Strange But True: September 19, 2019

* It was Democratic governor and presidential hopeful Adlai Stevenson who made the following sage observation: "A free society is a place where it's safe to be unpopular."

* In proportion to its size, the strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue.

* Beloved children's author Dr. Seuss had a hobby that few people were aware of: He collected hats.

* If you're planning a trip to Kentucky anytime soon, you'd better keep a close rein on your interactions with strangers. It seems that flirting there is illegal and could get you 30 days in jail.

* It's well-known that Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize, but most people are misinformed about what he won it for. He didn't receive the award for his theory of relativity, but for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.

* The name of one of the most popular early video games, Pac-Man, comes from the Japanese words for "to eat." "Isuzu" means "50 bells" in Japanese, and "Atari" means "prepare to be attacked."

* The lyrics to that favorite Irish ballad "O Danny Boy" were actually written by an Englishman.

* Hong Kong is not a city -- it's an island. The name of the city commonly known as Hong Kong is actually Victoria.

* A study conducted by the Environmental Conservancy shows that Viagra is having a beneficial effect on the environment, especially in Asian countries. It seems that even though the drug costs $10 a pill, it's still cheaper than bear's gall bladder and other supposed remedies.

* In ancient Rome, slaves with red hair commanded a higher price from buyers.

* Actress Meg Ryan's given name was Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra.

***

Thought for the Day: "The trouble ain't that people are ignorant; it's that they know so much that ain't so." -- Josh Billings

(c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.