A list of curious facts
One: This is less curious than an alarming fact: The latest trend in dog breeding is lilac dogs. Really, dogs that are coloured lilac. The Guardian put together a funny and scathing explainer on this bizarre fad. See a lilac Frenchie below (like bulldogs aren’t already freaks of nature 🙄 ).
Two: Think you can only listen to a podcast? Wrong. Vox Media has rolled out podcasts that you can see—with “immersive scripts” that make them accessible to all. Check out an episode here, and read more about the project over at NiemanLab.
Three: Utah’s Salt Lake county health department conducted a very serious analysis of vaccination rates of its 1.2 million residents and concluded… Leos are most likely to get vaccinated, followed by Aquarians and Arians. Bottom of the pile: Scorpios. Boo! The Guardian equally seriously picks apart their methodology.
Four: Did you know that there are nearly 100 active “micronations” around the world—such as Westarctica whose ruler is His Royal Highness Travis I. They have their own currency, stamps and even ambassadors. AFAR has more on this fascinating phenomenon.
Five: Hong Kong now has a bus tour for sleep-deprived residents who miss snoozing on public transportation. You can pay $13 to $51 to take a 76-kilometer, five-hour ride on a regular double-decker bus to catch some z’s. (Associated Press)
Six: Yes, even the great Michelangelo hated his day job, and was especially sick of painting the Sistine Chapel. A task that drove him to writing bad poetry. A sample: “I've already grown a goiter from this torture/ hunched up here like a cat in Lombardy…” Read more over at Mental Floss.
Seven: The most expensive Big Mac in the world costs $21.89 in Lebanon—which also offers the most expensive McDonald’s menu item ever: a $27.19 Grand Chicken Special. Winner of the cheapest happy meal: Pakistan. Check out Expensivity’s research into burger economics.
