Strange Facts

Strange Facts and Tales

Stephen King, author of numerous best-selling horror novels — many of which have been turned into equally terrifying movies – once made the following observation: “Some people say that I must be a terrible person, but it’s not true. I have the heart of a young boy. In a jar on my desk.”

Reports claim that in Providence, R.I., it was once illegal on Sundays to sell toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer.

With the holiday gift-giving season coming up, you might want to keep this in mind: Statistics show that 20 percent of people who receive gift cards as presents never spend the full amount.

Thought for the Day: “If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it’s another nonconformist who doesn’t conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.” — Bill Vaughan

Ever heard of “ochlocracy”? Probably not, but at times it seems like we may be experiencing it. “Ochlocracy” means “mob rule.”

It was in 1961 that singer Bing Crosby predicted “rock ‘n’ roll has run its course.”

What do Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin and Eva Peron have in common? After they died, their remains were mummified. King Charles the First’s body was turned into a mummy, too — but not his head. The body of Mata Hari, exotic dancer and notorious World War I spy, was not mummified after she was executed by firing squad — but her head was.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s statistics on worker fatalities, the most dangerous job in the country is truck driver. Next is farm worker, then sales supervisor/store owner and construction worker. Police detective rounds out the top five most dangerous occupations. Interestingly, cashier comes in at No. 10.

Now wasn’t that interesting?