This behemoth of a book is overflowing with the incredible stories, surprising facts, weird news, little-known origins, forgotten history, fun wordplay, and everything else that millions of loyal fans have come to expect from world’s best-selling bathroom reading series. As always, it’s divided by length: quickies for the reader on the go, medium-sized articles for those with a few minutes to spare, and extra-long pieces for those truly leg-numbing experiences. Here are just a few of the hundreds of topics loaded into this edition of America’s favorite "on the go” source of fascinating information:Forgotten FirstsDumb Crooks: Stoner EditionBizarre Japanese Video GamesThe Kamikaze Instruction ManualOur Lady of the Little Green MenThe Worst Fire in American HistoryThe World's Worst Business DecisionThe New Years Eve Opossum DropDo Blondes Really Have More Fun?Failed Doomsday PredictionsWhen Toilets Explodeand much much more

    He unmasks mysteries, debunks myths, and shares delightful details, including the responses to these queries:Did the same actress provide the voice of both Maleficent and Madame Leota, the head in the crystal ball in The Haunted Mansion? Who was the first athlete to say, "I'm going to Disneyland!"?Take a peek inside. Only Dave knows the answers! In addition to founding the Disney Archives in 1970 and serving as chief archivist for over forty years, Dave Smith has been a featured speaker at many Disney events. Beginning with the July 1983 issue of Disney Channel Magazine, Dave Smith began answering Disney trivia questions from viewers of the Disney Channel. In the ensuing thirty years, his "Ask Dave" column has continued through multiple publications, including Disney Magazine, the online "Disney Insider," and, most recently, the D23 Web site. He has also coauthored all volumes of The Ultimate Disney Trivia Book 1—4 and Disney: The First 100 Years (and its update). He compiled The Quotable Walt Disney, as well as three editions of the encyclopedia Disney A to Z.

    There are over 700 lists showing you who or what is the best, worst, richest, deadliest or biggest of practically everything.

    Published annually since 1868, this compendium of information is the authoritative source for all your entertainment, reference, and learning needs. Praised as a “treasure trove of political, economic, scientific and educational statistics and information” by The Wall Street Journal, The World Almanac® contains thousands of facts that are unavailable publicly elsewhere—in fact, it has been featured as a category on Jeopardy! and is routinely used as a go-to, all-encompassing guide for aspiring game show contestants. The 2013 edition of The World Almanac® and Book of Facts will answer all of your trivia questions—from history and sports to geography, pop culture, and much more.

    As well as the jaw-dropping images and strange facts, we present intriguing interviews with some of the astounding individuals who feature in the book, and informative "Ripley's Research" boxes that give the scientific explanation behind some of the most incredible tales. In addition, there are fascinating black and white photos from the Ripley archive, numerous lists, and a brand new Ripley's Weird Records feature.

    On the fifth anniversary of the show’s hotly debated series finale, in 2007, Vanity Fair releases a 20,000-word e-book, the untold, behind-the-scenes story of The Sopranos. With this oral history, expanded from the article in the magazine’s April 2012 issue, The Sopranos cast and crew—from creator David Chase and James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano), to Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano) and Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Melfi)—give their unexpurgated thoughts on the show’s ambiguous ending and the possibilities of a Sopranos movie. Sam Kashner and Jim Kelly lead readers through the writers’ room where Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner and Boardwalk Empire creator Terence Winter cut their teeth, through the grueling shooting schedules during which the late Nancy Marchand (Tony Soprano’s mother, Livia), behind the cameras, slapped herself with pepperoni to try to lighten the mood, and through the “whackings” of Big Pussy, Adriana La Cerva, and Bobby “Bacala.” The book discusses the show’s soundtrack (which ranged from Bruce Springsteen to Britney Spears, from Journey to The Rolling Stones) and influences (from Goodfellas to The Three Stooges) and, above all else, how much it is the creation of a singular genius, David Chase. Much more than a show about the Mafia, The Sopranos is an American cultural phenomenon—as much about the domestic family as the Mob family—that succeeded against all odds. As Edie Falco recalls, “After we shot the pilot, David [Chase] said, ‘Well, that was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, no one will ever watch this show, but you guys have been great.’ And that was the end. Or so we thought.”

    More than a look at the century-long wait for another World Series win, the book contains crucial information for Cubs fans, such as important dates, player nicknames, memorable moments, and outstanding achievements by singular players. This guide to all things Cubs also includes a list of must-do Cubs-related activities, which include taking in Wrigley field, traveling to Arizona for spring training, and sipping beers at the best Cubs bars around the country.

    Presented in the format of Top 10 lists, this book is a comprehensive yet fun look at the greatest aspects of the game. From the top World Series moments to the most colorful characters, SI Kids ranks a variety of topics from the baseball diamond. Readers are guaranteed to love the big, exciting action photos from the Sports Illustrated collection and the insider knowledge of SI Kids. Filled with trivia and information, this dynamic book will be the definitive kids book on baseball. Top 10 Rankings include:Hardest throwersSlickest infieldersPowerful sluggersLoveable losersFastest base stealersBest ballparks

    Created by a National Geographic Bee winner, this is the perfect tool for kids to use to help them prepare for a competition, study for a test, or fill their hunger for learning facts and figures about the countries of the world. This book is also the perfect companion to the National Geographic Bee Official Study Guide. The National Geographic Ultimate Fact Book provides the building blocks to geographic knowledge and will change the way kids look at the world.

    We also write books and newspaper columns; run a thriving website, a Facebook page, a Twitter feed; and produce an iPhone App and a sister Radio 4 programme. At the core of what we do is the astonishing fact - painstakingly researched and distilled to a brilliant and shocking clarity. In Einstein's words: 'Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler.' Did you know that: cows moo in regional accents; the entire internet weighs less than a grain of sand; the dialling code from Britain to Russia is 007; potatoes have more chromosomes than human beings; the London Underground has made more money from its famous map than it has from running trains; Tintin is called Tantan in Japanese because TinTin is pronounced 'Chin chin' and means penis; the water in the mouth of a blue whale weighs more than its body; Scotland has twice as many pandas as Conservative MPs; Saddam's bunker was designed by the grandson of the woman who built Hitler's bunker; Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981, it is explicitly illegal in Britain to use a machinegun to kill a hedgehog. 1,227 QI Facts To Blow Your Socks Off will make you look at the universe (and your socks) in an alarming new way.

    From the author of In the Footsteps of Jesus and The Biblical World comes a vibrant family reference that brings to life the fascinating characters of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. From the fall of Adam and Eve to Judas' betrayal of Jesus, the key events of the Bible are expressed through the lives of hundreds of people. Told through exquisite art and artifacts, intriguing sidebars, and unique family tree features, this illuminating volume tells the stories of Biblical characters and highlights their greater meaning for mankind. Illustrated with lavish color photography and exquisite historical artwork, this reference runs chronologically, with each person listed by order of appearance.

    From hornywinks to Dracula orchids, from alluvium to zymogen, Uncle John is embarking on a back-country safari to track down the wackiest, weirdest, silliest, and most amazing stories about the natural world. It’s 448 wild pages of great outdoor facts, strange stories, incredible science, and fun quotes and quizzes. You’ll feel the fresh mountain air energize you as you read about . . .An ape that fries burgers and a lizard that plays video gamesThe explosive history of America’s deepest (and bluest) lakeThe search for the mysterious rhinoceros dolphinHow to distinguish a mushroom from a toadstoolCats vs. birds: the Feline-Avian WarA waterfall that turns toys to stoneThe history of dirtAnd much, much more!

    Students, appearing for competitive examinations which test Business Awareness, will find this collection of information extremely valuable. The book aims to satiate the hunger of a curious mind by providing a number of interesting questions and ‘fundas’ from varied sectors right from airlines and automobiles to magazine covers and scams. If you are a Quizzer or want to start of on the path to being one, this book will tell you not only what to read but also guide you on using your knowledge in answering questions.About The AuthorRavi Handa has studied Computer Science & Engineering at IIT Kharagpur. He has conducted quizzes at various colleges like the IITs, BITS & XLRI. He currently works at a gamification startup called MindTickle.Avinash Maurya is defined by his quest to “know more”. Founder of maarewa.com and handakafunda. com, he is passionate about quizzing, photography, media curation, creation and much more. They are the national champions of the inaugural season of NDTV quiz show - Tech Grandmasters 2011.Table Of ContentsForeword by Rajiv MakhniPart 1 Facts1.1.1 Major Global Companies1.1.2 Major Indian Companies1.1.3 Timeline1.2 Brand Quotient1.3 Books1.4 Taglines1.5 AbbreviationsPart 2 Etymologies2.1 Company Names2.2 Business TerminologiesPart 3 Questions3.1 Multiple Choice Questions3.2 Answers to Multiple choice Questions3.3 Funda Questions3.4 Answers to Funda QuestionsPart 4 Tables4.1 Apple Inc.4.2 Collective Names4.3 Fortune 500 Indian Companies4.4 Former Trademarks-Generic Names4.5 Ticker Symbols4.6 Time Person of the YearAuthor BIO

    Also included are good tips for gardeners as well as a rundown of what constellations you can see in the night sky each month.Diane Olson's "Urban Almanac" column, upon which this book is based, has been running in Salt Lake City's Catalyst magazine for sixteen years. She has also written for New York Spirit, Salt Lake Magazine, and Utah Homes and Gardens. She lives in Salt Lake City.

    Mixing history with literature, listings with trivia, it opens windows on all areas of London's rich past and present. Here children will learn about London's art and architecture, landmarks, hidden places, ghosts, pearly kings and queens, festivals, street names, games, traditions, markets, football teams, and much, much more.Discover the oldest, the tallest, the silliest, the scariest and the smallest things in London. Shop till you drop at the Queen's favourite stores. Delve into London's murky past, see where notorious criminals were hanged, drawn and quartered, pirates were strung out to rot, heads were mounted on spikes and prisoners were tortured. Peer down London's oldest loo, chant with the crowds at London's first football club, and walk under the River Thames without getting wet.The Bumper Book of London will satisfy every child's appetite for facts and figures - as well as providing fodder for desperate parents who have run out of answers.

    . . in graphic-novel style! They’re brought to life in full color by some of today’s best children’s book illustrators. But wait, there’s more! The Enchanted Toilet also has a whole bunch of mystical activities--including crafts, recipes, poems, jokes, tongue twisters, and a few magical experiments. All you have to do is wave your magic wand and click your heels together three times. You’ll be enchanted by . . . Fantastic facts! * Real-life princesses (including one with a tattoo!) * Ninja: secrets of the invisible warriors * Where there be dragons * The human magnet and other dark wizards * The real-life Hogwarts   Enchanting activities! * How to make a wand * Using treats to catch a leprechaun * Transforming metals with alchemy * Sir Uncle John’s “Guide to Training Your Dragon”   Twisted tales! * “The Cockroach, the Mouse, and the Cricket” * “The Fairy Hedgehog” * “Ali Baba and the Forty Steves” * And a brand new King Arthur legend that involves…an enchanted toilet!  And much, much more!

    Some of the utterly stupefying stories within include:• Joseph Puyol, professional farter and highest paid entertainer in 19th-century France• the craziest true CIA plots• a divorce settlement that included a kidney• the college student jailed for insulting a horse• Iceland’s penis museum• the gambler who broke Monte Carlo• a man who removed his own appendixThe perfect gift for the man in your life. This title will engage its audience with stories, facts and charts that men can relate to.  This title takes the unbelievable and strange facts that Ripley's is known for and expands upon these stories to make a fun and entertaining book for men. Did you know that military hot-air balloons and submarines were used in the American Civil War? Did you know that the Japanese Earthquake shortened a day? What about before Madoff? What was  the first ponzi scheme? How about the craziest true plots of the CIA?  This title will engage an adult male audience with all the unique and fun stories that Ripley's is famous for.

    Soon, Cap’n Crunch™, the Trix Rabbit™, Toucan Sam™, Count Chocula™, and many more were household names, familiar as the cartoon personalities in regular television programs. Some creatures tried to swipe cereal from their friends. Others showed off the super strength given by their breakfast food of choice. Catch phrases even turned up in everyday talk, from “They’re magically delicious!”™ to “They’re grrreat!”™            Rediscover the heyday of these beloved cereal advertising characters in Part of a Complete Breakfast, which includes fascinating information about their origins. Did you know Tony the Tiger™ originally walked on all fours and had claws and sharp teeth? Or that Lucky the Leprechaun™ seemed to genuinely hate the kids who chased after him to take his Lucky Charms™ cereal? Meet cartoons who never made it into the public eye, including a “lost” Kellogg’s character named Nutrina, and a proposed fourth member of the Rice Krispies™ gang—a spaceman named Pow!            This highly illustrated narrative explores the history and evolution of these cartoon characters in an effort to both celebrate and measure their impact on American culture, focusing primarily on the years 1950–1979, when children’s programming became a powerful force and savvy advertisers realized that they could directly appeal to an enormous audience of kids through this new medium. In many ways these cereal commercials became extensions of the regularly scheduled programming featuring their own cast of animated characters.Drawing from his personal collection of pop culture memorabilia, Tim Hollis celebrates the characters dreamed up by mid-twentieth-century mad men when television was an exciting new way to advertise. He takes us through the ups and downs of the rules and regulations imposed by the National Association of Broadcasters. Vivid photographs reveal the flavors of the earliest cereal commercials and the role they played in claiming the loyalties of young breakfast eaters. Part of a Complete Breakfast is perfect for members of the baby boom generation who knew and loved many of those beloved cereal mascots, and who still retain a warm place in their hearts (and stomachs) for them.

    It's the best, the most challenging, and the most popular questions from Cash Cab-and they're all no fare.Features:Organized for easy one-on-one read-along trivia, or game playing mode Hundreds of multiple-choice questions that vary in degrees of difficulty for novice trivia buffs to frontseat know-it-alls Popular "red-light challenges" and "shout-outs" Page after page of trivia sidebars and fascinating factsCash Cab host Ben Bailey's favorite places to visit in New York

    From weird animal behavior to ancient civilizations, from mighty dinosaurs to fabulous inventions kids can discover the remarkable truth or uncover amazing myth busters. First, they can test their knowledge at the beginning of each chapter and then turn the page to find out what is true and what is false. True or False: Cockroaches can survive without their heads – True! Since they can survive for many days without food, cockroaches don’t need their heads to keep going. Unlike humans, cockroaches breathe through parts of their body, there is no nose on their heads. It can survive for weeks without one. Talk about a brawny bug! True or False: An avalanche can happen if someone yells on a snow-covered mountain – False! In movies and TV shows, avalanches are triggered when someone shouts or fires a gun. In reality, this isn’t powerful enough to start one. Many avalanches are caused when the weight of a person crossing an unstable slope dislodges the snow so it rushes down the mountain, often taking the person with it. True or False: The first explorer to reach the South Pole was Robert Falcon Scott – False! In 1912, when Robert Falcon Scott made a grueling trek to the South Pole, he found himself in a race with a team of Norwegians, led by Roald Amundsen. Both men were determined to reach the Pole first. When Scott’s team finally reached their target, to the dismay they found the Norwegians had beaten them to it – by a moth! On the return journey, Scott and his team perished from starvation and frostbite. True or False: The skeletons of babies and adult humans have the same number of parts – False! When babies are born, their skeletons contain nearly 300 parts. As they grow older, some of the parts fuse together, and by adulthood, the skeleton consists of 206 bones. True or False: The human nose produces a cupful of mucus everyday – False! Scientists have estimated the nose can produce up to a liter a day of mucus, most of which will be swallowed. Snot traps dirt, pollen and germs, and stops them from getting in your lungs, which could make you ill. The mucus near your nostrils dries our around the particles, forming a green lump. The rest of the mucus slides down your throat. Yuck! With these and hundreds more incredible true or false questions, kids will have a great time testing their knowledge and learning incredible truths and uncovering lousy lies!

    Youll snicker, youll snort, youll groan--you may even learn some fun new facts! So grab a copy and host your own pub trivia night, right in the comfort of your own home!

    Showcasing original cards for hall-of-fame players such as Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra, and current heroes like Derek Jeter, this unique package provides a fun and fresh approach to revisiting America’s favorite pastime with one of baseball’s most beloved teams. Since the Yankee’s humble beginnings in 1903 as the New York Highlanders to today’s star-studded team, the Bronx Bombers have won 27 World Championships—more titles than any other professional sports franchise in history. Yankee Greats will let Yankee and baseball fans alike revel in and reminisce over so many of the players that helped make baseball what it is today, and these legendary cards will bring back fond memories for both young and old collectors.

    You're a rocket scientist, who runs a satellite program for NASA, who also works on race cars, starts charitable foundations, volunteers to keep score for the York River Tsunamis, and runs a brewery? Is there anything else you do?" asked Wendy, wanting to get her facts straight. "I write Haikus," responded Gordon. "And the brewery part needs some caveats."GORDON MILLER gets caught up in a vortex of circumstance as he becomes the accidental program manager of a 3,000 person program with unread specifications for a microbrewery. A personal journey through the US Constitution consumes him as he tries to understand big government and wasteful bureaucracies. The story takes place at NASA Langley Research Center and surrounding historical areas of Hampton Roads, Virginia. The quirky character crew has idiosyncrasies that include thinking in haiku poems, chiropractic dependencies, and time-travel obsession. Fighter jets from Langley Air Force Base and race cars at Langley Speedway frame the story as the plot dilemma becomes the rationalization and discovery of government funded beers used to help WESLEY LARKIN, an endearing 7-year-old with cancer who is fighting for his life.

    Do you know which two days of the year have no major professional sports games? Which NFL team scored the sport's only perfect season? Or which professional boxer actually knocked himself out, giving the victory to his opponent? Test your knowledge of fun and games with this collection of amazing sports trivia!

    Because of its popularity (millions of people visit the state every year), Colorado has had its fair share of unique individuals and events coming from within its borders. But how many of them do you know about? State Facts for Fun! Colorado is an educational and entertaining experience for the whole family. Kids will love the humor and pictures that are contained within; while parents will love that their children are learning (and enjoying every minute of it). Kids will learn fascinating facts from subjects like history and geography, and will remember them well because of the book's game like format.

    Warning: our Timeline Books may be habit-forming! These diminutive volumes chronicle pop-cultural juggernauts using a fancy accordion-style format and photo-realistic illustrations. Brimming with meticulous research and artful eye candy, they're as fascinating as they are fun. Bet you can't read just one!

    Shields up, and swords at the ready! Your quest is about to begin.