General knowledge game.

[mash]

I will post a few questions (one at a time) and the first to answer will get
$500k

RULES
* You can have a go at the questions more than once
* Once the question has been answered, the slate is wiped clean, you can answer all questions.
* I will leave the question for a day and if no one has answred the question correctly I will move onto the next question.
* I may come back to previously asked questions (if not answered)
***Please note there will only be approx 14 questions asked overall***


WINNERS
Q1 Redlaserfrog for $500k recieved
Q2 EDZ for $500k recieved
Q3 Kat66 for $500k recieved
Q4 Pinkstar for $500k recieved
Q5 Pinkstar for $500k recieved
Q6 Kat66 for $500K recieved
Q7 Pinkstar for $500k recieved
Q8 Kat66 for $500k recieved
Q9 Fiddle for $500k
Q10 Fireflake for $500k
Q11 EDZ for $500k recieved

So here goes.

Q1 How did the expression "The rule of thumb" come about?
(if you can tell me the year then it's worth an extra $100k)

Have fun.....(no cheating) lol

[Fiddle]

I've never heard of it, but I'm guessing it's because of the gladiator competitions in Ancient Rome, where the Emperor (or sometimes known as Ceaser (sp?)) would use hands signals to say whether the loser would live or die. Thimbs up for living, thumbs down for death.

Oh, and can we post answers for more then one question?

[mash]

No sorry that is not the answer I am looking for. But good guess

I'll add a few more rules to the first post

[milon]

It is much more likely that it comes from the ancient use of bits of the body to make measurements. There were once many of these: the unit of the foot comes from pacing out dimensions; the distance from the tip of the nose to the outstretched fingers is about one yard; horse heights are still measured in hands (the width of the palm and closed thumb, now fixed at four inches); and so on.
- It's been recorded since 1692, apparently.

[Redlaserfrog]

Ooh, I think I might actually know this. My algebra II teacher was talking about a couple weeks ago. He said it was back when guys beat their wives and the rule was that they couldn't beat them with anything wider than your thumb. But I guess it was legal to beat them with things thinner than a thumb. Sorry it that sounds dumb, I'm just going by what the teacher told me. No idea about the date...

[EDZ]

I found the answer on the net, but it didn't give a date. Is this cheating?

Rule of thumb

Meaning: A basic rule that is usually but not always correct.

Example: As a rule of thumb, plant tomato seeds three inches deep.

Origin: Based on the use of ones thumb as a rough measurement tool.

Generally correct for course measures.
Most old English measures of distance were based on the body measurements of the king--the length of the foot, inch (thumb tip to first knuckle), cubit (elbow-to-fingertip), and yard (nose-to-fingertip).

Alternatively,

Old English law (and potentially early American law) declared that it was okay for a man to beat his wife but had to use a stick no larger in diameter than his thumb.

There is no truth to the rumor that this law was an early start to the women's rights movement.


But it looks like there were 1 or 2 ahead of me that had the right answer, so, maybe this submission can just be proof.

[mash]

Redlaserfrog was the first to answer the question correctly. Congrats, please set up a trade of $500k

All answers were extremely good and all possible, however this was the one I was loking for

NEXT QUESTION

Q2 Many years ago in Scotland a new game was invented called GOLF. Why was the word GOLF used?

[EDZ]

Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden

[mash]

Well done EDZ. Make out a trade for $500k and I'll accept as soon as poss

Q3
True or false? Everyday more money is printed for Monopoly than the US treasury?

[milon]

True.

False.

If I say both, do I still get it right? : P
- Either way, I think the answer's true.

[mash]

Well done Kat. Yes the answer is true, make out a trade for $500k and I'll accept as soon as poss

Q4
True or false? Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better?

[PinkStar]

True and True, I read this in an article of Nathinol Geographic a while back

[milon]

False & women's senses improve when pregnant, or after childbirth, so I'm going to say true.

[mash]

Pinkstar you are correct well done. Both statements are true.
Make out a trade for $500k

Q5
What colour was Coca-Cola originally?

[PinkStar]

The drink Coca-Cola® was originally green in color. Our DARE teacher told us this a while back the drink also used to have cocaine in it.

Wow i was right! Yay! Thank you!