Although the world can be a strange place, it can often be a hilarious one as well, with stories from around the globe leaving us chuckling away or scratching our heads. Here are three rather random stories about the world we live in that are sure to make you crack a smile
A matter of measure. The metric vs. imperial debate has gone on for decades, with metric seeming like the more logical of the two but imperial being the hands down winner when it comes to hilarity. Take, for example, a unit of measure used for wine and spirits popular in medieval times. It was called a “butt,” and was roughly equal to 4 barrels.
Idiocy. Although now commonly used as a derogatory term for stupid or foolish people, the term “idiot” was once used as a legal classification for someone with a considerable or significant intellectual disability. Tracing the word to its origins, it was actually used in ancient Greece somewhat innocuously to denote a private citizen with no political involvement.
Fire! Fire! The invention of the fire hydrant is a somewhat contentious topic, although many credit the invention to Frederick Graff Sr Chief Engineer of the Philadelphia Water Works in the early 19th century. Unfortunately, we may never know who actually invented it, as the patent for the fire hydrant actually burned in the 1836 US Patent Office fire in Washington, DC.
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