Japanese vending machines are operated to dispense drinking water free of charge when the water supply gets cut off during a disaster.
Millionaire neighbors protested…
Millionaire neighbors protested George Lucas’ plans to build a movie studio on his property due to the possibility of increased traffic hurting their quality of life. Lucas got revenge by abandoning the studio project and planning to use his land to build 224 affordable homes.
Ivan IV (the Terrible) inherited…
Ivan IV (the Terrible) inherited a library thought to contain ancient works from Libraries of Alexandria & Constantinople. Afraid that books would be stolen, he ordered his men to bury the books, then executed them. He died before revealing the location. Searches for the library continue today.
Victor Hugo wrote the…
Victor Hugo wrote the Hunchback of Norte-Dame to inform people of the value of Gothic architecture, which was being neglected and destroyed at the time. This explains the large descriptive sections of the book, which far exceed the requirements of the story.
John C. Beale pretended…
John C. Beale pretended to be a CIA secret agent, flew around the world on first-class flights, stayed in high-end hotels and cost the taxpayers almost US$900,000.
There is an official IKEA podcast…
There is an official IKEA podcast that will read you the names of IKEA products until you fall asleep.
The wooden structure supporting…
The wooden structure supporting the 210 ton lead roof of Notre Dame, nicknamed “The Forest,” was made from an estimated 13,000 300-400 year old Oak trees from the 12th and 13th Century. It took 87 years to build Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, from 1163-1250.
“Losing my religion” is an old…
“Losing my religion” is an old phrase from the Southern USA meaning someone’s about to lose their temper or reach the end of their rope.
During one scene in JAWS 2…
During one scene in JAWS 2 the teens’ fear and cries of shark were real, as they were being circled by a 15-foot shark. The production crew at a distance thought they were acting and just gave them a thumbs up.
In Halden prison in Norway…
In Halden prison in Norway, guards are encouraged to interact, play sports, and eat with the inmates. This is to prevent aggression and create a sense of family. Despite being a maximum security prison, every cell has a flatscreen TV, an en-suite shower and fluffy, white towels.