Country to Produce Paper Money

he Chinese began using paper bills during the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618–907), primarily in the form of privately issued bills of credit or exchange notes — and used it for more than 500 years before the practice began to catch on in Europe in the 17th century. The Chinese found the weight of coins to be cumbersome and figured that printed money would be more efficient. It makes sense, considering that China also invented both paper and printing. It took another century or two for paper money to spread to the rest of the world. 

Fanta

Fanta was invented in Nazi Germany during World War II due to a trade embargo on importing Coca-Cola syrup. The head of Coca-Cola Deutschland decided to create a new product for the German market during the war, using ingredients available in Germany at the time, including whey and apple pomace. They held a competition to name the new orange soda, saying “use your imagination”; the German translation of ‘imagination’, is ‘fantasie’ and at that moment, a German salesman, Joe Knipp came up with the name Fanta. 

Mayfair

In the UK version of Monopoly, the most expensive property is "Mayfair".

Multiplayer board game Monopoly has an economics focus. Players travel about the game board by rolling two dice, purchasing and selling properties, and then developing them with homes and hotels. Players try to bankrupt their rivals by collecting rent from them. Tax squares, Community Chest cards, and Chance cards are further ways to win or lose money. Every time they pass "Go," players are given a stipend, but they also risk becoming locked up and being unable to leave unless they fulfill one of three requirements. There are house rules, many variations in editions, several spin-offs, and associated media. Due to its local licensing in more than 103 countries and its publication in more than 37 languages, Monopoly has ingrained itself into the fabric of global popular culture. In 2015, it was projected that 275 million copies of the game had been sold globally.

The Landlord's Game, developed in the United States in 1903 by Lizzie Magie, is the source of Monopoly. Lizzie Magie used The Landlord's Game to advance Henry George's economic theories, particularly his views on taxation, and to show that an economy that rewards individuals is preferable to one in which monopolies hold all the wealth. Originally, there were two sets of rules for The Landlord's Game: one that included taxes and another on which the present regulations are mostly based. The less capitalistic taxation regulation was not there in the 1935 edition of Monopoly that Parker Brothers initially released, making for a more competitive game. Hasbro finally acquired Parker Brothers in 1991. The name of the game refers to the economic idea of a monopoly, which is the dominance of a market by a single business.

 

Challenger Deep

Located southeast of Guam within the Mariana Trench is the deepest known point in the Earth's oceans — the Challenger Deep. In 2010, it was measured at 36,070 feet below sea level — meaning if Mount Everest were placed at this location, it would be covered by over one mile of water!

3M

More than a century ago, 3M started as a small-scale mining venture in Northern Minnesota, named Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. The company was founded in 1902, and originally produced sandpaper. The St. Paul, Minnesota-based company, now makes a wide range of products covering areas from health care to consumer goods. The company produces approximately 60,000 products, including N95 respirator masks, Post-it notes, and Scotch tape. 3M is one of the 30 companies included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. 

Three's Company

The 1970s and 1980s were a golden era for TV theme songs, and Three's Company had one of the most memorable of all time. The theme song, "Come and knock on our door," was composed by Joe Raposo (known for his work on Sesame Street and The Electric Company) and performed by Ray Charles (not that Ray Charles!) and Julia Rinker. The producers of the show entertained the idea of having the cast sing at least part of the theme. In his own words, however, Raposo disclosed that the cast "...tried," but "they didn't even come close." 

MacBeth

If you’ve ever had a career in the arts, or know someone who has, you are likely aware that saying the word “Macbeth” inside a theatre is strictly taboo unless one is rehearsing or in the midst of performing Shakespeare’s dark tragedy. Doing so is almost universally believed to bring about bad luck or even disaster. To avoid the portentous curse, actors refer to the play as “The Scottish Play.” According to folklore, the play’s history of bad luck began with its first performance, when the actor scheduled to portray Lady Macbeth died suddenly and Shakespeare himself was forced to assume the role.