Strange But True: Oct. 11, 2018

* It was 17th-century French author Francois de La Rochefoucauld who made the following sage observation: “Some people with great virtues are disagreeable, while others with great vices are delightful.”

* If you wanted to dig to the center of the earth, you’d have to go down about 4,000 miles.

* If you’re a fan of fishing, here’s a cautionary tale regarding the weather: A 48-year-old Colombian man named Felipe Ortiz (for reasons unknown) decided to go out fishing in a raging storm. He cast his line into a strong wind, but the line blew back and caused the baited hook to lodge in his throat, killing him. 

* Are you a dipsomaniac? The root of the word is from the Greek “dipso,” meaning “thirst” — and we’re all familiar with the “mania” part. “Dipsomaniac” is just a fancy name for a drunk.

* Feeling pressed by ever-increasing postage rates? Well, consider this: To send mail by Pony Express originally cost $5 per ounce — the equivalent of more than $150 in today’s dollars.

* At one time the game of checkers was known as “chess for ladies.”

* Unless you’re a professional dairy farmer who milks cows on a daily basis, it’s unlikely that you’re aware of the fact that it takes, on average, 350 squirts to get a gallon of milk.

* Jewelry lovers, pay attention: Oysters aren’t the only creatures with the capability to make pearls. Pearls can come from any mollusk that makes a shell, including mussels, clams, conchs and even land snails.

Thought for the Day

“I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an escalator temporarily out of order sign, only an escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience.”

--Mitch Hedberg

(c) 2018 King Features Synd., Inc.