Fun Facts and Strange News

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The “red phone” that’s a direct connection from the Pentagon to Russia has never been red OR a phone

Here are some fun facts to help get you through the day and look like the most informed person at the water cooler…

Fun (and not-so-fun) facts:   

  • Quinine is the component of tonic water that causes it to glow in the dark.

 

  • There are nine countries in the world where your boss is more likely to be a woman than a man:  Togo, Nigeria, Jordan, Laos, Burkina Faso, Saint Lucia, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Belize, and Jamaica.

 

  • “Looney Tunes” cartoons were originally created by Warner Brothers as a way to showcase new music.  Obviously, the cartoons themselves became much more popular.

 

  • The “red phone” that’s a direct connection from the Pentagon to Russia has never been red OR a phone.  It was originally a teletype machine . . . then a fax machine . . . and now it’s an email account.

 

  • ‘N SYNC made a cameo in “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones”.  George Lucas’s daughter loved them . . . so he put them in the background of a scene.  But they were cut out of the final version.

(Scientific American / Statista / Wikipedia / Wikipedia / Wikipedia)

Strange and trending news:

 

 

  • There are lists of the countries Americans most want to travel to, but now there’s a list of the best countries to LIVE abroad.  It includes:  Vietnam, Spain, Ghana, Argentina, Bermuda, Germany, South Korea, and New Zealand.  (Full Story)

 

  • When you’re buying food to take out, how much, if anything, do you tip?  In a poll, 21% of people said 6% to 10% . . . 19% said NOTHING . . . and 17% of people said 11% to 15%.  Those 65 and older were most likely to say NO TIP.  (Full Story)

 

  • According to a report on the Best Cities to Start a Career, the top five are:  Salt Lake City . . . Orlando . . . Atlanta . . . Austin, Texas . . . and Seattle.  (Full Story)

 

  • A new study says that having MORE than two kids can have a negative impact on your brain.  It’s unclear why a lot of kids is connected to cognitive decline, but some theories include:  Stressed finances . . . and less “me-time.”  (Full Story)

 

  • A study claims cats can learn the names of the other cats AND humans they live with.  Though the authors noted that cats are hard to study . . . since they have very little interest in participating.  (Full Story)

 

  • A man in Florida was seen GOLFING along the side of a highway.  It looks like he pulled over and just started hitting balls.  It’s unclear what his deal is.  (Full Story)

 

  • McDonald’s has decided to abandon Russia . . . permanently.  They’re selling all their business there, after seeing what Russia is doing to Ukraine.  (Full Story)