Italy

The Engineer just informed me that when you look at a map, Italy is in the shape of a thigh-high boot! Check it out - the area called Bari, Leece and Gallipoli is the heel:




It's so fitting that the land that is known for shoes is in the shape of one! How cool is that?!

image from italianbusinessguide.com

Biedermeier

Biedermeier (bee de MY er) refers to a type of furniture design that became popular after Napoleon was finally defeated in Waterloo in 1815.

During the Napoleonic era, the style of furniture that was favored (at least by the rich) was ostentatious, grand and usually made out of expensive mahogany wood.

After Napoleon's defeat, the middle classes, who were increasingly financially comfortable, wanted furniture that was both beautiful and functional - Biedermeier was born.
image from faccents.com

Writing for Sex and the City

The writers of Sex and the City often used their own life experiences as storylines. If there was anything unusual or eccentric about someone they met, it usually ended up in the show.

In the episode "Plus One is the Loneliest Number" Carrie Bradshaw meets Jack Berger for the first time. The Berger character is a writer who likes to collect playing cards off the street to see if he can make a complete deck. One of the writers of SATC actually met a man who did just that in real life.

image from britfilms.tv

Tina Turner

Tina Turner was born in 1939 which means she'll turn 69 this year.

"Old age" must be a figment of the imagination in Tina Turner's world because when she rocked the stage at the 50th Grammy awards she left 26-year-old Beyonce in the dust.

Keep rolling, Tina!

image from canada.com

8 Grammys in 1

The highest number of Grammy awards won in a single night was eight. It was an unequaled accomplishment of Michael Jackson's in 1984 until Carlos Santana repeated the feat in 2000.

PS: I can't believe how good MJ looked back then....how the mighty have fallen...

image from chanchow.blogspot.com

Michelangelo

Michelangelo, the genius artist and sculptor who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, was apparently a homosexual.



This might well be true as Michelangelo seemed to revere the male form through his art. His female paintings (above) retained a certain masculinity in their muscular detail.

image from wetcanvas.com

Maltesers in Tanzania

A 100g bag of Maltesers in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania costs TSH 4900 (USD 4.25/RM13.80)

image from orange.co.uk