100

The year 100 AD, according to Wikipedia, was a leap year. The arts and sciences section of this article makes sure to note that China began using the wheelbarrow about then (very important technology), and lions have become extinct in the Balkans.

Fermium, the 100th element, is a synthetic element with a half-life of 100.5 days. Some people who read this blog might be interested in its synthesis in nuclear explosions, but I'm guessing not many will be.

Here's the ALA's list of the 100 most banned/challenged books from 2000-2009. People were most offended by Harry Potter - not surprisingly, as that little devil-worshipping jerk clearly has questionable morals. (Are you all reading the sarcasm there? Good, just wanted to be sure you're still with me.) My favorite one in the top ten is The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

There are 100 senators in the U.S. Senate right now, because we have 50 states. I hope Sarah Palin is nowhere near the presidency... well, ever. But especially if Puerto Rico becomes a state. Because I don't know if she can count that high. Also, if someone asks her where it is, she'll probably say it's in Spain. Or the Netherlands.

A short hundredweight is composed of 100 pounds, but not a long hundredweight. A long hundredweight has an extra 12 pounds, which (I'm convinced) only exists to piss people off. And a long hundredweight "is now hardly used other than by church bell ringers." Which totally makes sense, in that it makes no sense.

There are 100 tiles in Scrabble, but only for certain languages. This is not cited information, so don't use it in your upcoming report on the history of Scrabble (which is fascinating). I was looking for 100-point Scrabble words when I found this article about the highest-scoring game ever, featuring the word quixotry (a quixotic thought or action, ala Don Quixote).

A snooker cueist needs to reach 100 points to score a century bank. What's a snooker? Someone who plays snooker, of course, which is a game involving the British and a pool table. I'm assuming pants are optional, because all the best games are like that.

Here, have a list of highways with the number 100 in them. Then go drive them all. Yes, of course there's one in Wisconsin.

The Hundred Years' War was actually 116 years, featuring, among others, Joan of Arc and Edward the Black Prince, so called for the armor he wore. Or maybe for his "cheerful" demeanor. Whatever it is, no one's really certain where the name originated.

And, last but not least, you can find out whether you're on pace to live to 100 years old or not. My life expectancy is 101 years - yay!

Including this one, I have made 100 posts to this blog. Go me!