Wearing headphones for an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700%.

Roman teenage emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (219-222), better known as Elagabalus, was fond of playing jokes with whoopee cushions.

Adam Fortunate Eagle Nordwall put a curse on Livermore, California’s sewer system back in the early 1970s after officials mistreated a totem pole he gave the city as a gift. A week after the pole’s installation, the sewer system backed up.

Israel is the only non-European nation in the European Athletic Association.

One of America’s top high jumpers is named Nathan Leeper, from Kansas State. One of TCU’s best sprinters is named Steve Slowly.

This article appears in September 6 • 2002.

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