Mexico has more puppet theatres than the rest of the world combined.

There are 17 children in the USA called Unix.

Students in Romania held a 3 day protest in 1963 for better quality sheets.

Lady Ameline Forthwight caused uproar in the court of King Charles II of England by regularly engaging in boxing matches.

The gully fielding position was so called after a seagull was struck (and killed) during a match at Lords in 1882.

Her Majesty's Prison Service is Europe's largest purchaser of porridge.

Kylie Mingoue holds the record for the most played artist at traveling fairs.

If all the world's shoe laces were joined end to end they'd circumnavigate the world 27 times.

The RMS Titanic was originally to be called RMS Unsinkable.

There is a United Nations International Day of Tom Jones (named in honour of the Welsh pop star).

From October to December 1992 NASA had no Chief of the Astronaut Office (the post held by the most senior astronaut). In a unique move Nelson Mandela was named Honorary Chief until the position was filled permanently.


The comic character Spider-Man was outlawed in Fiji during the 1980's after several children hurt themselves when deliberately encouraging spiders to bite them.

The Norweigan government of 1912 proposed a tax on nightcaps - but public demonstrations forced them to reconsider.

Motor oil makes an excellent shampoo.

Although disputed, many people believe that John Peel (the Radio 1 dj) invented the snowboard in 1965 in Sierra Nevada, California.

If just 2% of the world's roofs had solar panels they would provide all the energy the world uses.