Strange But True: 590 miles of hair
By Lucie Winborne
In 1962, former MLB catcher Harry Chiti was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets for "a player to be named later." After a poor showing, Chiti became that very player, making him the first ever to be traded for himself.
The average person will grow 590 miles of hair (including nose hair) in their lifetime.
Speaking of hair, prior to L'Oreal's launch of the first mass market hairspray in 1960, women had to choose between slicking their hair down with a greasy brilliantine or using a mechanical sprayer to coat it with shellac dissolved in a solution of water and alcohol. Thank you, L'Oreal.
When it comes to landing an effective punch, boxers have nothing on the mantis shrimp, the strike of which has been clocked at about 50 mph and described by Science as accelerating faster than a .22-caliber bullet. Take that, Mike Tyson!
Forks were once considered a sacrilegious tool by the church.
In 1898, nearly 75% of Alabama's entire annual state revenue came from convict leasing to private railways, mines and large plantations.
Brazilian doctor Heron Werner uses 3D printing to help blind parents feel their baby's ultrasound results.
David Wayne Oliver, "the Santa Claus Bank Robber," walked into a Colorado Springs bank claiming to be armed, stole an undisclosed amount of money, and took the bag out to the street, tossing cash into the air while shouting "Merry Christmas." He then proceeded to a Starbucks to watch the resulting commotion while waiting for his arrest.
In an effort to limit the Dalai Lama's power, China has banned Tibetan Buddhist monks from reincarnating without government permission.
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Thought for the Day: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." -Thomas Edison
(c) 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.