By Sam Wein

The Pinhead Chronicles

The distance record for the hand bow is held by Sultan Selim III. In 1798 the sultan shot an arrow 972 yards, 2 2/3 inches.

Lineus Longissimus is the longest worm in the world, reaching a length of 180 feet.

The term “die-hard” was coined by Colonel William Englis, commander of the 57th British regiment, during a battle with the French in 1811 at the small Spanish town of Altovera. Convinced that his men were all goners as the French attacked, the colonel yelled that the men of the 57th should “die hard.” Which they did. Of the 579 men, 438 were killed or wounded.

“SPAM” comes from “spiced ham.”

A broker was originally a wine seller who broached or broke open wine casks.

WD-40 is Water Displacement formula 40.

The first strike by workers of record took place in Thebes, Egypt, in 1700 B.C. Construction workers building a pyramid organized a work stoppage after their supervisor missed a payday.

In 1553 Michael Servetus’s book on theology contained his view that blood circulated from the heart to the lungs and returned to the heart. Because of his unorthodox views, he was burned at the stake on Oct. 27 in Geneva by John Calvin.

Howdy Doody’s sister’s name was Heidi Doody.

The Great Salt Lake in Utah is only 13 feet deep.

Humans and elephants are the only animals that can stand on their head.

Before King George IV of England ordered a set of boots made to fit each of his feet, shoes were designed to be worn on either foot.

About 10 percent of the world’s population is left-handed.

India’s civil servant creed states: if it is easy, make it hard; if it is hard, make it impossible; if it is impossible, so much the better.

In the 1500s bread was divided according to status: workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle and the guests got the top, or “upper crust.”

The very first written constitution in the United States was “Fundamental Orders” written for the Connecticut Colony at its founding in 1639. This document is considered the first written constitution not only in the United States but in the world.

The tallest hills in San Francisco are Twin Peaks, Mount Davidson and Mount Sutro, all more than 900 feet high. The best known hills - Nob Hill and Telegraph Hill - are smaller, between 300 and 400 feet.

Of all the many fine wines of ancient Rome, only one, Falernian, survived and is still drunk today. Martial called this wine “immortal.” Horace called it “fiery.” Cicero suggested that it should not be drunk when new, nor should it be too old. The wine was best when it was between 10 and 30 years old.

In 1993 a poll revealed that 40 percent of U.S. couples said that they first discussed marriage in the back seat of a car.

Wein is a Los Altos resident specializing in a variety of trivial pursuits.