There have been more deaths in Chicago from gang violence than troops killed in Afganistan since 2001.
The welfare state was originally a right-wing invention by arch-conservative Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck hated socialism, but he wasn’t an ideologue. He figured out that if you don’t provide a minimum safety net to workers, they will be persuaded by the socialists.
Arctic explorer Peter Freuchen formed a chisel out of his own frozen feces to free himself from an avalanche. He then amputated his own frozen toes with a hammer… without anesthesia.
A loyal dog once stopped his owner from committing suicide by knocking the gun out of the owner’s hand.
Michigan has a second-tier DUI law, known as the ‘Super Drunk Law’, for BACs over 0.17.
In 2008 a man struck a deal with prosecutors agreeing to plead guilty to murder in exchange for a bucket of KFC & some Popeyes chicken.
Between 2004-2006, more than 500 Indian workers were lured into working for shipyards in America with the promise of American citizenship. The company sent them into a labor camp, held their passports, extorted them with lies about various fees, and threatened them with legal and physical harm.
A child growing up in the U.S. is more likely to have a pet than a live-at-home father.
Mastering just 3,000 words in English will make you able to understand around 95% of common texts.
“Wet houses”–permanent supportive housing where formerly homeless, chronic alcoholics are allowed to drink and live–saved Seattle over $4 million in the first year and continually saves lives.
Photo courtesy of Davide Saccon.
Straws found in China.
1917 - Pittsburgh Pirates play 4th straight extra inning game, Carson Bigbee sets record of 11 at-bats, they lose in 22 innings to Dodgers
1934 - Australia beat England by 562 runs to regain Cricket Ashes
1950 - Althea Gibson becomes 1st black competetor in a US national tennis competition
1959 - Cin Red Frank Robinson hits 3 consecutive HRs
1962 - Failed assassination on French president Charles de Gaulle
1988 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1681 - Pierre Danican Philidor, composer
1779 - James Kirke Paulding, American author (d. 1860)
1873 - Karl Nef, Swiss musicologist
1880 - George Herriman, American cartoonist (d. 1944)
1925 - Honor Blackman, Plaistow, London, English actress (Goldfinger, The Avengers)
1940 - David Vance, horse trainer
408 - Flavius Stilicho, West Roman field leader (395-408), dies at 48
1155 - Konoe, Emperor of Japan (b. 1139)
1607 - Bartholomew Gosnold, English explorer and privateer (b. 1572)
1984 - Charles Whittenberg, composer, dies at 57
2003 - Generosa Ammon, American widow of Ted Ammon (b. 1956)
2010 - Stjepan Bobek, Yugoslav football player (b. 1923)
