What do those crazy letters and numbers on your drumsticks (5A/5B/7A/3S) mean?

The stick model (5A/5B/7A/7B/etc.) refers to the length and thickness of the shaft and taper of the stick.

Number
The numerical portion signifies the circumference of the stick. In general, the lower the number the larger circumference, and the greater the number the smaller the circumference. For example, the 7A is smaller in circumference than a 5A which in turn is narrower than the 2B. The exception is the 3S, which is larger in circumference than a 2B despite its number.

Letter:
The letter suffix: "S," "B," and "A" originally indicated the recommended application.

• "S" model sticks were designed for Street applications such as drum corps and marching band, and are typically the largest diameter sticks.
• "B" model sticks were intended for Band applications such as brass bands and symphonic concert bands. Smaller in circumference than the "S" models, they were easier to control and thus especially popular with beginning drummers. To this day the 2B is recommended by teachers practically everywhere as ideal starter sticks.
• "A" stands for Orchestra. "A" model sticks were designed for big band or dance type orchestras. They're smaller in circumference than "B" series sticks and lend themselves well for softer type playing. Nobody really knows why Ludwig chose to use "A" for "orchestra" (I think it was because they didn't like the way the "O" printed on the stick), but they were the first and now everybody uses it.

from http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38884&page=1

Pakistan bans 'obscene' words in cellphone texts

Pakistan's telecommunications authority sent a letter ordering cell phone companies to block text messages containing what it perceives to be obscenities, Anjum Nida Rahman, a spokeswoman for Telenor Pakistan, said Friday.

It also sent a list of more than 1,500 English and Urdu words that were to be blocked. The order was part of the regulator's attempt to block spam messages, said Rahman. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority refused to comment on the initiative.

Many of the words to be blocked were sexually explicit terms or swear words, according to a copy of the list obtained by The Associated Press.

It also included relatively mild terms like fart and idiot.

See full story at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/telecom/Pakistan-bans-obscene-words-in-cellphone-texts/articleshow/10791215.cms

Things you can get away with saying only at Christmas

1. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.

2. Smother the butter all over the breasts!

3. If I don't undo my trousers, I'll burst!

4. It's a little dry, do you still want to eat it?

5. Stuff it up between the legs as far as it will go.

6. Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?

7. I didn't expect everyone to come at the same time!

8. You still have a little bit on your chin.

9. You'll know it's ready when it pops up.

10. I'm so full, I've been gobbling nuts all morning.

from uk.rec.humour

What is the longest movie title in the world?

Night of the Day of the Dawn of the Son of the Bride of the Return of the Revenge of the Terror of the Attack of the Evil, Mutant, Alien, Flesh Eating, Hellbound, Zombified Living Dead Part 2: In Shocking 2-D.

See this, and other 'longest' stuff, at http://thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com/

The Red Book

The Red Book of Westmarch (sometimes Red Book of the Periannath, and The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings, also known as the Thain's Book after its principal version) is a fictional manuscript written by hobbits, a conceit of author J. R. R. Tolkien to explain the source of his fantasy writings.

It is a collection of writings in which the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were recounted by their characters, and from which Tolkien supposedly derived these and other works.

The name of the book comes from its red leather binding and casing, and also it having been housed in the Westmarch.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Book_of_Westmarch

Relationship Terms

The English language has quite an array of relationship or kinship terms, which can baffle even native English speakers. What’s the difference between a second cousin and first cousin once removed, or stepsister and half sister, let alone ortho-cousin and cross-cousin? This page demystifies some common and uncommon terms, with diagrams.

See http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/relation.htm#CousinsRemoved

2D4D, Digit ratio

The 2D:4D ratio is calculated by measuring the length of the index finger of the right hand, then that of the ring finger, and dividing the former by the latter. A longer index finger will result in a ratio higher than 1, while a longer ring finger will result in a ratio of less than 1.

The 2D:4D digit ratio is sexually dimorphic: in males, the second digit tends to be shorter than the fourth, and in females the second digit tends to be the same size or slightly longer than the fourth.

A number of studies have shown a correlation between the 2D:4D digit ratio and various physical and behavioural traits.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digit_ratio

Navy Mugs

Q: Why do many navy coffee mugs have no handle?

A: So you can tell if the liquid is too hot to drink. They were used in WWII and were called "watch mugs" and had no handles to keep the watch sailors' hands warm.

From http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_many_navy_coffee_mugs_have_no_handle