subject: Who Put The Fact In Factoid? [print this page] It's illegal to step on money in ThailandIt's illegal to step on money in Thailand. Because the king's image is on all the money, stepping on it is like stepping on his face. Canada has laws about money too. It's illegal to use more than 25 pennies in a transaction. In Rome it's illegal to eat or drink in areas of "particular historic, artistic, architectural and cultural value - $650 illegal. Finally, because high heels exert more pressure than a walking elephant, in Greece it's illegal for women to wear high heels near ancient ruins. If you don't know other countries' laws when you're traveling, pack a "lawsuit".
According to the 2010 census, there were 314 million Americans. According to the Congressional Research Service, there were 310 million guns in 2009 - excluding military bases. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 5.4 million guns were manufactured in 2010. In 2011 there were 3.2 million guns legally imported. According to the Center for Health Statistics, there were 11,101 murders committed with guns in 2011. According to the FBI, guns were used in 68% of murders, 41% of robberies and 21% of aggravated assaults. Unfortunately, changes in gun laws require more than "shooting off our mouths".
Olympic medalists live longer than the general population. According to a study published in the journal BMJ, they live an average of 2.8 years longer. Another study in BMJ showed Olympians in less-intense sports like golf had the same survival advantages as those in cardiovascular-intense sports like cycling. However, Olympians in high-risk sports like ice hockey had increased risk of death compared to other Olympians. Thankfully, we don't have to be Olympians to benefit from physical activity. A 2012 study published in The Lancet found eliminating inactivity could add nearly a year to our lives so - "walk it off".
Santa Claus is getting fatter too. When Adele's of Hollywood started designing Santa suits over 40 years ago, the largest suits fit men 200-275 pounds with waists of about 50 inches. In 2011 and 2012 twenty-five percent of her suits were for obese customers. In fact, in 2012 she made 6 suits for men 300-425 pounds with up to 76-inch waists. In 1996 size 2X suits represented 12% of the sales for the online company Santa Suits. In 2012 size 4X represented 33% of the sales. Because larger size suits cost more, Santa may still be "in the red" after Christmas.
