Strange But True: Throwing mobile phones

By Lucie Winborne

  • Australia is the only continent without an active volcano.

  • A world championship for throwing mobile phones has been held annually in Finland since 2010. Contestants are judged on their technique as well as the length of their throw.

  • The Sky Beam that shoots out of Las Vegas's Luxor Hotel attracts so many insects that it's established a new ecosystem of moths, bats and owls.

  • Sponges hold more cold water than hot.

  • You've undoubtedly heard of wishing upon a star, but how about an eyelash? An old superstition held that if one lost an eyelash, they should place it on the back of their hand, then throw it over their shoulder while picturing their desire. Or they could place it on the tip of their nose, then blow it off. But if the lash got stuck, they were out of luck!

  • The term "grumble" is used to refer to a group of pug dogs.

  • According to Greek historian Herodotus, a solar eclipse ended a six-year war in 583 B.C. when the act of "day turning into night" resulted in a draw that led to a peace treaty.

  • A statue of Nikola Tesla in Silicon Valley provides free Wi-Fi.

  • Not that we expect them to attempt it anytime soon, but cows cannot descend stairs. First, they can't easily see the ground after their feet, but their knees and hips also make it difficult for them to move at a downward angle (like some humans!). Plus, their  weight would leave them off-balance and at risk of toppling.

Thought for the Day: "Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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