Most of the Italian olive oil sold is not actually Italian. Italy is the biggest olive oil importer and exporter. They buy olive oil mostly from Spain rebrand it and sell it as Italian. 00
In 1915, a man named Charles Hatfield convinced…
In 1915, a man named Charles Hatfield convinced the town of San Diego that he could create rainfall using a secret mix of chemicals. The city offered to pay him $10,000 if he could end their drought, and the result, a few days later, was the town’s worst flood of the 20th century. 00
Niihau, the seventh largest Hawaiian Island, is privately…
Niihau, the seventh largest Hawaiian Island, is privately owned by two brothers who inherited it, their great great grandmother bought it from the Kingdom of Hawai’i for $10,000 in gold in 1864. Reportedly, the US government offered the brothers $1 Billion for the Island and they turned it down. 00
Jack Lucas joined the Marines at 13 to…
Jack Lucas joined the Marines at 13 to fight in WW2, survived a blast after jumping on two grenades to save his team, and later survived a free fall from an airplane after both of his parachutes failed. 00
Today is Respect for the Aged Day in…
Today is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan. Japan Tobacco has long celebrated the day by giving senior citizens each ten packs of cigarettes. 00
Violets can be smelled for only a few moments…
Violets can be smelled for only a few moments at a time because they get their scent from ionine which shuts the smell receptors off after simulating them. After a few breaths the scent pops up again but the brain registers it as a new stimulus. So every time you smell a violet is a […]
In Middle ages people walked in different…
In Middle ages people walked in different fashion than we do now. So-called toe-heel walking used to be absolutely natural. In about 1500s, the way of walk changed as did the foot wear. 10
Hans Christian Anderson ruined his friendship…
Hans Christian Anderson ruined his friendship with Charles Dickens by inviting himself to his house and staying five weeks. He complained about the weather and service (no one would shave him), cut paper into weird shapes, and he lay down on the lawn and wept when his book got a bad review. 10
One of the oldest chess strategy books…
One of the oldest chess strategy books, from 1561, recommends playing with your back to the sun to blind your opponent. If playing at night by a fire, it advises you to cast a shadow over the board with your hand, so your opponent “will not be able to see where to play his pieces.” […]
In 2007, renown violinist Joshua Bell once…
In 2007, renown violinist Joshua Bell once played 6 Bach pieces at a metro station in DC. He played some of the hardest songs ever on a $3,500,000 violin for 45 minutes, and made $32 with 6 people watching. He frequently sells out shows for $100 a piece. There was no applause. 00