Miscellaneous

Bizarre Fact #171:
Did you know...
In 1953, Sony Corporation obtained a transistor license from Western Electric Co. that led to its development of the world's first commercially successful transistor radio.

Bizarre Fact #172:
Did you know...
In 1961, Henry Matisse's painting Le Bateau hung upside down in New York's Museum of Modern Art. It remained upside down for forty-one days until someone noticed. It's estimated nearly 116,000 people passed in front of the painting before the error was noted.

Bizarre Fact #173:
Did you know...
In 1969 the Navy spent $375,000 on an "aerodynamic analysis of the self-suspended flare." The study's conclusion was that the Frisbee was not feasible as military hardware.

Bizarre Fact #174:
Did you know...
In 1970, "MCI" stood for "Microwave Communications, Inc." No longer used as an acronym, it now stands alone.

Bizarre Fact #175:
Did you know...
In 1979, Namco released Pac-Man, the most popular arcade game of all time. Over 300,000 units were sold worldwide. More than 100,000 units are sold in the United States alone. Originally named Puck Man, the game was retitled after executives saw the potential for vandals to scratch out part of the letter P on the game's marquee, which might discourage parents from letting their children play. Pac-Man became the first video game to be popular with both males and females.

Bizarre Fact #176:
Did you know...
In 1981 a guy had a heart attack after playing the game BERSERK - video gaming's only known fatality.

Bizarre Fact #177:
Did you know...
In 1982, the last member of a group of people who believed the Earth was hollow died.

Bizarre Fact #178:
Did you know...
In 1997 a Menorah was built in Latrun, near the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. It was more than 60-feet tall, weighed 17 metric tons, and took up an area of 600-square meters. A rabbi was lifted in a crane each night of the holiday to light the candles on the menorah, which was made of metal pipes.

Bizarre Fact #179:
Did you know...
In Britain’s House of Commons, the government and opposition sides of the House are separated by two red lines. The distance between the lines is two swords’ lengths, a reminder of just how seriously the Brits used to take their politics.

Bizarre Fact #180:
Did you know...
In Japan, Western Electric first sold equipment in 1890, then in 1899 helped form the Nippon Electric Company (NEC). This was Japan's first joint venture with an American firm.