Why is the White House White?

A popular narrative suggests that the White House was painted white after it was burned by the British in 1814 during the War of 1812. This story claims that the fire left the walls charred, leading to its first white coat.

However, this account is inaccurate; the White House was originally painted white in 1798. That year, a lime-based wash was applied to safeguard the sandstone structure against moisture and the harsh winter cold. This whitewash was intended to fill in cracks and eventually wear away, but it was reapplied periodically rather than being allowed to weather naturally. It wasn't until 1818 that a coat of white lead paint was used.

The term "The White House" was already in use a decade prior to that 1818 painting, dispelling the myth that it was named only after being painted. The name became more commonly used in the press by October 1901, although it was often referred to as the “President’s House” or the “Executive Mansion” before that.

The official transition to “White House” came about when President Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary, George B. Cortelyou, requested that all official documents bearing Roosevelt’s signature switch from “Executive Mansion” to “White House.” Roosevelt later updated his stationery to reflect this name as well.

In 2019, the White House was last repainted using 570 gallons of “Whisper White” paint from Sherwin-Williams.

A Slowly Constructed Pyramid

In Wemding, Germany, an unusual site resembling an abandoned construction area features only four rectangular concrete blocks on a square base. This location is actually an art project named “Zeitpyramide” or “Time Pyramid,” which is designed to take over 1,100 years to finish.

The installation progresses at a pace of one 3.9-foot (1.9-m) long, wide, and high concrete block every decade. The first block was placed in 1993, with the latest added in 2023. To complete the pyramid, 116 more blocks will be installed, one every ten years, culminating in its finish in 3183 AD. The structure will consist of four tiers, starting with eight rows and columns, followed by six, four, and two at the pinnacle.

The project was initiated by local artist Manfred Laber in 1993 to commemorate the town's 1,200-year anniversary. The Wemding Time Pyramid Foundation was founded in 2003 to secure funding for the project beyond the lifetimes of those involved.

Although Laber, who passed away in 2018, outlined the specifications for the block placements and materials, he encouraged the residents of Wemding to decide their course of action regarding the blocks over the years.

Composed of standard untreated concrete, the blocks lack sealants capable of ensuring longevity for a millennium. It will be up to the community to determine how best to preserve this structure as time goes on.

A Crustacean With a Punch

Among ocean life, the pistol shrimp, or snapping shrimp, stands out for its remarkable strength. This small crustacean measures only a few inches in length and boasts two claws, one of which can extend to nearly half its size.

The larger claw can create a powerful bubble blast, used for hunting. When the shrimp opens its claw, water rushes into a chamber at the joint. As it closes the claw, a mechanism forces water out, generating bubbles that travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, resulting in a shockwave. The collapse of these bubbles briefly generates temperatures of around 8,000 degrees Fahrenheit, capable of stunning or killing nearby prey.

Not only are these bubbles swift, but they are also extremely loud. One species of pistol shrimp has been recorded producing sounds reaching 210 decibels, surpassing the sound of a shotgun (170 decibels) or a rocket launch (189 decibels). The only natural sound louder is that of a sperm whale, which can reach 230 decibels.

The large claw is not solely for hunting; it also plays a vital role in attracting mates, with claw size being a significant factor in female selection.

Prohibition and the Rise of Walgreens

In 1920, the National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, was enacted to enforce the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. This legislation empowered the Bureau of Internal Revenue to impose fines and penalties for violations.

Certain exceptions permitted specific groups to access alcohol legally. Clergymen could use wine for religious ceremonies, farmers could keep up to 200 gallons of preserved fruit, and physicians could obtain licenses to prescribe alcohol for medical use. This allowed patients to acquire liquor legally.

Despite the American Medical Association removing alcohol from its list of approved medicines in 1917, liquor continued to be prescribed for medical purposes. By 1922, alcohol prescriptions were reinstated, just two years into Prohibition.

Doctors faced restrictions on prescriptions, initially allowing a maximum of one pint every ten days (later reduced to half a pint) and limiting the number of prescriptions to 100 every 90 days. Physicians had to justify the necessity of alcohol for each patient’s condition, which varied widely.

Patients needed pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, leading to the growth of businesses like Walgreens. Charles R. Walgreen opened his pharmacy in 1901 in Chicago, expanding to nearly 20 stores by 1919. By the late 1920s, Walgreens experienced significant growth, reportedly due in part to the milkshakes sold at its locations.

Other pharmacies also thrived during Prohibition due to lax enforcement and price increases. In its first year, doctors wrote an estimated 64 million pints of alcohol prescriptions, often receiving kickbacks for doing so.

Prohibition officially ended in 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment, returning doctors and pharmacies to standard prescriptions.

The Almost New Jersey State Song

New Jersey stands out as the only U.S. state without an official state song, although it nearly had one in 1980. On April 17, the New Jersey State Assembly proposed a resolution to appoint Bruce Springsteen as the "New Jersey Pop Music Ambassador to America," recognizing his song “Born to Run” as the “unofficial rock anthem of the state’s youth.”

While the Assembly approved the resolution on June 12, it was ultimately rejected by the state Senate. Some senators deemed certain lyrics unsuitable, including:

Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back

It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap

We gotta get out while we’re young

Though the song reflects a yearning to escape life's pressures, senators interpreted it as a desire to leave New Jersey.

Extreme Blood Pressures

A study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 1985 examined blood pressure responses during intense weightlifting among five experienced bodybuilders. The researchers measured blood pressure in the brachial artery, the same site used in routine checks.

The bodybuilders performed various exercises at different percentages of their maximum weights, and their blood pressure was monitored. Both systolic (the peak pressure during heart contractions) and diastolic (the lowest pressure before the next contraction) readings increased significantly during the workouts, but the extent of the increase was surprising.

The most notable surge occurred during a double-leg press, where the average recorded blood pressure reached 320/250 mmHg, with one subject exceeding 480/350 mmHg.

Researchers attributed these extreme spikes to mechanical compression of blood vessels, a pressor response triggered by muscle contraction, and the Valsalva maneuver, which increases intrathoracic pressure.

For context, the normal blood pressure for adults is around 120/80 mmHg. During exercise, systolic pressure can range between 160 and 220 mmHg, while diastolic pressure tends to remain stable, increasing only slightly.

Although the bodybuilders' readings were exceptionally high, studies indicate that the pressure required to rupture certain arteries can range from 800 mmHg to 1,600 mmHg, with one study noting the aortic artery wall's rupture pressure at approximately 3,000 mmHg.

Visit again for more Fascinating Random Facts here on Fact World. For more interesting articles, explore Knowledge Stew on Medium.