This bell was once used by monks to summon the dragon Hutong, a beast whose breath is like a monsoon, to defend against an invading army. Dragons are not so easily tamed, however, and Hutong ended up destroying the monastery as well.

Corporal Luke Chester always wondered why the condemned prisoners were always offered one of the fancy French cigarettes before the firing squad, while he and the other men had to smoke the crap ones from the rations packets. His CO would have been happy to tell him they were laced with cyanide to make sure the job was finished, had he asked instead of nicking one and smoking it with three of his idiot platoon mates.

These masks depict the story of Don Diego Clemente de Quiñote and his bride Murietta. She was bitten by a poisonous viper on their wedding night and died in his arms. He was visited by an angel who told him Murietta would live on in heaven for eternity if he let her go. The viper presented another choice: they could stay together forever if they came with the viper to hell.

Research and/or verification in process for this curiosity - check back soon!

Research and/or verification in process for this curiosity - check back soon!

Research and/or verification in process for this curiosity - check back soon!

46.5 percent of people who look at this fascinating optical illusion see a rose bush in bloom; the other 51.8 percent see a dolphin jumping out of the water. Isn’t it interesting how deeply-rooted psychological preferences and unconscious preconceptions can “trick” our brains into seeing the same thing in two different ways?

Research and/or verification in process for this curiosity - check back soon!

Research and/or verification in process for this curiosity - check back soon!

Research and/or verification in process for this curiosity - check back soon!