In Turkish, the bird we call a Turkey is called "Hindi" ("from India"). In India, it's called "Peru." In Arabic, the bird is called "Greek chicken"; in Greek it's called "French chicken"; and in French it's called "Indian chicken." The bird is indigenous to none of these places.
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Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart had no idea how to play chess when they appeared in X-Men 2.
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During the Black Plague, it was thought that bad smells were the cause of the plague. "Plague Doctors" therefore wore masks with long beak-like noses stuffed with flowers or smoke to hide the smells.
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In Breton, Alabama, there is a law on the town's books against riding down the street in a motorboat.
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Most elephants weigh less than a blue whale's tongue.
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In Japan, watermelons are grown into the shape of a square so they are easier to stack and transport.
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One in three dog owners say they have talked to their pets on the phone.
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In 2005, there was a TV show in Germany called “Sperm Race” where contestants’ sperm was raced towards an egg. The winner got a Porsche.
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