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Ten Random Facts

During World War I, suicide rates dropped in Europe in those countries involved in the fighting and those that were neutral. Following the armistice, the national rates returned to pre-war levels.
History

The female name Sarah is from Hebrew and means “princess;” Gladys, derived from the Celtic language, also means “princess.”
Words and Numbers

Malcolm Lowry had pnigophobia—the fear of choking on fish bones.
Words and Numbers » Word Roots

On the stone temples of Madura in southern India, there are more than 30 million carved images of gods and goddesses.
Myths

Every hour, nearly 12,500 puppies are born in the United States.
Animals

Laverne De Fazio's favorite drink in the TV series Laverne and Shirley was Pepsi and milk.
Entertainment

According to one source, it was Jonathan Swift who originated this popular quote: "Promises and pie-crusts are made to be broken."
People

Because of its size, the Pentagon operates much like a small city. It has it's own shopping mall, bank, power plant, water and sewage facilities, fire station, police force, fast food restaurants and a "mayor".
Structures

Something or someone that uses two languages, or is bilingual, can be said to be "diglot."
Words and Numbers

In 1966, Elliot Handler, one of the co-founders of Mattel, Inc. and part of the Barbie® doll empire, was the inventor of Hot Wheels®. Handler experimented with axles and rotating wheels being attached to tiny model cars. The innovative gravity-powered car he developed had special low-friction styrene wheels. Hot Wheels® have been clocked at speeds of up to 300 miles per hour.
Inventions

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