Now for a positive fact about Taiwan. Compared to its neighboring countries like Japan, Korea, and China where LGBT people face discrimination, Taiwan is forward-thinking and progressive.

Although walking the plank is common in modern pirate lore, most pirates simply killed people. When they tortured their prisoners, it was usually by keelhauling (dragging a tied sailor in the water from the back of the ship), marooning them on a deserted island or remote sandbar, or lashings with a leather whip.

Halloween is more fun than serious, but contrary to popular belief, it is not particularly important in a witch's calendar. They are also thought to celebrate Beltane, the first day of May, and Midsummer's Eve, which coincides with the summer solstice. In fact, in Sweden, Easter is associated with witches.

Most antique Chinese porcelain has a mark on the bottom. Besides the potter's brand, the dynasty and emperor's reign was included. Viewing the branding is a key to spotting fakes and imitations

Activision recorded nearly 5 million gamers playing Call of Duty at the same time during the days of Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2. Except for New York, this is a substantially larger population than practically any other city in the United States.

The brain encodes odors received via the nostrils as originating from the nose but smells detected through the back of the throat activate regions of the brain linked with signals from the mouth. Because most taste involves odor going to olfactory receptors in your brain, it stands to reason that if you can't smell, you won't be able to taste anything at all. If you can't smell because of a head cold, smoking, drug side effects, or a broken nose, your olfactory receptors may be too damaged, obstructed, or inflamed to transmit signals up to your brain.

Unlike in today's mass production era, porcelain in ancient China was made by a variety of small businesses in various districts. The imperial family would always prioritise purchasing better ceramics.

A goat herder in Ethiopia is said to have discovered coffee in the 1500s. He noticed his goats munching on coffee cherries. He noticed a change in their behaviour after that; they gained a lot of energy and didn't sleep at night. The herder informed the local monks of his findings. They realised they could stay up all night praying after making their own drink from coffee beans. The news quickly spread to other Ethiopian monks and then to the rest of the civilised world.

If you order from Starbucks regularly, you know that there are three cup size options: tall, grande, and venti. But what you might not realize is that there are two other sizes as well. First is an 8-ounce "short" cup, which is what the kid's hot chocolate is served in. You can ask for it for anything, though. Then there's the Trenta, which holds 31 ounces and is only for iced drinks.

Andy Warhol, an American pop artist, made a black-and-white film called Batman Dracula in 1964, a campy fan film that he considered an homage to the comics. He was not granted permission to make the film or to use the Batman character. Jack Smith, an experimental filmmaker, played both the Dark Knight and the infamous vampire; unfortunately, no complete print of the film has ever been found.

The one-of-a-kind work of art depicting a 13th-century chronicler in Budapest's City Park appears to have miraculous powers. According to legend, touching the Anonymus' pen will bestow upon you great writing abilities. You may not believe in its magical abilities, but the pen's gleaming surface suggests that many others do.

There isn't a breed of teacup Chihuahuas, which may disappoint you if you've been looking for one. This is not a canine classification; it is a marketing gimmick. When searching for a puppy, it's crucial to keep in mind that all Chihuahuas are teacup-sized. Despite the fact that some people are smaller than average

The infamous Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Emperor Shah Jahan, is known to change colour every morning, noon, and midnight. Many people believe it is because of the white marble used in the construction, which is shiny and reflective. Others believe that the structure is infused with historical magic.

Because monkeypox is uncommon, your doctor may consider other rash infections first, such as measles or chickenpox. Swollen lymph nodes, on the other hand, frequently identify monkeypox from other poxes. 

Your doctor will collect a tissue sample from an open sore to diagnose monkeypox (lesion). The sample is then sent to a laboratory for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing (genetic fingerprinting). A blood sample may also be required to test for the monkeypox virus or antibodies produced by your immune system.

She was regarded as the "Mother of Modern Physics" for her work with radioactive materials and the discovery of elements such as polonium and radium. Unfortunately, her study took a heavy toll on her health, eventually leading to aplastic anemia, which led to her death. The radioactivity not only damaged her, but it also impacted the majority of her things, including her clothes, furniture, and books. Marie Curie's notes must now be preserved in a lead box more than a century later since they are still radioactive (and will be for another 1,500 years!).

The first film adaptation of Austen's work was MGM's 1940 Pride and Prejudice, starring Lawrence Olivier and Greer Garson. Emma Thomspon was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for her work on director Ang Lee's 1995 film Sense and Sensibility, in which she also starred.

The fundamental technology behind windmills was undoubtedly derived from the wind sails that were used to steer ships. However, the first instance of wind energy being used to help automate routine manual tasks, such as pumping water or grinding grain, was most likely in Persia. Last but not least, the first vertical axis windmill design that has been historically recorded is the Persian panemone windmill, with records of the technology dating back as far as 1,500 years. The vertical sail on this particular specimen was made of bundles of reeds or wood, which were then fastened to the central vertical shaft with the aid of horizontal struts.

One of the cutest Chihuahua facts is this. By the time they are 6 months old, their ears will begin to stand up straight. If not, it's likely that they never will. Even if they don't conform to the breed standard, they are nonetheless purebred Chihuahuas

The country's native bird, the hooded pitohui, may be found throughout Papua New Guinea. The hooded pitohui bird, on the other hand, is one of the world's few deadly birds. As a result, hunters are concerned about preserving the birds since they destroy numerous parasites and are beneficial to the ecology. Hunters like these birds' distinct qualities as well. You're unlikely to stumble across one by mistake, so there's nothing to worry about, but it's interesting to know about!

Plato, the ancient Greek philosopher, observed that "likes tend towards likes" as early as 391 BC. As you may be aware, this is very similar to the adage "like attracts like." That is the main lesson of the Law of Attraction.

While there are many fanciful elements in the way mobile suits function, such as the Minovsky Particles that fuel them, most of the technology is based on true science. Lagrange points, the O'Neill cylinder, and the usage of Helium-3 as an energy source are instances of this. Other things are technologies that have not yet been developed but appear to be viable with future study.

It is the biggest inland body of water in the world. The Black Sea has a total area of 163,000 square miles, which is larger than the whole state of California. The Black Sea, however, differs from most other inland bodies of water in that it is also classified as a marginal sea.

Don't be concerned if your apartment building lacks the fourth level. The number four is frequently omitted because it sounds like the word 'death' in Chinese, making it an unlucky number. The lucky number eight, on the other hand, indicates wealth.

Red hair has stronger strands than other colours, which compensates for the fact that redheads have less hair. They have 90,000 strands on average, whereas blondes have 110,000 and brunettes have 140,000.