Bitesize

Fast and Factual

By team ⋅ March 27, 2008 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

A shark bit an Australian fisherman’s leg so tightly, that a fellow fisherman had to cut its head to set him free. The shark was three metres long and weighed about 90kg. The bite-victim was flown straight to hospital, and was quickly stabilised.
- The Guardian, 28th January

A digital children’s book retelling the tale of the three little pigs failed to win an educational award, because it was thought that the subject might offend Muslims.
- The Week, 26th January

46% of the clothes in Britain’s wardrobes go unworn. An estimated 2.4bn items were not worn once last year.
- The Guardian, 28th January

The location of your pizza is updated every 15 seconds on Papa John’s online TrackMyPizza feature.
- The New Scientist, 9th February

Body lotions can house deadly microbes to those with weakened immune systems. Hospital patients have been told to avoid moisturising, after five people almost died from a bug.
- The Sun, 31st January

A playground for the elderly has opened in Manchester. ‘It’s supposed to strengthen the hips’, a local patron said.
- The Times, 31st January

Italian art schools in chaos after a nude model strike. Protesters at Rome’s Sapienza University are demanding professional recognition. ‘It’s a tough, cold job and they do not show us much consideration. Once, a group of 30 Japanese tourists turned up and started taking photographs’, one of the models complained.
- The Week, 26th January

Zimbabwe has issued the world’s largest banknote – for Z$10m.
- The Week, 26th January

Cooked chicken you can purchase in Somerfield comes with the instruction, ‘shake well before use’.
- New Scientist, 19th January

‘War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography.’ - Ambrose Bierce
- The Week, 26th January

Weekend skies are now officially clearer, thanks to pollution’s effect on weekday weather. NASA scientists have found that increased air pollution from vehicles and factories on weekdays seed summer clouds, which create more rain than at weekends.
- New Scientist, 9th February

In India, at least 250 million people smoke or chew tobacco, and 2,200 die daily from tobacco-related diseases.
- The Times, 29th January