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• Alabaster is a type of onyx marble, so soft it can be scratched with a fingernail.

• Before becoming novelties, electrostatic generators were used to study electricity in the 18th century.

• In 1893, the Chicago World`s Fair jumpstarted the traveling carnival craze in the United States.

• Native Americans traded furs, pottery and woven blankets in exchange for firearms.

• A carbine is a long arm gun with a shorter barrel than a rifle or musket.

• Historians believe Col. Custer carried a Remington carbine in the Battle of Little Big Horn.

• The popular "basketball toss" game is rigged by using smaller rims and overinflated balls.

• The "balloon dart throw" is rigged by using darts with dull points and under inflated balloons.
 

• Invented in 6th century Japan, the folding fan was introduced to China in 988 AD.

• Kanji, which is derived from written Chinese, is one of several writing systems used in Japanese.

• The rickshaw was invented in Japan in 1869, later spreading throughout Asia.

• Miley Cyrus` Wrecking Ball broke the record for fastest-growing online music video.

• "Rickshaw," derived from the Japanese word "jinriksha," means "human-powered vehicle".

• Wrecking balls range from 1,000 to 12,000 pounds, usually composed of forged steel.

• The largest structure ever demolished by explosives was the Seattle Kingdome in 2000.
 

• Introduced in the 1870s, steamer trunks were built for long trips on steamships.

• Titanic sunk on April 14, 1912, claiming the lives of more than 1,500 passengers.

• Planers are woodworking machines used to flatten and smooth pieces of lumber.

• The first radial arm saw was invented by Raymond DeWalt in 1922.

• The first chainsaw was made in the 18th century and was used for dissecting limbs.

• Ancient Egyptians prescribed treatments for snakebites as early as 1800 BC.

• The Titanic wreckage was found in 1985, 12,600 feet deep in the North Atlantic Ocean.

• Titanic became the first movie ever to gross over $1 billion worldwide.

• White Star Line was the British shipping company that built the ill-fated Titanic.

• Over five million people worldwide are bitten by snakes every year.

• Snake venom can spread through the body in seconds, making snakebite kits useless.

• The venom of a Death Adder can cause respiratory failure and death within 6 hours.

• Dried and stored rattlesnake venom can remain toxic for up to 27 years.

• The earliest examples of ice sculptures were ice lanterns from 17th century China.

• Weighing in at 140 lbs, the first electric chainsaw was built by Stihl in 1926.

• Hammond electronic organs were first marketed to churches as a cheaper alternative to wind pipe organs.

• The earliest example of man-made glass dates back to 3500 BC in Mesopotamia.

• As a manager, Sparky Anderson won 2,194 games and three World Series titles.

• Dino Tedeschi tools could only be purchased from Dino himself at his home in Murano, Italy.

• Glass much reach temperatures in excess of 2,000 ºF before it can be manipulated.

• The furnace used to reheat glass between shaping steps is called the "glory hole".

• Bob Feller was the first major American athlete to volunteer for service in WWII.

• In 1939, Lou Gehrig became the first athlete ever to have their number retired.

• Playing time lost due to injury costs the NHL over $200 million per year in player salaries.

• Russia`s Denis Kulyash currently holds the record for fastest slap shot at 110 mph.