Aside from dying in your sleep, dying of laughter might seem like the perfect way to go. And although it sounds like the stuff of fiction, on rare occasions it has been known to happen in real life.
The Greek soothsayer, Calchas, was said to have died of laughter during the Trojan wars. When planting grapevines [...]
Golden lilies, idyllic bound feet of women and girls, were the erotic hallmarks of feminine China for one thousand years. Yet, to practice the custom meant enduring the excruciating pain of mutilation and even the threat of death should the binding be improperly applied. The following offerings relate facts and trivia about the fascinating and [...]
I have to admit that even looking at photos of the diamond kind of gave me the creeps, but at least I know never to touch it. Luckily I was never big on jewelry, but then I have to wonder what drew me to research this article in the first place??
* I went back as [...]
The I Ching, also called the Book of Changes, originated during an important time in Chinese history - the overthrow of the Shang dynasty by the Chou dynasty, which also collapsed. It was a time of much social unrest and confusion. The wise men and women of the time made up stories that they fashioned [...]
The world population is said to be over 6.5 billion. But where do all those billions of people live? Here are some interesting facts about where we dwell on this big globe of ours.
China:
With a population of 1.3 billion, China tops this list of the world’s most populous countries. In fact, 1 out of every [...]
Russian nesting dolls, more accurately termed matryoshka, are not the old Russian relics we think they are despite being one of the most recognizable features of Russian folk art. Roughly a century old, the art of the matryoshka has become a universal symbol of Russia and these beautifully created nesting dolls are beloved by collectors [...]
Green is one of the most abundant colors in nature — with almost all the vegetation on this earth being green.
Scientists say that each color has its own vibration frequency. The color green has a wavelength of 500 to 565 nanometers in the visible spectrum. It comes in several shades. An interesting fact is that [...]
o The name garnet is derived from the Latin word granatus, meaning grain. It has been speculated that this is due to small alluvial crystals being found wich closely resembled pomegranate seeds or grain.
o Garnet is actually a group of minerals. It consists of eight main varieties:
o Almandine or Almandite Garnet
o Andradite
o Grossularite
o Hydrogrossular Garnet
o Malaia and Color Change
o Pyrope
o Rhodolite
o Spessartite
o Garnets naturally occur in [...]
Sometimes the truth really is harder to believe than the crazy stories you read on the Internet. But even though you’re reading this on the Web, you can believe every one of these tales: they all come straight from the Guinness Book of World Records.
-Be thankful that you don’t pay income taxes in Denmark. They [...]
From classical to Blues, high Baroque to modern Rock and Roll, the following collection of music trivia and facts is a delight for any music-lover.
Aristotle famously laid his foundations for music theory in approximately 340 B.C.
Harps and flutes are among the first musical instruments. These have been traced to Egypt dating to roughly 4000 B.C.
The [...]
The world of the Japanese Geisha is mysterious as it is glamorous. Recent books like Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha are returning this pleasure girl to a popularity she has not enjoyed since World War II. The following article chronicles the history of this illustrious group of women.
Some have likened them to European courtesans, [...]
Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theatre, most commonly known for the stylization of its drama, and for the complex makeup that is worn by its actors. A derivative of the verb ‘kabuku,’ which can be translated as meaning either “to learn†or “to be out of the ordinary,†kabuki can be loosely translated [...]
Apollo 11:Â The USA set out to put men on the moon during the decade of the 60s - the goal was just reached in time, with the first manned lunar landing on July 20 1969. The astronauts who first walked on the moon were Neil Armstrong (the `first foot’) and Buzz Aldrin. Third man [...]
I thought that I knew everything there was to know about coughs. But after a little research, it seems that I had a lot to learn and some of what I found is just plain bizarre!
We are so accustomed to running to the drugstore for a bottle of cough syrup, but what about when there [...]
I had lunch a few weeks ago in a 50s’ style diner and on the table was a miniature jukebox. My son and I started chatting about what he referred to as the “old days” and asked me what I remembered about jukeboxes. Well, seeing that they were around a long time before I came [...]
Hate your job? Thinking now is the time for a new career? Or maybe you’re actively seeking employment. The search for a job that will pay the bills can be frustrating- but imagine having one of these job titles!
Chicken sexer: How would you like to be the one who sorts through baby chicks to determine [...]
From the wheel to the rocket and all the remarkable inventions in between, the following text lists some highlights from the world of inventions. Although not discussed chronologically, these facts are loosely organized by type.
Cuneiform is the earliest form of writing. It was invented by the Sumerians between 4000 and 3000 B.C.
The chariot, or horse-drawn [...]
If you’ve always wanted to know how many hairs are removed from a man’s face by shaving, you’re in luck! Can you believe the prehistoric man shaved too? This article is filled of shaving facts, that may be useless but at least you’ll know.
1. The average shave will trim away somewhere between 20,000-25,000 hairs from [...]
King: Alfred the Great ( 849-901) - “I desire to leave to the men that come after me a remembrance of me in good works.”
Most of us shuffle off this mortal coil, having carefully set down what we leave where, and to whom. Some depart with nary a word put to paper, leaving them intestate, [...]
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. If the coyotes don’t get you, the worms must.” -Anonymous
From the moment we’re born, we begin the journey towards death. Hopefully, the period in between is long and prosperous. But down through the years, some cultures developed downright odd ways to dispose of the deceased.
NO FRILLS FUNERAL RITES
Burial, along [...]
America, meet your currency! There’s more to what’s in your wallet than meets the eye. Here for your amazement (or amusement!) are ten surprising facts about the Ten Dollar Bill.
1. You probably already know one slang term for this bill: “sawbuck.” But why sawbuck? Well, a sawbuck, or sawhorse, is an easily transportable frame you [...]
Every American should know basic flag etiquette: the rules for displaying and honoring our nation’s most visible symbol. Even if you don’t serve in the military or have a flag pole outside your house, you should know these guidelines.
On the flag pole:
-If you do not take your flag down after sunset, your flag pole should [...]
1. The Bay of Biscay is bordered by France and Spain.
2. There are 42 U.S. gallons in a barrel of oil.
3. Titusville Pennsylvania is home to the first oil well in the world.
4. Smokey Bear (known by most as Smokey the Bear) made his debut in 1944.
5. Warren Beatty had a role in “The Many [...]
* Your back is always to the sun when you see a rainbow.
* If you look closely at the back of a ten dollar bill, you will see a car; it is a 1925 Hupmobile.
* Ferrets were domesticated over 500 years before cats.
* Bing Crosby’s White Christmas was the signal for the Americans to evacuate [...]
Gold may have been the first metal to be used by humans, probably in ceremony and for decoration.
The Latin word for gold, aurum means “shining dawn.”
An Egyptian king from 2600 bce described gold as “common as dust.”
Some historians believe that the exploration of the Americas was in part to confirm reports that native peoples had [...]
Women have loved diamonds for centuries, diamonds have been dubbed a girl’s best friend and for good reason. Here are some facts about diamonds that will likely make a diamond more appealing to you for any occasion!
1. Diamonds are the hardest substance on earth.
2. Diamonds are carbon.
3. Only 20% of the world’s diamonds are suitable [...]
It’s an uncertain world. No one knows from this day to the next what will happen or what to expect. Life itself is a gamble, and we play the odds everyday, irregardless of who those odds favor. However, we still want to know if the odds are in favor or against a certain event, such [...]
Cultures from around the world and throughout time have their own marriage customs and traditions that often govern ceremonies and celebrations. The following text offers a variety of facts and trivia about marriage rituals from different parts of the world.
In Jewish wedding ceremonies, the groom stamps on the “chupah” breaking the glass to denote the [...]
Neil Armstong’s first step on the moon was with his left foot.
Tonsurphobia is a fear of haircuts.
Most toilets flush in E flat
Coconuts kill more people each year than sharks.
Four out of five visitors never return to a website.
School teachers receive more Valentine cards than anyone else.
In ancient Egypt, killing a cat was punishable by death.
Giraffes [...]
Fashion in eighteenth century England demanded that a wig augment a woman’s natural hair. A wig could be three to four feet tall, and a single wig was sometimes worn continuously on outdoor occasions for months at a time. Weather conditions made it necessary to wear large flexible bonnets made of pleated taffeta as a [...]
Earl Silas Tupper was born on a farm in Berlin, New Hampshire in 1907. From youth, Tupper was an entrepreneur. He started a landscaping business after school that did very well until the Great Depression forced him into bankruptcy. At that time, he went to work for the Dupont Chemical Company.
While working for Dupont, Tupper [...]
The period between 1837 and 1901 is notable as one of the most progressive eras in history. Queen Victoria’s reign was so influential that her name is stamped across the era to denote everything from fashion to furniture. The following offerings relate specifically to the jewelry of the Victorian era providing interesting facts and trivia [...]
Recently the word pandemic has been in the news. What is a pandemic? How many have there been in the world’s history? Let’s learn some hard facts about pandemics.
* A pandemic is a global outbreak of an infectious disease. It can affect animals, birds and people.
* Pandemics have been around since 430 B.C. The first [...]
Cupolas are decorative spherical roofs that look like upside down cups, usually topping circular, square, or multi-angular buildings. In some cases, cupolas form the entire roof of a tower or spire, but they usually function as ornamental additions. They are popular nowadays in Greek revival architecture in certain parts of states like Virgina, Kentucky, New [...]
* Women have been showing their athletic ability on ice for over 4000 years.
* Saint Ludwina is the patron saint of ice skaters. In 1396, she fell and broke her ribs when she was knocked down by her companion.
* In the book Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, the heroine’s name was Kaitlin.
* In the [...]
The world is full of odd facts that most of us just crave to know, if knowledge is power then be careful because your brain just might overload on some of these!
1. The ‘#’ key often called the pound key is actually called an octotroph.
2. “I am”. That’s the shortest complete sentence in the English [...]
The Japanese writing system is very complex. In a most basic manner, it can be broken down into three separate facets: Hiragana, Kanji, and Katakana. Before the fourth century, the Japanese language did not exist. Then, the Japanese began to incorporate bits of the Chinese script and developed a hybrid.
Kanji are the characters of Chinese [...]
