Did you know…. A fun, and very simple game.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Chewing gum boosts mental proficiency and is considered a better test aid than caffeine.

Recent evidence has indicated that chewing gum can enhance attention, as well as promoting well-being and work performance. 

Four studies examined the robustness of and mechanisms for these effects. 

Study 1. Investigated the acute effect of gum on mood in the absence of task performance. 
Study 2. Examined the effect of rate and force of chewing on mood and attention performance. 
Study 3. Assessed the effects of chewing gum during one working day on well-being and performance, as well as postwork mood and cognitive performance.
Study 4. Performance and well-being were reported throughout the workday and at the end of the day, and heart rate and cortisol were measured. 

Under experimental conditions, gum was associated with higher alertness regardless of whether performance tasks were completed and altered sustained attention. 

Rate of chewing and subjective force of chewing did not alter mood but had some limited effects on attention. 

Chewing gum during the workday was associated with higher productivity and fewer cognitive problems, raised cortisol levels in the morning, and did not affect heart rate. 

The results emphasise that chewing gum can attenuate reductions in alertness, suggesting that chewing gum enhances worker performance.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

There’s a bar in Yukon that serves a “Sourtoe cocktail.”

It consists of a shot of whisky with a human toe floating in the glass.

An estimated 60,000 people have had it.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Pope Francis has been given many extravagant gifts over the years, and one of them was a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

However, rather than keeping it for his own pleasure and adventures, he sold it off and used the money to benefit homeless people.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Julius Caesar’s only son, Caesarion, was the last Pharaoh of Egypt.

In the 40s B.C., Cleopatra competed with her siblings, two brothers, both named Ptolemy, and her sister, Arsinoe, to rule Egypt.

After 18-year-old Cleopatra married her 10-year-old brother and co-ruler, Ptolemy XIII, in 51 B.C., but civil war broke out between the pair.

Cleopatra fled to Syria to marshal her own forces.

She came back better than ever. After sneaking into family friend Julius Caesar’s chambers wrapped in a rug, she charmed him, enlisted his help, and defeated her brother in battle. 

Julius Caesar and Cleopatra had a son name Caesarion.

And less than three years after Caesarion’s birth, Caesar was dead, murdered by friends and foes alike.

So, from birth, little Caesarion carried two heavy weights on his shoulders: he was allegedly the only biological son of the most powerful man in Rome, as well as the heir to a 300-year-old kingdom.

After Caesar’s death, Octavian, Antony, and Lepidus divided Roman territories between them.

Antony went to Egypt and then took up with Cleopatra, and declared Cleopatra and himself heirs to the Persian and Hellenistic monarchies.

He also dubbed Caesarion Caesar’s true heir, in direct defiance of Octavian’s claims

So, it was Octavian versus Antony and Cleopatra (and Caesarion) for control of Rome.

In 31 B.C., Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra’s forces at the Battle of Actium in northern Greece. 

Octavian then invaded Egypt, whereupon Antony and Cleopatra committed suicide.

Cleopatra’s son Caesarion was killed by Octavian.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Gaming-related accidents increased by 26.5% during the first 5 months of Pokémon Go being released.

Using a mobile phone while driving is dangerous. Trying to catch Pokémon at the wheel could be even worse. According to a new analysis, the mobile game Pokémon Go may have contributed to nearly 150,000 traffic accidents, 256 deaths and economic costs of $2 billion to $7.3 billion in the first 148 days after its introduction to the US.

These figures come from extrapolating the effects of Pokémon Go on Tippecanoe County in Indiana to the whole of the US, so should be taken with a pinch of salt. However, even in this locale, there was a substantial increase in traffic accidents following the game’s launch.

The researchers say they were able to attribute 134 crashes, two of them fatal, across the county to Pokémon Go between July and November 2016, out of a total of 286.

“We used the most conservative assumptions that were supported by the data. We are quite confident of the extrapolation and, if anything, we are understating the effect,” says Mara Faccio at Purdue University, who carried out the study with colleague John McConnell, also at Purdue.

Pokémon Go is an augmented reality app that adjusts a person’s surroundings through the lens of their smartphone camera. 

it’s important to remember that in the world of Pokémon Go, there are pokéstops and there are gyms. Pokéstops are where you can get more pokéballs and pick up supplies; gyms are where you battle.

You’re supposed to walk around to hit all these spots, but plenty of people cheated by driving to the various stops, then hopping out of the car and picking up some supplies or going for a quick battle.

To prevent idiots from doing this, Niantic began making the game virtually unplayable in a fast-moving vehicle, even for passengers.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Mushrooms aren't plants.

They're fungi, which are actually more like animals than plants.

That's right, a mushroom has more in common with you than it does a banana or a potato.

They're not really animals or plants though. But if you're veggie you can still eat them!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

The Statue of Liberty has size 879 shoes!

Sounds about right for someone 305 feet tall!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Armadillo shells are bulletproof!

One man from Texas had to go to hospital after he shot at one, and the bullet bounced back and hit him in the jaw.

He was fine in the end, but serves him right for shooting at things!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Humans are the only animals that blush

Blushing might seem like an embarrassing thing to do, but scientists reckon it's a useful way to create relationships in our complicated human world. No other animal does it!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Fizzle was actually associate with flatulence.

Yes, that’s right! “Fizzle” started as a term describing a particular type of fart.

The etymology of “fizzle” can be traced back to the early 16th century, where it was derived from the Middle English word “fisen.” “Fisen” was a verb used to describe the release of gas from the digestive system, often to the amusement or annoyance of others. 

Today, it is commonly used to describe a lack of energy, enthusiasm, or success in various contexts. Whether it be a failed business venture, a disappointing event, or a lacklustre performance, the word “fizzle” has become deeply ingrained in our everyday language.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

No number before 1,000 contains the letter A

That's right, there's no letter A in one, two, three, four....all the way up to one thousAnd.

Go on, count to 1000 to prove us wrong!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Crows are super smart!

Crows are on average as smart as a seven year old child. GASP!

They can use tools, remember people's faces, solve puzzles, and even have regional accents.

In fact scientists think they're the smartest animals after primates, putting them well ahead of dogs and dolphins!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Sharks are older than trees!

Sharks have existed for about 450 million years in one form or another, whilst trees have only been about for a measly 350 million years!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Forks were once considered very rude.

When forks were first brought to Europe about 1000 years ago, they were very unpopular and even seen as the work of the Devil. You see, God had given us hands to eat with. So, using a fork was insulting His Holy creation. Apparently.

Traditional English food was/is mostly made up of roasted meats or boiled meats. In the case of roasted meat, you typically ate it with your hands. For anything with gravy or was boiled, the meat was soft enough you could cut through it with a spoon.

So, until the mid-1700s in England, and the late-1700s or early 1800s in the U.S., the only utensil people used at the table was a spoon. 

The roasted meat would be carved with a knife and two-pronged serving fork, but that was just for serving. Once it was in your bowl or on your plate, you used your hands or a spoon.

Fork culture developed in America in the early 1800s, in Great Britain, it had begun a little earlier. 

In Great Britain, they adopted the continental style. Forks as table utensils first appeared in southern Europe and spread from there, and the British used the manners that were in style in Europe.

Since the U.S. had split from Britain by the time forks became widespread, and most people had little direct contact with upper class Europeans where the fork manners were passed down from, Americans came up with their own set of manners.

Hence, in Europe, you keep your fork in your left hand because it's more productive and straightforward. In America, you switch your fork to your right hand because it forces you to put down your knife since it's considered bad manners to point with a knife in your hand.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

The Eiffel Tower is growing and shrinking.

Just like the city it adorns, the Eiffel Tower is always evolving, adapting, and surprising us.

When summer arrives, not only does the Eiffel Tower grow, but it also changes how it looks. In the crisp winter air, it has a darker, more sombre look; but in the heat of summer, the sunlight reflects off the iron, giving it a warm, inviting glow. 

The fact that the Eiffel Tower can look and feel different throughout the year adds to its allure and mystique.

As temperatures rise, the iron that forms the Eiffel Tower subtly expands. Thanks to a phenomenon called thermal expansion, the tower gains around 6 inches (15 centimetres) in height. 

Eiffel’s engineers knew the tower would need a bit of wiggle room. The iron used in its construction was chosen to expand and contract without any risk of cracking or warping. 

Next time you gaze up at this stunning landmark, remember that the Eiffel Tower, like life itself, is always a little different each time we look always evolving, always reaching.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Frankenstein's monster was veggie

Frankenstein was written in about 1818 by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley when she was about 18 years old. 

The idea for the book came to her when her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and their friend, the poet Lord Byron, decided to see who could write the best horror story.

The three friends were part of a group called Pythagoreans – yes, named after Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician from about 500 BCE - who were vegetarians.

Frankenstein was not the eight-foot tall, very unhappy creature, but the scientist Victor Frankenstein who created the friendless individual whose scary appearance produced only fear, not empathy.

Given Mary Shelley’s background, perhaps it is not surprising that despite the cruelty with which the creature is treated, that he is kind. In the book, the creature states, “My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid, to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment.”

Mary’s husband, Percy Shelley, had a hand in Frankenstein’s creature’s vegetarianism. Percy, died in a boating accident at the age of 29, while Mary lived to be 53. 

He seemed to be the more ardent vegetarian, writing many works on the topic and making some additions to his wife’s famous book. Shelley writing influenced two more famous vegetarians: Mohandas Gandhi and George Bernard Shaw.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

The tiny western Pacific Island of Guam is known mainly for its U.S. military outpost; but it’s also far and away the world’s largest consumer of Spam. 

After the majority of the U.S. military force that occupied Guam during World War II left, the canned, preserved meat the soldiers ate stayed put. 

Today, Guam consumes more than 16 cans of Spam per person, per year more than any other country or territory. 

In Guam, the salted pork shoulder in a can is central to local culture, with dozens of indigenous recipes calling for Spam. 

But Guam’s Spam addiction might be doing more physical harm than culinary good: according to one study, 60% of deaths on the island of 150,000 are blamed on poor diet and lifestyle.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

It’s traditional to bake Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday.

Hot Cross Buns were traditionally baked on Good Friday to be eaten on Easter Sunday are said to be good luck. Nowadays we eat them throughout the Easter period!

Some people believed buns baked on this day would never go bad, would protect against shipwrecks and even shield your home from fire.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

In 2007, an Easter egg sold for £9 million.

Possibly the world’s most expensive egg was sold at Christie’s in London for £9 million, breaking Faberge records.

The enamelled egg contains a multi-coloured cockerel which at every hour pops out of the egg and flaps his wings, before nodding his head three times.

The egg was made by Karl Fabergé in St Petersburg in 1902 and is the second-largest egg ever made by Fabergé.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

The art of painting and decorating eggs is known as “Pysanka”.

The brightly coloured eggs are symbolic of spring flowers and the new beginnings previously mentioned. It is said that King Edward I of England may also have contributed to the tradition of decorating eggs to celebrate Easter.

In the 13th century, Edward I ordered 450 eggs to be coloured and decorated with gold-leaf. They were presented as Easter gifts to the rest of the royal household.

In Christianity, Easter Eggs are coloured red to symbolise the blood of Jesus.

Originally, egg dyes were made out of natural items such as onion peels, tree bark, flower petals, and juices.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

The Easter Bunny is not in the bible and is not related to the resurrection story of Jesus that Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday. Rabbits and hares, along with eggs, are general symbols of spring and renewal that have become integrated into the holiday’s celebration through the centuries.

These symbols do have some ties to Christian art and traditions, though. Rabbits and hares have long been associated with Jesus's mother, Mary, reports Scientific American. The 16th-century painting “The Madonna of the Rabbit” by Italian artist Titian, for instance, shows Mary with a white rabbit by her side.

And as for the Easter Bunny's eggs? Traditionally, eggs were not consumed during the Christian observance of Lent, according to A Dictionary of English Folklore. Instead, they were preserved or hardboiled to save for Easter. The result: an abundance of eggs for decorating, egg hunts, and other Easter traditions. In some traditions, the eggs used in these activities were imbued with religious meaning.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Easter Eggs were given as a symbol of fertility and rebirth.

The exchange of eggs for Easter dates back to a springtime custom older than Easter itself! 

This can be traced back to the Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, Greeks and the Romans. 

In Christianity, for the celebration of “Eastertide”, the egg represents the empty tomb of Jesus, from which Jesus was resurrected. 

In a nutshell, (or in this case, eggshell) we give each other eggs as a symbol of joy, rebirth/new life, and new beginnings, basically all things positive, optimistic, and happy.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

The first chocolate Easter egg in the UK was introduced in 1873 by the family-owned company, Fry’s. 

The founder, Joseph Fry, started out selling drinking chocolate in the 1750s, and his grandsons created the first chocolate bars in the 1860s. 

Fry’s particular achievement at this time was their chocolate Cream Bar, a product that is still sold today.
It was in Easter 1873, that Fry’s would create the first chocolate egg.

Traditionally, at Easter, people would give each other chicken’s eggs which had been hard boiled and painted bright colours (that’s where the tradition of decorating eggs comes from). 

Fry’s took this tradition and put their own spin on it, and so the first chocolate Easter eggs were introduced in this country.

Fry’s competitors quickly caught on and copied with Cadbury’s making their own chocolate Easter eggs two years later.

Around the world, the likes of France and Germany had been making chocolate eggs for many years before the UK, but these eggs had been made from solid chocolate. Fry’s had been the first to figure out how to use moulds and make hollow eggs. 

This had been achieved through the Fry family’s innovations in making chocolate by mixing cocoa fat with cocoa powder and sugar. This made a smooth paste which could be poured into egg moulds.

The earliest chocolate eggs were also designed with the well-known ‘crocodile’ design in order to hide any cracks or other imperfections.

Fry’s were successful as a confectionary company, until they were taken over by Cadbury’s in 1935.

Despite this, Fry’s products including their Cream Bar and Turkish Delight Bar are still sold today under the Cadbury name. Even Easter eggs bearing the Fry’s name are still being sold for the occasion, carrying on a tradition that has lasted 147 years.

[uk666]

Did you know.....

Chocolate contains a chemical called ‘Theobromine’ which is toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Sharing isn’t caring when it comes to Easter chocolate. Whilst us animal-lovers share the greater part of our lives with our fur friends and family we really mustn’t share our Easter treats with them.

Giving animals chocolate intended for humans really is like giving them a poisonous substance and, in some cases, the results can be fatal.

It’s better to buy your pets an Easter treat with a recipe that has been devised for them by specialists, and keep your Easter chocolate all to yourself!

[uk666]

Did you know.....

What is the right way to eat a chocolate Easter bunny?

It’s Easter and the big question of the day is ‘how do you eat your chocolate bunny’? There’s a bit of disagreement as to the ‘proper’ way to eat your chocolate confection. Tail first? Ears first? Paws first? Bite off the whole head in one big chomp?

According to a survey conducted by the National Confectioners Association, 78% of chocolate bunny eaters eat the ears first, 17% eat the feet first and only 5% eat the tail first. I’m with the 78% majority myself. Although I prefer white chocolate to milk or dark chocolate, the ears are still the tastiest part… perhaps because they’re first?

Unfortunately, with white chocolate I miss the chemically induced chocolate happiness high that comes from eating the brown varieties. White chocolate does not contain the feel-good chemicals that neurotransmitter to the reward centre of your brain. Those chemicals are present in the cocoa mass used to make milk and dark chocolate bunnies, but not the cocoa butter used in white chocolate. I may not get ‘high’, but I certainly get happy. 

According to Samantha Boardman, MD, a positive psychiatrist, the way you eat your chocolate bunny reveals quite a bit about you. In her study of 23,000+ respondents, 59% indicated they eat the ears first. In doctor-speak, that’s known as ‘auricular amputation’. Eating ears first means you are practical, traditional and organized. Boring, but true.

What about tail first? It’s a sign that you’re cautious and maybe a little bit sneaky… attacking from the rear and all.

And feet first? Maybe you’re a bit needy. You eat the feet first so the rabbit can’t get away.

Biting off the whole head? Aha… the impatient type… always in a bit of a hurry… just trying to get the job done and over with.