Uncle John’s Did You Know? by Bathroom Readers’ Institute Read Free Book Online Page B

like yelping and humming and even purring.

DOWN UNDER
    From the land that gave us kangaroos, koalas, and Crocodile Dundee .
    • Why are the emu and kangaroo both on the Australian coat of arms? Because neither can walk backwards, thus signifying the forward-thinking character of Australians.
    • The only mammals that don’t give birth to live young are native to Australia. The platypus and the echidna (a.k.a. the spiny anteater) lay eggs.
    • Australia is the only continent on Earth without an active volcano.
    • The first settlers from England, who arrived in 1788, included 717 convicts and their military guards; 180 of the convicts were women.
    • Aboriginal peoples and natives of the Torres Strait Islands off the northern coast of Australia account for about 2% of the country’s population.
    • The school year in Australia starts in late January and ends mid-December for the Christmas (summer!) break.
    • One out of four Australians was born in another country.
    • Cute, but wrong: Baby platypuses aren’t called “puggles” as many people believe. They have no official name, but “platypup” has been suggested.

IMAS
    Instant Messaging Abbreviations, Silly .

     
•WUF
Where are you from?
•A3
Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere
•B4N
Bye for now
•C&G
Chuckle and grin
•DIKU
Do I know you?
•DLTBBB
Don’t let the bedbugs bite
•EG
Evil grin
•GR8
Great!
•K
OK
•L8R G8R
Later, gator
•::POOF::
Goodbye
•UOK
Are you OK?
•ROFLOL
Rolling on the floor laughing out loud
•QPSA?
¿ Que posa? (How’s it going?)
•S^
’S up? (What’s up?)
•SUAKM
Shut up and kiss me
•U4E
Yours forever
•WDALYIC
Who died and left you in charge?
•WE
Whatever
•WIBAMU
Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle

THE HIMALAYAS
    No, it’s not a rock group. It’s a mountain range in Asia — and the ultimate climbing challenge for us earthlings .
    • Nine of the 10 highest mountains in the world—including Mt. Everest—are in the Himalayas.
    • The rocks that make up the Himalayan mountains were an ancient sea floor until about 40 million years ago when, in a process called “uplifting,” the sea floor was forced upward.
    • The Himalayas are still growing—at a rate of about 2.4 inches a year.
    • Because the planet isn’t a perfect sphere, the point farthest from the center of the Earth is the summit of Mt. Chimborazo in Ecuador, not the top of Mt. Everest.
    • The snowfields of the Himalayas are permanent—they never melt, not even in the summer.
    • Everest’s name in Nepal is Sagarmatha (goddess of the sky), and in Tibet it’s called Chomolungma (mother goddess of the universe).
    • Once known as Peak 15, Mt. Everest was named after Sir George Everest, a British surveyor-general of India. He pronounced his name EEV-rest.
    • First skier to descend from the peak: Davo Karnicar of Slovenia in 2000. It took him five hours of uninterrupted skiing.

STRANGE
SUPERSTITIONS

    • In Tibet, the number 42 is considered sacred.
    • What’s the Mexican version of the Tooth Fairy? The Tooth Mouse!
    • The ancient Egyptians believed that black cats had divine powers.
    • 84% of Americans say they believe in miracles.
    • Phrenology is the belief that the size and shape of a person’s head determines their character. According to phrenologists, the bumps on your head reveal 42 aspects of your personality.
    • Storks are considered symbols of good luck. And according to folklore, it’s the stork that delivers every new baby.
    • According to legend, emeralds have the power to ward off evil spirits.
    • Some people believe that dreaming about a dove will bring you happiness.
    • According to ancient Egyptian mythology, the fate of the dead is decided by a group of 42 demons.
    • In Asia, cranes are revered as symbols of long life.
    • Superstitious people think an itchy nose means you’ll have a quarrel with someone.

A VISIT TO
MICROBIA
    Let’s pull up a microscope and visit the land of bacteria, fungi,