In 1965, a Swedish student was told by his fiancée in East Germany that she would never be able to leave the country to live with him in Sweden. Undeterred, he took flying lessons for a year, illegally flew a Cessna from Austria into Czechoslovakia, smuggled her out, and married her in Sweden.
Facts
Texas has it’s own separate electrical…
Texas has it’s own separate electrical grid from the rest of the US. This was done for political purposes so that they didn’t have to deal with Federal regulations.
Billiards tables are sometimes referred…
Billiards tables are sometimes referred to as pool tables because in the 19th century men used to pool together bets for horse races. These “pools” were held in special rooms called poolrooms, where pool tables were installed so patrons could pass time between races.
There is an upscale McDonalds restaurant…
There is an upscale McDonalds restaurant in Hong Kong called “Next” that has table service. It has a “create your own” menu with fresher and higher quality ingredients than any other McDonalds.
Ranch dressing was invented by a…
Ranch dressing was invented by a plumber working in Alaska in the 1950s. He and his wife opened a Dude ranch called Hidden Valley Ranch in Santa Barbara County, California in 1954. 40% of Americans say ranch style dressing is their favorite; it has been the best selling salad dressing since 1992.
Salvador Dali would hold a key…
Salvador Dali would hold a key or a spoon in his hand with a tin plate on the floor. If he drifted asleep, the key for spoon would fall and hit the plate waking him up. This is how he was able to create his paintings; while staying awake and being in a quasi-dream state of mind.
Russell Crowe, a New Zealand actor…
Russell Crowe, a New Zealand actor and film producer, is the only non-Australian to be featured on an Australian stamp other than Queen Elizabeth II of England, and was featured twice. He has also been rejected in his bid to become an Australian citizen twice.
When mathematician Abraham de Moivre…
When mathematician Abraham de Moivre became lethargic later in his life, he noticed that he was sleeping an extra 15 minutes each night. He calculated the date of his death as the day when his sleep time reached 24 hours, which would be on November 27, 1754. At age 87, he died on that day.
Ethiopia adopted Christianity in 330 AD…
Ethiopia adopted Christianity in 330 AD, just 17 years after the Roman empire. Despite the rise of Islam, fall of the Byzantine Orthodox Church, and being cut off from all other Christians for centuries Ethiopia remained Christian. They remain the only majority Orthodox Christian African nation.
New Zealand is not part of of any…
New Zealand is not part of of any of the world’s seven recognized continents, and is in fact situated upon the submerged continent of Zealandia.