World's LARGEST Office Building

U.S Pentagon is the world's LARGEST Office Building!! 

•   Pentagone Building looks like a Geomatric shape called Pentagone, which has 5 angles

• U.S initially budgeted at $35 million, but wound up costing $63 million, more than $900 today’s money

• On January 15, 1943, work completed on the new headquarters for the U.S. War Department in Arlington, Virginia.

• Pentagon was built to accommodate nearly 30,000 defense workers tasked with helping America Win WWII.

• More than 17 miles of corridors

                                                                    

source: “Pentagon.” 2013. The History Channel website. Jun 24 2013, 11:25 http://www.history.com/topics/pentagon. 

Invention of Electric bulb changed Human Sleep Pattern

Today I have learned a fascinating fact about how lightbulb change human sleep pattern!

According to History Channel.. 

∆    The invention of the light bulb not only illuminated the night, but it may have permanently changed human sleep patterns. 

∆  Prior to the introduction of electric lights, people typically slept an average of 9 hours a night - at least 90 minutes more than then 7 hours or less that is now common. 

                            

Source: Andrews Evan,"11 Innovation that Changed History", Dec18,2012 http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/11-innovations-that-changed-history

Great Fire in London

In 1666, London faced a unbelievable fire, which is known as " Great Fire of London" to many of us. This is what happened, on the evening of Sept. 1 1666, when Mr. Thomas Farrinor, the king's baker, failed to properly extinguish his oven, which eventually caused burning the half of London!

Here's a brief stats of Great Fire's destructive consequences in London: 

• 13,000 houses 
• 90 churches 
• Lots of public buildings 
• St. Paul's Cathedral  
• 100,000 people were left homeless 

Here's an amazing fact: only 5 people were INJURED!




Source: “Great Fire of London begins.” 2013. The History Channel website. Jun 24 2013, 9:10 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/great-fire-of-london-begins.

The Shortest U.S President

James Madison was the shortest president in the history of U.S presidency. Here's a very brief description of James Madison: 

•  He was only 5"4  

• James Madison (1751-1836) from Virginia, was founding father of the United States and the 4th American president.  

• He served in the office from 1809 - 1817 

• An Advocate for a strong federal government. 

• He composed the first drafts of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights and earned the nickname " Father of the Constitution

Source: “James Madison.” 2013. The History Channel website. Jun 22 2013, 3:37 http://www.history.com/topics/james-madison

The Tallest U.S President

• The Tallest U.S president was Abraham Lincoln at 6'' 4!

• Abraham Lincoln, a self-taught lawyer and legislator with a reputations as an eloquent opponent of slavery, shocked many when he overcame several more prominent contenders to win the Republican Part's nomination for the president in 1860.

• He was the 16th U.S President 

•  He was assassinated in 1865, White house Ford's Theather.

Source: http://www.history.com/topics/presidential-election-facts 

Paper Money - Who Invented Paper Money?

Paper money actually invented in China. For centuries Chinese people used copper coins as their primary currency but since copper is a heavy metal so they had to come up with something more convenient like paper form; light, easy to carry and most importantly safe! 

• Usage of paper notes dates backs in 7^th Century Tang Dynasty. 

• It is believed that their paper money eventually became known as “ flying Money” 

• Even though the paper money wasn’t very popular, in 900 – 1000, it become more useful until a cooper shortage forced merchants and Song Dynasty Government officials to issue and accept paper notes backed by gold reserves – First legal tender in the world!!!

Source: Barbara Maranzani, . N.p.. Web. 16 Jun 2013. <http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-money>.

Electronic Money - Transferring Money Via Mobile Devices

In 2007, Vodafone, the British telecom giant and Safaricom, a Kenyan mobile operator worked together on program called M-Pesa that ultimately allowed people to make payments and transfer money with their mobile devices!

Source: Goldstein, J Who Made That, New Times Magazine, 34