Strange But True: Mechanized Knight
By Lucie Winborne
There is an art form called Assquatch that consists of faces made from deer posteriors.
Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci designed plans for a "mechanized knight," a robot-like creation that relied on a pulley system. When the plans were discovered nearly five centuries later and built according to his specifications, the design worked perfectly.
In 2012, a Manchester, U.K., couple jokingly invited Queen Elizabeth to their wedding. Her Royal Highness not only showed up, but brought Prince Philip.
Speedy Gonzales was banned by the Cartoon Network for being an offensive stereotype, only to be returned after mass protest by the Hispanic-American community.
The lowest sounding instrument in an orchestra is the contrabassoon. Only a few soloists in the world play it.
After winning an Oscar, Daniel Day-Lewis retired to become a cobbler in Italy. Fortunately for the theatrical world, he returned to acting after Martin Scorsese convinced him to star in "Gangs of New York."
The first Troll doll was created by a Danish fisherman who could not afford a Christmas gift for his daughter. While it wouldn't have won any beauty contests, when other children saw it they wanted one as well.
IKEA recalled its chocolate bars because they didn't come with an allergy warning.
In 1877, a monkey named Jimmy was charged with assault after biting the finger of one Mary Shea. When a judge said he couldn't legally commit a monkey, Jimmy respectfully removed his velvet hat, climbed on the judge's desk, and attempted to shake his hand.
There's a website that tells you the best time to use the restroom during a movie in a theater so you don't miss anything important.
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Thought for the Day: "A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams." -- John Barrymore
(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.