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Facts taught in 2008

91 sincere fact claims from 2008; 47 come with figures. Each figure is shown as said, with what it measures, who it counts (for) and where it applies (in) when recorded (said, or clear from the context), its as-of date, the source the speaker gives (if any) and the extraction-time check. Where no as-of date was said, the one shown is implied (the date said in the video, else the upload date); relative dates such as "last year" keep their words and are resolved against that same date. "Unchecked" means nobody has checked it yet, not that it is wrong. Back to the overview.

Topics: US politics & society (17) · World affairs (17) · History & curiosities (12) · Books & writing (11) · Nerdfighteria (11) · Global development (8) · Personal life (6) · Science & nature (5) · Economics (2) · Internet & YouTube (2)

US politics & society (17)

  • 2008-02-04 · Obama Says Subscribe — Hank says Super Tuesday matters to everyone worldwide because one of five remaining candidates will be US president in about a year. (00:00:00)
    • five (people) — remaining presidential candidates · for 2008 US presidential primary candidates · in United States · as of 2008-02-04 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-02-04 · Obama Says Subscribe — Hank notes Hillary Clinton was in the White House for eight years. (00:01:32)
    • eight years — time Hillary Clinton spent in the White House · for Hillary Clinton · in United States · as of 2008-02-04 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-04-28 · Ranting and Giving Stuff Away — John says Nepal had a free and fair election for the first time in a long time, though it elected a plurality of Maoists not known for keeping elections free; he calls it serious progress. (00:01:17)
  • 2008-04-28 · Ranting and Giving Stuff Away — John says the US is the richest country in the world yet has a higher infant mortality rate than Slovenia. (00:02:16)
    • the richest country in the world (rank) — national wealth · in United States · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
    • higher than Slovenia (comparison) — infant mortality rate · in United States · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-04-28 · Ranting and Giving Stuff Away — John says the US is behind Puerto Rico (on infant mortality, by context), which has almost the same political system; the difference is that all Puerto Ricans have access to health care while millions of Americans don't. (00:02:45)
    • behind Puerto Rico (comparison) — infant mortality rate · in United States · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
    • all (share of people with access to health care) — access to health care · for Puerto Ricans · in Puerto Rico · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
    • millions (people) — Americans without access to health care · for Americans · in United States · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-04-28 · Ranting and Giving Stuff Away — John says the drug Hank was given is almost never prescribed in any European country with socialized medicine. (00:03:14)
    • almost never prescribed (prescribing frequency) — how often the drug Hank was given is prescribed · in European countries with socialized medicine · as of 2008 · no source named · doubtful
  • 2008-06-04 · VEEPSTAKES! — John notes it is Wednesday, June 4, the day after Barack Obama secured the Democratic nomination for president; the open question is his running mate. (00:00:00)
    • the day after (date) — date Barack Obama secured the Democratic presidential nomination (relative to Wednesday, June 4) · in United States · as of 2008-06-04 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-06-04 · VEEPSTAKES! — On Hillary Clinton: 18 million people voted for her this year, she is popular with voters Obama struggles to win, and she has both the highest favourability and unfavourability of any potential VP. (00:00:46)
    • 18 million (people) — votes for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primaries · for US Democratic primary voters · in United States · as of 2008-06-04 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-08-29 · Sarah Palin: An Introduction — John says Sarah Palin is the 44-year-old governor of Alaska and has been governor for just under two years. (00:00:19)
    • 44 (years) — age · for Sarah Palin · in Alaska · as of 2008-08-29 · no source named · unchecked
    • just under 2 (years) — time in office as governor · for Sarah Palin · in Alaska · as of 2008-08-29 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-08-29 · Sarah Palin: An Introduction — John says that before becoming governor Palin headed the city council in Wasilla, Alaska. (00:00:27)
  • 2008-08-29 · Sarah Palin: An Introduction — John says Palin is reliably conservative on social issues important to the Republican base: strongly pro-life, against gay marriage and a lifelong NRA member. (00:00:34)
  • 2008-08-29 · Sarah Palin: An Introduction — John says that in what might be the most politically corrupt US state, Palin has a reputation for being strongly anti-corruption, a point in her favour. — hedged: “might” (00:00:50)
  • 2008-08-29 · Sarah Palin: An Introduction — John says Palin is married to a commercial fisherman, which he counts in her favour. (00:01:04)
  • 2008-08-29 · Sarah Palin: An Introduction — John adds that Palin's husband is a semi-professional snowmobiler who races snowmobiles. (00:01:34)
  • 2008-08-29 · Sarah Palin: An Introduction — John says Palin has absolutely no foreign policy experience. (00:01:43)
  • 2008-10-07 · Hank on the Debate — Hank says Tom Brokaw asked a question sent in over the internet by a 78-year-old woman. (00:00:29)
    • 78-year-old — age of the viewer who sent the debate question · for one questioner · in United States · as of 2008-10 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-11-05 · On Loving One Another or Dying — John says Spiegelman is a German word meaning 'mirror maker', the man in a German village who made the mirrors. (00:01:38)

World affairs (17)

History & curiosities (12)

  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Hank insists there has always been ice on Mars and it has been known for about 50 years, so it is not news. (00:00:02)
    • like, 50 years — time since ice on Mars has been known · in Mars · as of 2008-06-24 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Mars has ice caps, sometimes coated with carbon dioxide dry ice, but both are water ice at the core. (00:00:25)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Viewers told Hank the difference between mono and uni is that uni is Latin and mono Greek; he had thought both were Latin. — hedged: “Apparently” (00:00:54)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Others said uni connotes many brought into one (university) and mono one on its own (monomer), though that fails for unicycles. (00:01:05)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Hank was right that 'trivia' comes from tri-via, three roads: where three roads met, people gathered to gossip about unimportant things. (00:01:24)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Whether TV or real life has more murders stays unanswered; consensus says real life probably has more, but per capita TV definitely does, and TV characters live shorter lives. (00:01:38)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Lots of evil people had pets: Hitler had a German Shepherd, Blondi, who apparently died by poison pill, the same way as Hitler and his girlfriend. — hedged: “apparently” (00:02:08)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Hitler also had a terrier, Fuchsl, that he found and adopted in the World War I trenches and that was later stolen from him. (00:02:20)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Lenin loved cats and had lots of them; Hank adds that Lenin sort of opened the door for Stalin to take over after he died. — hedged: “sort of” (00:02:42)
  • 2008-06-24 · Questions Answered! — Some evil people hated pets: Mao declared pets a symbol of bourgeois oppression and had them killed in the 1960s and 70s, tens of thousands of dogs and cats. (00:02:53)
    • tens of thousands (animals) — dogs and cats killed on Mao's orders · for pet dogs and cats · in China · as of the sixties and seventies · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-12-15 · Famous Last Words — John notes that John Adams's last words, that Thomas Jefferson still survived, were untrue: Jefferson had died earlier that same day, July 4, 1826. (00:00:25)
    • July 4th, 1826 (date) — date of Thomas Jefferson's death · for Thomas Jefferson · as of 2008-12-15 (implied: upload date) · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-12-15 · Famous Last Words — John notes W.C. Fields's last words were addressed to Carlotta, his mistress, not his wife Hattie; he says he tones the quote down for young nerdfighters. (00:02:37)

Books & writing (11)

  • 2008-02-11 · Nerdfighters Blurbing Book Club! — Hank explains blurbs: new books are sent around, review outlets review them, and authors like John write a very short sentence capturing the book's essence. (00:00:32)
  • 2008-04-21 · Belated Book-tacular Questions — Paper Towns is 308 pages long if the acknowledgements are counted. (00:01:52)
    • 308 (pages) — length of Paper Towns including acknowledgements · as of 2008-04 · source: John Green · unchecked
  • 2008-04-21 · Belated Book-tacular Questions — John's website name sparksflyup.com comes from a line in the Book of Job: man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. (00:01:52)
  • 2008-04-21 · Belated Book-tacular Questions — John recounts Emily Dickinson's last words ('I must go in, the fog is rising') and that Edna St. Vincent Millay died falling downstairs, her head on a poem ending 'Beautiful this day, no matter who has died'. (00:03:00)
  • 2008-07-22 · OMFG CATCHER IN THE RYE!!! — John says Catcher is Salinger's most famous work, but he also published Franny and Zooey, Nine Stories and a book holding Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction. (00:00:00)
  • 2008-07-22 · OMFG CATCHER IN THE RYE!!! — John says that soon afterwards Salinger left his wife for a 19-year-old and has not been a particularly good father to his children. (00:00:46)
    • 19 (years (age)) — age of the woman John says Salinger left his wife for · as of 2008-07-22 (implied: upload date) · no source named · doubtful
  • 2008-07-30 · Audiobooks and 8 8 08 — John says Dan John Miller is in Blanche, one of John's favorite bands, and played Luther Perkins in the movie Walk the Line. (00:02:23)
  • 2008-09-04 · Paper Towns Tour Dates! — John welcomes the nearly 2,000 subscribers who joined since the Sarah Palin video. (00:00:00)
    • nearly 2,000 (subscribers) — new Vlogbrothers subscribers since the Sarah Palin video · for Vlogbrothers subscribers · as of 2008-09-04 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-09-04 · Paper Towns Tour Dates! — John says much of Paper Towns is set in Orlando, Florida. (00:02:13)
  • 2008-10-08 · Hanks actual Vlog — Hank says James Crumley lived and died in Missoula and will be missed, though Hank did not know who he was when he died. (00:02:25)
  • 2008-10-28 · The Unzipped Zipper (Of Your Pants) — Asked to get Walmart to stock Paper Towns, John argues buying books at Walmart is a bad idea: if everyone did, only about 30 to 50 books would be published a year, chilling American cultural discourse. (00:03:05)
    • about thirty to fifty (books) — books published per year · for if everyone buys their books at Walmart · in United States · as of 2008-10-28 (implied: date said in the video) · no source named · unchecked

Nerdfighteria (11)

  • 2008-02-14 · The Puff Pwns Gravity — John reports that on Super Tuesday (5 February 2008) Daniel Biss won his primary election 100% to 0%, while admitting he was unopposed. (00:01:36)
    • 100% to 0% (percent of vote) — primary election vote share (Biss vs opponents) · for primary voters · in Illinois · as of 2008-02-05 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-05-20 · Guys Love Giraffe Love — John reports that 294 of the brothers' 296 videos have been watched by more women than men; the two exceptions have giraffe sex as the thumbnail. (00:01:10)
    • 296 (videos) — number of Vlogbrothers videos · for Vlogbrothers channel · as of 2008-05 · source: YouTube demographics feature · unchecked
    • 294 (videos) — videos watched by more women than men · for Vlogbrothers channel · as of 2008-05 · source: YouTube demographics feature · unchecked
    • two (videos) — videos watched by more men than women · for Vlogbrothers channel · as of 2008-05 · source: YouTube demographics feature · unchecked
  • 2008-05-30 · The Dread Pirate Fireball Roberts! (And Housekeeping) — John says the brothers are 6,000 subscribers short of passing Oprah on the most-subscribed list. (00:03:23)
    • 6,000 (subscribers) — subscriber gap between the Vlogbrothers channel and Oprah on YouTube's most-subscribed list · as of 2008-05 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-06-19 · Memo to the Fourteenth Century (and to the Tobians) — Anthropology nerdfighters pointed out that the island of Toby in the South Pacific has 22 remaining residents, who speak an extremely endangered language called Tobian. (00:00:43)
    • 22 (people) — number of residents of Tobi island · for residents of Tobi · in Tobi · as of 2008-06-19 · source: anthropology nerdfighters · unchecked
  • 2008-06-19 · Memo to the Fourteenth Century (and to the Tobians) — John says the central reason so few people live on Toby is that the island is shrinking due to rising sea levels. (00:00:43)
  • 2008-06-19 · Memo to the Fourteenth Century (and to the Tobians) — John recalls that Daniel Biss, the brothers' 'resident mathematician', was one of the very first Nerdfighters and is running for state representative. (00:01:12)
  • 2008-06-26 · Don't Suck on That Bone — John says only about 150 people alive speak Tobian, yet a website serves as a repository of all things Tobian. (00:00:00)
    • about 150 (people) — living speakers of Tobian · for people alive who speak Tobian · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-08-21 · INTERNET SENSATION B$%CH — Susan Carlson (quoted): The report says the brothers' public video communication became a YouTube sensation with 13.5 million viewers to date. (00:01:43)
    • 13.5 million (viewers) — total viewers of the brothers' videos · in YouTube · as of 2008-08 · source: CBS 2 News (Susan Carlson) · unchecked
  • 2008-08-21 · INTERNET SENSATION B$%CH — Susan Carlson (quoted): The report says about 400 young adults came to the library event, some waiting over two hours to meet the brothers. (00:02:08)
    • about 400 (young adults) — crowd size at the brothers' library event · in Harold Washington Library, Chicago · as of 2008-08-08 · source: CBS 2 News (Susan Carlson) · unchecked
    • over two hours — longest wait to meet the brothers · in Harold Washington Library, Chicago · as of 2008-08-08 · source: CBS 2 News (Susan Carlson) · unchecked
  • 2008-12-26 · Skoodilypooping — John says YouTube's CAPTCHA codes are usually not English words but pronounceable sets of consonants and vowels. (00:00:40)
  • 2008-12-26 · Skoodilypooping — John says that during the Project for Awesome Nerdfighters commented on YouTube videos more than 200,000 times. (00:00:40)
    • more than 200,000 (comments) — number of comments Nerdfighters left on YouTube videos during the Project for Awesome · for Nerdfighters · as of 2008-12 · source: John · unchecked

Global development (8)

  • 2008-04-08 · Nerdfighting in Bangladesh — John says it costs less than five dollars for a child in Bangladesh to go to school for six months, yet children drop out every day for lack of money. (00:01:51)
    • less than five bucks (US dollars) — cost of six months of school for one child · for children · in Bangladesh · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-04-10 · Barack John Obama Green — Hank says the hierarchy places two levels before love: food and shelter, then personal safety, before love, friendship and family. (00:02:27)
    • two (levels) — levels of the hierarchy of needs below love · as of 2008-04-10 (implied: upload date) · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-12-11 · The 2008 Project for Awesome!!! — Hank says YouTube changed how it picks thumbnails; after talking with YouTube and testing, non-partners should make the middle 10 seconds of the video the P4A image, e.g. 125 to 135 in a 3-minute video. (00:03:07)
    • 10 seconds — length of a still image in the middle of a video that YouTube picks as the thumbnail · for non-partner YouTube videos · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank's own tests uploading sample videos · unchecked
    • from 125 to 135 — position of the thumbnail image in a 3-minute video · for a 3-minute YouTube video · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank · unchecked
  • 2008-12-17 · Project for Awesome: DonorsChoose.org — Hank says a cadre of about 10,000 people will promote P4A videos so they become YouTube's most viewed and discussed videos for at least two days. (00:00:00)
    • about 10,000 (people) — number of people promoting P4A videos across YouTube · for P4A 2008 supporters · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank · unchecked
    • at least two days — time P4A videos are to be the most viewed and discussed on YouTube · for P4A 2008 videos · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank · unchecked
  • 2008-12-17 · Project for Awesome: DonorsChoose.org — Hank says only about 17% of American adults are scientifically literate. (00:00:58)
    • about 17% (percent) — share of adults who are scientifically literate · for American adults · in United States · as of 2008-12 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-12-17 · Project for Awesome: DonorsChoose.org — Hank says donors who give more than $100 get a thank-you card signed by the kids. (00:02:47)
    • more than $100 (USD) — donation above which a DonorsChoose classroom sends a signed thank-you card · for DonorsChoose donors · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank · unchecked
  • 2008-12-17 · Project for Awesome: DonorsChoose.org — Hank says the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is matching donations on many projects, so it costs 50% as much to do 100% of the good. (00:03:15)
    • 50% (percent) — share of a project cost a donor pays under the Gates Foundation match · for matched DonorsChoose projects · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank · unchecked
    • 100% (percent) — share of the project funded under the match · for matched DonorsChoose projects · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank · unchecked
  • 2008-12-18 · Introducing...The Awesome — Hank describes the Project for Awesome as an annual holiday-season event in which tens of thousands of YouTubers draw attention to charities worldwide. (00:00:00)
    • tens of thousands (YouTubers) — number of YouTubers taking part in the Project for Awesome · for Project for Awesome participants · as of 2008-12 · source: Hank · unchecked

Personal life (6)

  • 2008-04-24 · Pills Pills Pills — Hank says the expensive alternative drug costs $1.50 a pill at nine a day, while the one he switched to costs about 15 cents a pill at six a day. (00:00:44)
    • $1.50 (US dollars per pill) — price of Hank's expensive medication · as of 2008-04-24 (implied: date said in the video) · no source named · unchecked
    • like 15 cents (US dollars per pill) — price of the cheaper medication (sulfasalazine) · as of 2008-04-24 (implied: date said in the video) · no source named · unchecked
    • nine (pills per day) — Hank's dose of the expensive medication · as of 2008-04-24 (implied: date said in the video) · no source named · unchecked
    • six (pills per day) — Hank's dose of the cheaper medication · as of 2008-04-24 (implied: date said in the video) · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-05-22 · Adorable Puppy Injury!!!! — Citing Google, Hank says caffeine takes about five minutes to hit, with peak effects at thirty minutes. (00:01:01)
    • five minutes — time for caffeine to take effect · as of 2008-05-22 (implied: upload date) · source: Google · unchecked
    • thirty minutes — time to peak caffeine effect · as of 2008-05-22 (implied: upload date) · source: Google · unchecked
  • 2008-07-04 · America Stands for Awesome — Hank says the local team has not won a home game yet this season. (00:00:00)
    • haven't won a home game yet (home wins) — home-game wins of Missoula's baseball team this season · in Missoula, Montana · as of 2008-07-04 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-07-04 · America Stands for Awesome — At the game Hank films, the home team is losing 11 to 2 in the top of the fourth, which he finds discouraging. (00:00:41)
    • 11 to 2 (runs) — score of the game Hank attends (home team trailing) · in Missoula, Montana · as of 2008-07-04, top of the 4th · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-10-06 · Berlin and Let it Snow (in Your Pants) — John says James Crumley died a couple of weeks ago in Hank's hometown of Missoula, Montana. (00:02:20)
  • 2008-10-06 · Berlin and Let it Snow (in Your Pants) — German actor and chess boxer (name not given): The actor explains that chess boxing alternates four minutes of chess with two minutes of boxing, and can be won by knockout. (00:02:49)
    • four minutes — length of a chess round in chess boxing · for chess boxing matches · as of 2008-10-06 (implied: upload date) · no source named · unchecked
    • two minutes — length of a boxing round in chess boxing · for chess boxing matches · as of 2008-10-06 (implied: upload date) · no source named · unchecked

Science & nature (5)

  • 2008-01-21 · A Short History of the PUPPY SIZED ELEPHANT — John explains insular dwarfism: large animals isolated on islands (e.g. after an ice age) breed themselves smaller over generations so the population can keep growing on limited resources. (00:01:06)
  • 2008-01-21 · A Short History of the PUPPY SIZED ELEPHANT — John says insular dwarfism has been seen in many large animals, including dinosaurs, humans and elephants. (00:01:35)
  • 2008-01-21 · A Short History of the PUPPY SIZED ELEPHANT — John says there were several kinds of miniature elephants, some so small they were only about three feet tall. (00:01:59)
    • three feet tall — height of the smallest miniature elephant species · for miniature (dwarf) elephant species · as of 2008-01-21 (implied: date said in the video) · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-01-21 · A Short History of the PUPPY SIZED ELEPHANT — John says the last species of puppy-sized elephant is believed to have gone extinct about 4,000 years ago. — hedged: “it's believed that” (00:01:59)
    • about 4,000 years ago (years before present) — extinction date of the last dwarf elephant species · for dwarf elephants · as of 2008-01-21 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-01-21 · A Short History of the PUPPY SIZED ELEPHANT — John says it is not clear what killed the dwarf elephants off, but it might have been people. — hedged: “it might have been” (00:01:59)

Economics (2)

  • 2008-07-27 · How to Buy Glasses Cheap...and Help Hank Pick Frames! — Hank says the markup on glasses in stores is at least 100%, so '25% off' still means paying a little less than twice what the store paid. — hedged: “generally” (00:01:09)
    • at least 100% (percent) — retail markup on glasses frames in brick-and-mortar stores · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
    • a little bit less than twice as much as we paid (multiple of the store's cost) — price of glasses after a '25% off' sale relative to the store's cost · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-07-27 · How to Buy Glasses Cheap...and Help Hank Pick Frames! — Hank says the same frames can be bought online for hundreds of dollars less. (00:01:38)
    • hundreds of dollars (US dollars) — saving from buying glasses frames online instead of in a store · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked

Internet & YouTube (2)

  • 2008-04-30 · BLOOD! I'm a KILLER! — Citing a video he just watched, Hank says Wikipedia took about as much time to make as it takes 100 million Americans to watch the Super Bowl. (00:02:49)
    • about that much time (more than 150 lives) (lifetimes) — total time spent making Wikipedia · as of 2008 · source: a video Hank just watched (Clay Shirky, per description) · unchecked
    • 100 million (people) — Americans watching the Super Bowl · for Americans · in United States · as of 2008 · no source named · unchecked
  • 2008-10-24 · IRON MAN BLOGTV CHALLENGE! — Hank says the previous Iron Man Insomnia Challenge went for 40 hours, and he cannot promise to match it. (00:00:00)
    • 40 (hours) — duration of the previous Iron Man Insomnia Challenge · as of 2008-10-24 (implied: upload date) · no source named · unchecked