Before trees took over the earth the land was covered with Prototaxites, a fungus that became extinct more than 350 million years ago and is believed to have reached almost 9m high and 1.37m in diameter.
Mafia receipts account for 9% of Italy…
Mafia receipts account for 9% of Italy’s GDP. The ‘Ndrangheta alone account for 3%.
Stefan Cernetic, the man who falsely…
Stefan Cernetic, the man who falsely claimed to be the Prince of Montenegro and Macedonia for years, gained access to elite gatherings and met many European officials. In 2015, he even managed to fool Pamela Anderson by making her a countess.
Ted d’Auvergne, a New Zealand WW2 soldier, was at the pub…
Ted d’Auvergne, a New Zealand WW2 soldier, was at the pub and late for his embarkation train. He asked the bartender to set aside his 2nd bottle of beer to drink when he came home. Ted was killed but the promise was kept and that bottle of beer is still there.
France has two islands east of Canada…
France has two islands east of Canada, just off the coast of Newfoundland called Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Therefore, you can fly from Canada to France in an hour.
The US post office turns children’s….
The US post office turns children’s letters to Santa into a giant gift registry that allows citizens to fulfill children’s Christmas wishes.
Over 50 percent of the world’s population…
Over 50 percent of the world’s population relies on rice for 80 percent of it’s food requirements.
The Passemant astronomical clock…
The Passemant astronomical clock in Versailles has shown the correct date, time, moon phase, planetary alignment, etc (accounting for leap years ) from 1750 and can display through 9999.
In 1944, the US federal government….
In 1944, the US federal government slapped a heavy 30% tax on all food-serving venues (such as clubs) that featured dancing, leading to the downfall of swing music and dancing in America. It would not be repealed until the 1960s (though it was reduced a few years after implementation).
Bhutan charges a 200 USD tax…
Bhutan charges a 200 USD tax per night per tourist visiting the country.