Failed Invasion
The Nazi invasion of the United States started at dark on June 13, 1942. A team of eight Germans had $180,000 in cash, four boxes of explosives and a list of targets that included the hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls and the New York City water system. But after a tense run-in with an unarmed member of the National Coast Guard, the leader of the saboteurs, George Dasch (pictured), turned in the others and claimed he had never intended to carry out the plot.
Pachyderms Are Slow Learners
Researchers confirm that elephants do, indeed, have remarkable memories. But they counter that pachyderms are very slow learners. In one experiment, an elephant required more than 300 demonstrations before it grasped the difference between two figures: a square and a circle.
What Did Barney Do?
Barney, in “The Flintstones,” didn’t have a regular occupation in the early episodes though he served sporadic stints as both a television repossessor and a geological engineer. The cartoon character eventually settled down, working with Fred at the Slate Rock and Gravel Company (a.k.a. Bedrock Quarry and Gravel).
Suspicious Sounds
In the early 1990s, buoy-mounted microphones picked up evidence of what was believed to be Russian submarine activity off Sweden’s coast. But after weeks of intense search, the Swedish Navy had found no enemy submarines. In fact, there were no enemy submarines. Sonar experts proved that the suspicious “cavitational sounds” were actually coming from wild mink, swimming near Navy sound equipment.
Exotic Uses for Common Herb
A common household herb may have exotic uses. Take thyme, for instance. The leaves may be used with chicken, in soups and sauces or to spice up a beef marinade. But the Ancient Egyptians used thyme to help preserve mummies. Other cultures have used thyme as an anti-fungal fumigant or as incense in temples of worship.
Home Sweet Home
The female Wrinkled Hornbill finds a nesting place in a convenient tree hole and then locks herself in with her eggs by plastering over the opening with mud and droppings. The male of the species supports his family with regurgitated food, offered through a tiny space left in the protective wall.
The Wrong Call Letters
How did two Pennsylvania radio stations get call letters starting with “K?” A 1923 Bureau of Navigation decision made it so that radio broadcasters east of the Mississippi would get call letters starting with “W.” Stations in the West began with “K” — except in the case of Pittsburg’s KQV and KDKA. Both opened for business prior to the 1923 ruling, marking them as two of the oldest radio stations in the country.
A Form of Flattery
England’s Stonehenge may be America’s most frequently rebuilt, Old World monument. A golf course in Fortine, Mont., claims to be the most accurate replica. Other reproductions include Carhenge in Alliance, Neb., New Mexico’s Stonefridge and Virginia’s recently unveiled Foamhenge. Additional states with Stonehenge memorials include Georgia, Missouri, New Hampshire, Texas and Washington.
The Fartiste
Joseph Pujol, better known as Le Petomane or “the fartiste,” was one of France’s most celebrated entertainers at the close of the 19th century. Pujol earned upwards of 20,000 francs each week for passing gas while on stage. The act included impressions and at least one tune, “O sole mio,” in which Pujol invited the audience to sing along.
They’re Great!
Tony the Tiger was originally one of four cartoon spokesman, brought on board to boost sales of Kellog’s Sugar Frosted Flakes in 1951. But Tony’s the only survivor as his charismatic television personality helped him edge out the competition: Katy the Kangaroo, Newt the Gnu and Elmo the Elephant.
No Middle Name
U.S. President Harry S. Truman had no middle name, just an initial. Truman quipped that the single letter was a compromise between his grandfathers, Anderson Shippe Truman and Solomon Young. Truman also said that the “S” shouldn’t be followed by a period because it was a name, not an initial. But Truman’s signature contradicts this claim. He commonly included a period.
Miranda Rights
One of the best-known lines in history was penned in 1966 by California’s now-retired, Nevada County Prosecutor Harold Berliner. And his words, written in an attempt to simplify a complex Supreme Court ruling, have been heard around the world in American-made action films: “You have the right to remain silent.”
Summer Hike Inspires VELCRO
The invention of VELCRO, patented in 1955, was inspired by a summer hike made by Swiss amateur mountaineer George de Mestral and his dog. When the two returned home, covered with burrs, de Mestral vowed that he would create a fabric that mimicked the sticky seed-sacs. His name for the invention comes from the combination of the words velour and crochet.
eBay Serves Small Business
A French computer programmer, Pierre Omidyar, founded eBay in 1995 to help his wife and other collectors meet and make trades. (Omidyar’s wife collects PEZ dispensers.) But the online trading company, valued at $30 billion, has helped American business as well. More than 430,000 small businesses in the U.S. rely on eBay for a significant portion of their sales.
Mistaken Statue
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a must-see for George Herman Ruth fans. The stadium in Baltimore, the Babe’s hometown, has a bronze statue of Ruth at its Eutaw Street entrance. But the Sultan of Swat’s likeness has one detail wrong. Dangling from Ruth’s left hand is a right-handed fielder’s glove. The real Bambino was a lefty.
Color-Coded Fire Hydrants
The color of a fire hydrant usually reveals how much water pressure it can provide. Red hydrants are rated at less than 500 gallons per minute. Orange hydrants supply less than 1,000 gallons per minute, and green hydrants give less than 1,500 gallons. Blue hydrants dispense 1,500 or more gallons of water each minute.
Da Vinci and Plastic
Leonardo da Vinci is best known for his art, but the Italian genius also predicted the submarine and drew up plans for a working helicopter. Not only that, modern scholars now say that Leonardo may have created the first organic plastic as well by layering animal glues with natural fibers to produce a material, similar to bakelite.
Dog Food Breakfast
It was dog food research that resulted in one of the country’s best-selling breakfast pastries. When Post found a way to store moist, meaty Gains Burgers without refrigeration, the company quickly applied the new technology to Country Squares, a convenience food for busy American moms, introduced in February 1964. But the squares proved square indeed, never quite catching on with the nation’s consumers. Industry-rival Kellogg’s took notice of the development and introduced its own version just seven months later. They called this new food sensation Pop-Tarts.
The Shortest Commutes
States with the shortest commute-to-work times include North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Montana. All four have average commutes of less than 17 minutes. Which state has the longest commute? New York held the top spot in 2002 with morning commutes that took an average of 38.4 minutes.
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