This week’s facts are brought to you by Hal. No, not the supercomputer in the movie 2001, the Hal that’s one of the forces behind Amusing Enterprises.

But first, a riddle for next week:

What do telephones and grocery checkouts have in common?

And now – as Joe Friday always said – “Just the fact’s ma’am”:

If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on the right side of your mouth. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on the left side of your mouth.

Astronauts can’t belch – there is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs.

Ancient Roman, Chinese and German societies often used urine as mouthwash.

The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. In the Renaissance era, it was fashion to shave them off!

Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end

The military salute is a motion that evolved from medieval times, when knights in armor raised their visors to reveal their identity.

The numeric value zero cannot be represented by Roman numerals

In ancient times strangers shook hands to show that they were unarmed

Warner Communications paid $25 million for the copyright to the song Happy  Birthday.