History

Bizarre Fact #151:
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In a tradition dating to the beginning of the Westminster system of government, the bench in the middle of a Westminster parliament is two and a half sword lengths long. This was so the government and opposition couldn't have a go at each other if it all got a bit heated.

Bizarre Fact #152:
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In ancient Greece, courtesans wore sandals with nails studded into the sole so that their footprints would leave the message "Follow me".

Bizarre Fact #153:
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In ancient times, any Japanese who tried to leave his homeland was summarily put to death. In the 1630's, a decree in Japan forbade the building of any large ocean-worthy ships to deter defection.

Bizarre Fact #154:
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In Britain, the law was changed in 1789 to make the method of execution hanging. Prior to that, burning was the modus operandi. The last female to be executed by burning in England was Christian Bowman. Her crime was making counterfeit coins.

Bizarre Fact #155:
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In France - Captain Sarret made the first parachute jump from an airplane in 1918.

Bizarre Fact #156:
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In Northern parts of China it was once a common practice to shave pigs. When the evenings got cold the Chinese would take a pig to bed with them for warmth and found it more comfortable if the pig was clean-shaven.

Bizarre Fact #157:
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In the 15th century, scholars in China compiled a set of encyclopedia that contained 11,095 volumes.

Bizarre Fact #158:
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In the late 30's, a man named Abe Pickens of Cleveland, Ohio, attempted to promote world peace by placing personal calls to various country leaders. He managed to contact Mussolini, Hirohito, Franco and Hitler (Hitler, who didn't understand English, transferred him to an aide). He spent$10,000 to "give peace a chance."

Bizarre Fact #159:
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In the original architectural design, the French Cathedral of Chartes had six spires (It was built with two spires).

Bizarre Fact #160:
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Incan soldiers invented the process of freeze-drying food. The process was primitive but effective — potatoes would be left outside to freeze overnight, then thawed and stomped on to remove excess water.