AWESOME FACTS ABOUT EVERYTHING CXLIV

1. Hamburger University was created by McDonald's founder Ray Kroc in 1961 - demonstrating his commitment to training and educating McDonald's employees. It still exists and functions at McDonald's Corporation Global Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. Hamburger U offers an intensive five-day crash course in restaurant management, leadership, and company culture.

2. The term "bar" in the context of the bar exam and bar association comes from the physical barrier in a courtroom that separates the court participants from the spectators. In the traditional English courtroom a wooden railing would set off the working area of the court from those watching the proceedings. When a student became a certified lawyer, he would be "called to the bar" - the origin of our current phrase "passing the bar." 

3. Spa is the name of a city in eastern Belgium known from the 14th century for its mineral-rich thermal springs used by Roman soldiers to treat aching muscles and wounds from battle. Spa, Belgium has become an eponym for mineral baths with supposed curative properties. 

4. The song "Unchained Melody" was originally written and sung in the 1955 low-budget movie "Unchained." It is about life in prison.

5.  The screenplay for "Casablanca" is based on the unproduced play "Everybody Comes to Rick's" by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison.

6. After Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947, Satchel Paige became the first African American to pitch in the major leagues - in 1948, for the Cleveland Indians. He was also the first African American to pitch in the World Series (Game 5 - 1948).

7.  Q. What do Rock Hudson, Walt Disney, and Bing Crosby have in common?

     A. They all worked for the Post Office - Hudson was a letter carrier, Disney an assistant letter carrier, and Crosby was a clerk.

 

8. Jayne Mansfield could speak five languages and was a classically trained violinist and pianist. 

9. MENSA is an international society for people who score in the top 2% of an approved intelligence test. It is the largest and oldest high-IQ society in the world. The word MENSA is the Latin word for "table." - so named because MENSA is a round-table organization where all members are equal. Ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational and social background are all completely irrelevant.

10. Earth is the only planet not named after a god.