10 things we didn't know last week
16:40 UK time, Friday, 5 December 2008
Snippets from the week's news, sliced, diced and processed for your convenience.
1. The first trunk call made in the UK was by the Queen.
2. Claims worth £40m are made each year to the Bank of England in relation to damaged banknotes.
3. And two serial numbers must be legible for a damaged note to be exchanged at the bank.
(Ibid)
4. A street light costs about 15p a night to keep lit.
5. The world's timekeeping is monitored by one man.
6. And December 2008 will last one second longer than December 2007.
7. Motorways are five times safer than single-lane roads, according to the AA.
8. The Sydney Opera House was inspired by a peeled orange.
More details
9. Shakespeare probably lost his sight.
10. Spanish has overtaken German as the second most popular language taught in schools.
Seen 10 things? . Thanks to Douglas Yates for this week's picture of 10 kittens with their foster mother.
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