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Fast facts:
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The tangerine is named for Tangiers, a port in Morocco. The fruit was once referred to as "the kid-glove orange" because its skin slipped off as easily as a glove and had the feel of fine leather.
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There are more than 15,000 different varieties of rice.
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In 4000 B.C., Egyptians discovered yeast's leavening abilities and turned out more than 40 types of bread.
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The black seeds found inside a papaya are edible and have a spicy, pepper-like flavor.
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There are more than 2,500 mushroom varieties grown in the world today.
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On average, each American consumes 117 pounds of potatoes, 116 pounds of beef, 100 pounds of fresh vegetables, 80 pounds of fresh fruit and 286 eggs per year.
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On this date:
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In 1790, the shoelace was invented.
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In 1841, the first U.S. steam fire engine was tested in New York.
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In 1866, Andrew Rankin patented the urinal.
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In 1884, the first long-distance telephone call was made, between Boston and New York.
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In 1933, Japan left the League of Nations.
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In 1939, Oregon defeated Ohio State 46-33 to win the first NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
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In 1964, an earthquake struck Anchorage, Alaska. It measured 9.2 on Richter scale, the most violent in U.S. history, and 131 died from the earthquake and resulting tsunami.
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Quotable...
"I can say that 90 percent of Nahrin has been destroyed. We asked (peacekeepers) and all other humanitarian non-governmental organizations to help the people there because they lost everything. They need tents, medicines, everything."
- Afghan Defense Ministry official Mira Jan about the damage from the Afghan quake.
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