A Russian cargo plane was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan with six crew members aboard. After being held captive in Kandahar for over a year, the crewmen were able to overpower their captors, retake their plane and fly it out of Afghanistan to safety.
In 1947 Canadian kids started a “strike”, refusing to pay 8 cents…
In 1947 Canadian kids started a “strike”, refusing to pay 8 cents for a candy bar whose price had gone up from 5 cents overnight. The movement spread throughout the country, but fizzled when people suspected it of being orchestrated by Communists. The candy remained at 8 cents.
The navy is now teaching sailors Celestial Navigation…
The navy is now teaching sailors Celestial Navigation as a response to potential cyber attacks to ship navigation systems.
Vin Diesel broke into a Theater in New York with his brother…
Vin Diesel broke into a Theater in New York with his brother when he was 7 with the intent of vandalizing it. When they were caught, instead of calling the police, the theater’s artistic director offered them roles in an upcoming show, thus starting Diesel’s acting career.
There was an anti-car jacking device called…
There was an anti-car jacking device called the “Blaster” in South Africa, the occupant could flip a switch and direct 5 metre plumes of flame upward into the facial area of anyone trying to enter the vehicle through the doors or windows. The high price tag limited its market and made it unprofitable. By 2001, […]
The main actor of The Gods Must Be Crazy was only…
The main actor of The Gods Must Be Crazy was only paid $300, even though the film made over $60 million.
Jean Jaurès, a French socialist, predicted world war one…
Jean Jaurès, a French socialist, predicted world war one and tried to organize global strikes to prevent it. He was assassinated before his plans could be realized.
There are a class of people in Japan referred to as Cyber…
There are a class of people in Japan referred to as Cyber Homeless who live at cyber cafes because they are a cheaper alternative than an apartment. The cafes offer free showers and sell underwear.
Photographer Mathew Brady captured over 7000 photos…
Photographer Mathew Brady captured over 7000 photos of the US Civil War (including the portrait of Lincoln that would be used for the $5 bill), which have become the most important visual documentation of the period. He died in debt after the US gov’t did not buy his master-copies after the war.
In a Peruvian goldmine miners work for 30 days…
In a Peruvian goldmine miners work for 30 days with no pay but on the 31st day they get to bring home as much ore as they can carry on their shoulders. Whether the ore contains any gold or not is a matter of luck. Pocketing of nuggets or promising chunks of rich ore is […]