In 1504 a German knight named Götz von Berlichingen lost his right arm when enemy cannon fire forced his own sword against him. He had two mechanical hands made for him, capable of holding a shield to a feathered pen. He was then known as Götz of the Iron Hand. 10
Two families escaped over the Berlin Wall…
Two families escaped over the Berlin Wall by building a hot air balloon. A mechanic and a mason, used their mechanical know-how to build a hot air balloon engine out of old propane cylinders. Their wives pieced together a makeshift balloon from scraps of canvas and old bed sheets. 10
New York City in the 70s was known…
New York City in the 70s was known as “Fear City” and a very blunt tourist notice was displayed in order to keep tourists from ending up in dangerous situations. 10
The New Zealand town of Brightwater had…
The New Zealand town of Brightwater had 5 electric street lights in 1911 powered by a hydroelectric generator which was auto-controlled by a flock of chickens. At night, the chickens would go inside their coop and their weight would close an electric circuit, turning on the street lights. 00
Because the Secret Service aren’t…
Because the Secret Service aren’t allowed into the Oval Office, they turned the floor into a giant, digital scale so that they can monitor where the President is at all times. 00
A woman sued the distributors of the Movie…
A woman sued the distributors of the movie “Drive”(2011) and the theater in which she watched the movie,claiming that “it had very little driving”. 30
In the UK, top lager companies remove…
In the UK, top lager companies remove and readd specific minerals to the water used in their brewing process – so that the taste of their beer is consistent. This is why locally brewed beers vary in taste depending on where you are in the country. 20
During the German invasion of the Soviet Union…
During the German invasion of the Soviet Union, a single Russian tank delayed the advance of an entire division for one day. 10
The original version of “Have…
The original version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” included the line “It may be your last.” 10
The Pleiades (a cluster of stars) were used…
The Pleiades (a cluster of stars) were used as a method for testing eyesight in ancient times, a soldier who could see at least 7 was given the job of scouts or archers. 10