A car operates at maximum economy, gas-wise, at speeds between 25 and 35 miles per hour.

Florence, Italy was the first city to mint its own gold coins in 1252. The fiorino became known as the florence, then the florin.

As the popularity of Black Friday grew, Canadians started crossing the border to take advantage of the Black Friday deals in the U.S. In 2008, some of the major retailers in Canada began offering their own Black Friday promotions to counter cross-border shopping.

Originally, the mark was simply referred to as "the stripe." Over time, it began to be called a "Swoosh," but there is no record of a specific date or occasion for its taking on that name. In the 1960s, a Blue Ribbon Sports brochure for Tiger footwear used the term "Swoosh" fibers to describe a shoe, so it is likely that the word was used in the...Read more

English naval hero Viscount Horatio Nelson chose to be buried in St. Paul's Church in London rather than in the national shrine of Westminster Abbey because he had heard that Westminster was sinking into the Thames.

Paul Winchell, the ventriloquist, was not only the voice of Tigger in the Winnie the Pooh films, he also invented the artificial heart. He donated the patent for it to the University of Utah.

Dachshunds are the smallest breed of dog used for hunting. They are low to the ground, which allows them to enter and maneuver through tunnels easily.

Although cruising seems to be a very much "in" vacation, only about 10 percent of Americans have ever taken a cruise.

A male emperor moth can detect and find a female of his species a mile away.

In Saudi Arabia, a woman reportedly may divorce her husband if he does not keep her supplied with coffee.

Lies are usually manifested by these signs: a sudden increase in the number of "ums" and "ahs," being overly defensive, and no eye contact. Since lying is stressful, they will try to be sarcastic, turning their body away from you, talking fast, making statements that contradict each other, unusual body language or a hand reaching to cover the ...Read more

A car uses 1.6 ounces of gas idling for one minute. Half an ounce is used to start the average automobile.

When British film companies buy a product called "Kensington Gore," they are purchasing artificial blood, used for special effects.

In ancient Athens, the olive tree was considered sacred. With all of its fruit belonging to the state, the death penalty was imposed on anyone caught cutting one down.

The monkey wrench is named after its inventor, a London blacksmith named Charles Moncke.

According to a pet owner survey, 79 percent of Americans give their dogs holiday and/or birthday presents.

To save money on your food bill, look down. Less costly items are often on bottom shelves, whereas more expensive ones are placed at eye level. Since kids tend to be shorter, purchase what they can see!

In 1647, the English parliament passed a law that made Christmas illegal. Festivities were banned by Puritan leader, Oliver Cromwell, who considered feasting and revelry, on what was supposed to be a holy day, to be immoral. The ban was lifted only when the Puritans lost power in 1660.

Dr. Maulana Karenga introduced Kwanzaa in 1966 to the United States as a ritual to welcome the first harvests to the home. Dr. Karenga created this festival for Afro-Americans as a response to the commercialism of Christmas. In fact one might say that Kwanzaa has similarities with Thanksgiving in the United States or the Yam Festival in Ghana ...Read more

Overcome with grief over the death of his wife, Dante Gabriel Rossetti placed the only copy of his poems in her coffin when she was buried. Seven years later, however, he claimed her spirit had come to him and told him to reclaim the poems--so he had her dug up.c