The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are the driest place on Earth (there is no ice).

Empress Elizabeth of Russia used to hold “Metamorphoses” balls where guests were expected to dress as the opposite sex. She often dressed as a cossack or carpenter. On an unrelated note, after a botched dye job, she shaved her head and ordered all women in the court to cut off their hair, too.

July’s full moon is called the “Full Buck Moon” by Native Americans after the velvety, full antlers of male deer this time of year.

It is estimated that Americans spend 200 billion hours a year watching television. It is also estimated that it took 100 million hours to create Wikipedia.

Paul Revere supervised Boston’s outhouse inspectors (as president of the board of health).

This article appears in July 18 • 2014.

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