Category: Commentary

Giraffes are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning than humans

“This is believed to happen because lightning tends to strike tall objects, especially in open areas where there isn’t much shelter, reports a study in the African Journal of Ecology. Here’s some other facts about lightning strikes that may surprise you.”- 50 Weird Facts That Most People Don’t Know

You can buy someone’s lost luggage

“The Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Ala. is the nation’s only retailer of lost luggage. The store has contracts with all the major airlines and buys unclaimed bags and their contents, only after there’s been a 90-day intensive search for the owner. Some of the oddest finds by UBC include a shrunken human head from the Amazon, a camera from the Space Shuttle, and a 40.95-carat Emerald appraised for $25,000. Today the 50,000 square store boasts more than one million visitors a year from all over the world, making it one of Alabama’s most popular tourist attractions.” 50 Weird Facts That Most People Don’t Know

Fun Fact

According to estimates from the U.S Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), residents of the 0.77-square-mile (1.2 kilometers) principality of Monaco enjoys the life expectancy in the world, at an average of 89.5 years

Who knew?

Within a calendar year, the first day of September in December always begin on the same day of the week. This year they fall on Monday.

Judy Garland’s Dorothy was originally a blonde in The Wizard of Oz

In L. Frank Baum’s original book, Dorothy’s hair is blonde, not brown. Though MGM production staff put Garland in a long blonde wig and heavier makeup, temporary director George Cukor nixed the idea, believing she looked too artificial and sophisticated to be a rural farm girl.

Groaners: World’s Best of Bad Jokes and Puns

A little boy had a knife and a piece of wood. His mom asked him if he was going to carve the wood. He said, ” Just a whittle.”

By the number

21,000

The estimated number of genes in the human genome has been revised from as many as 140,000 in 1999.

Pun-official Holiday

On August 26th

Paw-lease go mutts with pup-lifting festivities for Dog Day!

150 years ago

On August 25, 1875

Captain Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel unassisted.

U.S. coins used to say “Mind Your Business”

The earliest U.S. coin in circulation featured the phrase “Mind Your Business” rather than “In God We Trust.” This original motto was attributed to Benjamin Franklin, but the phrase was changed to “In God We Trust” during the Civil War, primarily due to a rise in religious sentiments, as noted by Snopes.

Your tongue is as unique as your fingerprints

Just as every person has unique fingerprints, each person’s tongue has its own distinct characteristics. Studies indicate that each individual’s “tongue print” is one-of-a-kind, featuring its own unique shape, size, color, and texture. Even identical twins have variations in their tongues. Some research suggests that tongue prints might serve as a valuable asset in forensic investigations. – 50 Weird Facts That Most People Don’t Know

Strange Odd Fact

When someone visits Paris for the first time and finds that it doesn’t meet their high expectations, they may experience a phenomenon known as Paris Syndrome. This genuine psychological condition can lead to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness. Notably, it seems to impact Japanese tourists more frequently than others. The disillusionment may stem from culture shock and the contrast between reality and the idealized image of Paris often depicted in Japanese pop culture, as mentioned in “50 Weird Facts That Most People Don’t Know.”

A dentist invented the electric chair

In 1881, an unusual historical incident occurred when Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist from Buffalo, N.Y., observed a strange accident involving an intoxicated man who was electrocuted after touching a live generator terminal. This led Southwick to contemplate the possibility of using electrocution as a quicker and more humane alternative to traditional execution methods like the guillotine or hanging. He successfully collaborated with the governor of New York and state legislators, helping to pass laws for electrical executions in New York and 20 other states. –50 Weird Facts That Most People Don’t Know

Pilots and co-pilots consume different in-flight meals

A comforting fact about air travel is that the Captain and First Officer of most airlines eat different meals to minimize the risk of both becoming ill from food poisoning while in the air. 50 Weird Facts That Most People Don’t Know