Say something interesting, PT.2

[Joe Republic]

A fear of the number 13 is called Triskaidekaphobia.

The fact that this is the 13th reply to this thread is coincidental, but hopefully it'll scare the sh**t out of some triskaidekaphobics anyway.

[Joe Republic]

President Obama and George W Bush are 10th cousins, once removed; they share a common ancestor from mid-17th century Cape Cod.

In fact, every US president is related to each other, at least by marriage.

[Joe Republic]

Senator James Shields represented Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri in Congress at different points in his career, the only person to represent three different states.

He also once challenged Abraham Lincoln to a duel, which was called off at the very last moment.

[Joe Republic]

Senator James Shields represented Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri in Congress at different points in his career, the only person to represent three different states.

He also once challenged Abraham Lincoln to a duel, which was called off at the very last moment.

If this is the duel I'm thinking of, it was called off because Lincoln wanted to fight with, and I quote, 'cavalry broadswords of the largest size', in what would now be considered essentially a mud-wrestling pit with a board over it, and Shields realized how out of hand the situation had become and backed off.

Not sure about that, but their seconds convinced both men to call it off after Lincoln shot a tree branch clean off right over Shields' head, showing him what kind of marksman he was.