Before filming LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring, Jackson made the principal actors train for 6 weeks in sword fighting, riding and boating to allow the cast to bond. Later, most of the actors portraying the Fellowship got a tattoo with the Elvish symbol for the number 9.
While attending Oxford, J.R.R. Tolkien once stole…
While attending Oxford, J.R.R. Tolkien once stole a city bus and took his friends on a joy ride.
Happier cows really do produce more milk, and simply…
Happier cows really do produce more milk, and simply calling cows by individual names ups production by 3.5%.
Elephants know to come to humans for help..
Elephants know to come to humans for help (like if they’ve been poisoned) and can find us even over long distances.
In 1958, Dr. David Briggs claimed that hypnotizing…
In 1958, Dr. David Briggs claimed that hypnotizing his students increased their academic performance by up to 15 percent.
In 1965, 25% of all black families in the U.S. were headed….
In 1965, 25% of all black families in the U.S. were headed by women. By 2010, that number reached 72%.
A Swedish astronaut was not allowed to bring reindeer jerky with…
A Swedish astronaut was not allowed to bring reindeer jerky with him on board a shuttle mission close to Christmas because the American astronauts thought it was weird. He had to go with moose jerky instead.
Pope John Paul II sent a letter to a US leader asking…
Pope John Paul II sent a letter to a US leader asking not to invade Iraq. When the Cardinal arrived he handed this letter to the President. He placed this letter on a table without opening or reading it then told the cardinal that he, the president, “was convinced it was God’s will”.
A Viking named Harald Hadrada fled from his native Norway…
A Viking named Harald Hadrada fled from his native Norway to Russia, then went on to become an elite guardsman in Eastern Roman Empire and fought in Iraq. He then went back to Russia to marry a princess, and arrived back in Norway as a king, and finally invaded England with his army.
A typical microwave oven consumes more electricity powering its…
A typical microwave oven consumes more electricity powering its digital clock than it does heating food.