STRANGE BUT TRUE

z Now, here’s a good reason not to neglect checking your spam email folder from time to time: In the U.S., a Michigan woman bought a lottery ticket online but forgot about it until, opening said folder days later in search of a missing message, discovered that she’d won $3 million. z In 1985, a sting operation by U.S. law enforcement officials, dubbed Operation Flagship, mailed letters offering free tickets for Washington Redskins games to fugitive criminals. More than 100 arrests resulted, including two of America’s top 10 most wanted. z In 2007, Ben Carpenter got the most terrifying ride of his life when his wheelchair’s handles were caught in the grill of a semi-trailer. Carpenter was pushed for several kilometres at a speed of over 100km/h before a pair of police officers followed the truck to its place of business and informed the stunned driver. The chair’s wheels had to be replaced, but Ben survived without injury.

z Fedex’s founder nearly bankrupted his company with a Las Vegas trip, in which he used the corporation’s last $5000 to play blackjack. Fortunately, he managed to turn the sum into $27,000 and keep things running until he obtained more funding.

z The movie “Babe” required one animatronic and 48 real pigs, due to their rapid growth rate.

z Remember playing “Simon Says” in your youth? In France, it’s called “Jack Says”; in Norway “The King Commands”, in Japan “Teacher Says”, and in Ireland “O’grady Says”.

z In 1920, Anoka, Minnesota, became the first U.S. city to put on a Halloween celebration, in an effort to distract kids from playing Halloween pranks.