHOS) meaning TEETH.

There is evidence that combs date back 6,000 years ago.

Combs were generally made of teeth.

8) Knives:

Invented 2.5 million years ago. Wow where is all this history hidden?

This was allegedly found in Tanzania.

People would carry their knives everywhere they went. If you were to do this today you would go to prison without an opportunity to collect 200 dollars and pass go.

Airport and airlines have banned all knives from food service after 9/11/2001. Oh and don't try and carry a knife on a plane you will go directly to jail. Just sayin

9) The first calculating machine:

Invented in 1642 by Blaise Pascal a French Scientist and Philosopher.

German mathematician Gottfried Leibniz in 1670s improved the calculator to multiply, divide, and extract square roots.

The funny thing to me is that these people couldn't even take care of their teeth and they were inventing calculators pretty cool.

10) Baking Soda:

By adding a little baking soda to your toothpaste it will help remove plaque.

It can be used for deodorant under the arms.

To freshen your breath, by mixing 1 teaspoon with a half of glass of water.

It can be used as a facial scrub by with in with old fashioned Quaker oats.

These are just a few of the important uses of baking soda.

11) Lemon Juice:

Forget about those unhealthy pesticides, try using lemon juice to keep out ants, just moderately apply in areas you have problems with ants.

Pet accidents in your home and be cleaned up with lemon juice to hide the odor and keep your pet from going their again.

Paint brushes that were not properly cleaned can be by soaking them in hot lemon juice.

These are just a few ideas of the importance of lemon juice.

12) The Number 7

God created the world in Seven days.

There are seven Archangels of Revelation

There are seven generations from King David until coming of the messiah Jesus the Christ.

There are seven seas. North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian ocean, Artic ocean and the Antarctic oceans.

There are seven wonder's of the World. Egyptian pyramids, hanging gardens of Babylon, temple of Diana at Ephesus, the statute of Zeus of Olympia, the mausoleum of King Mausolos at Halicarnassus, the Colussus of Rhodes, and the lighthouse of Alexandria.

There are seven deadly sins, pride, lust, envy, anger, covetousness, gluttony, and sloth.

Seven Years War 1756-1763 Prussia-Austria, France, Russia

The seven Devas of the Hindu's bible, the seven spirits in the Egyptian religion, the seven angels of the Chaldeans, the seven Amschaspands of the Persian faith, the seven Sephiroth of the Hebrew Cabbala.

13) Triskaidekaphobia: The fear of the number 13

Many high rises do not have a 13^th floor.

Airplanes don't have a 13^th row.

In France and Italy you will rarely find a home with the address number 13.

Millions of people in the United States think something bad will happen to them on Friday the 13^th.

Well, that is all for this evening folks, I hope this has been helpful.

Good day to all