Every Christmas, Dutch people black up and put on afro wigs to dress as ‘Black Peter’; Santa Claus’ black helper. During the run up to the Feast of St Nicholas on the 5th of December people dress up as ‘ Zwarte Pieten ‘ in parades, public events and parties. The blacked-up character visits schools, shops …
Dutch people black-up every Christmas for this controversial tradition Read More »
1. The biggest ‘fatberg’ found in London sewers was 250m long and weighed 130 tonnes A ‘fatberg’ is the term coined for an increasingly common blockage found in London sewers. It happens when so-called ‘flushable’ wet wipes mix with cooking fat that is poured down the sink. The biggest ‘fatberg’ was found in the London …
13 Totally Gross but Interesting Facts not to Read While You’re Eating Read More »
5. A Saudi billionaire donated himself out of the billionaire’s club Over the course of his life Saudi bank-owner Sulaiman bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi has donated $5.7 billion to charity. Now you may say what about Bill Gates who donated $27 billion or Warren Buffett who has donated $21.5 billion and who promises to …
Shoelace tying calculations Let’s presume that you take around 20 seconds to tie your laces and you you take your shoes on and off twice a day, that you learnt to tie your shoelaces at the age of 5 and you live to age 85. 20×2 = 40 seconds per day40*365 days of the year …
You spend at least two weeks of your life tying your shoe laces Read More »
The Portuguese Water Dog (cão de água) was bred specifically to round up fish. It can easily be trained to herd fish into fishermen’s nets. Originating in the Steppes around 700BC it was probably brought to Portugal via the Goths. It is similar to a poodle in appearance but it has amazing fishing skills. The …
Gunpowder is comprised of 75% potassium nitrate (saltpeter), 15% charcoal and 10% sulfur. You can make explosives using three basic ingredients: Sulphur (sulphur is used in the production of fertilisers) Charcoal (like what you use in your barbeque) Saltpeter What is saltpeter? Saltpeter, also known as nitrate of potash or even ‘Chinese snow’, is the …
