Dateline Haiti: 8 World-Shattering Natural Disasters

Haiti’s cataclysmic earthquake, the biggest in that part of the world in over 200 years, is estimated to claim between 45,000 to 50,000 lives.  The world has united in order to send all possible help and aid to devastated Caribbean island — but the rescue attempts are still stalled by wrecked airports, docks and roads.  As the world holds its breath waiting for any news from Haiti, all of us here at Amuso would like to pay our tribute to the victims.

The earthquake that occurred in Haiti, although terrifying, is not the only natural disaster in modern history that has killed thousands of people. Have a look at some interesting facts regarding catastrophes: earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and sickness outbreaks that still make us shiver!

• Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘Catastrophe’ as event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin; a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth; a momentous tragic violent usually destructive natural event.
  

  Haiti Survivors

• Black Death, one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, peaked in Europe around 1335-1340 and claimed 30% to 60% of Europe’s population, reducing the world’s population from estimated 450 million to between 350 and 370 million in 1400.
• Another one, considered one of the worst, took its tool in between March 1918 and June 1919. Influenza, commonly known as Spanish flu, was spread to nearly every part of the world, even to the Arctic and remote Pacific islands claiming from 3 to 7 times the casualties of First World War (15 million).
• Floods that occurred in China in 1931 killed around 4 million people. It is generally considered the deadliest natural disaster ever recorded (when pandemics are discounted).
• The Boxing Day Tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004 in Indonesia as a result of underwater earthquake was the deadliest tsunami in history-it killed nearly 230,000 people in 14 countries, from the coast of Indonesia as far as to the eastern coast of Africa.

Lost: In Translation. Top Facts About This Weird TV Show

Lost, the hit television series is nearing its end. After 5 fascinating seasons, lovers of this TV drama can once again plunge into the mysterious island in the Pacific Ocean along with the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 Airlines.
Finally, we will discover the great mystery behind the island. Are the survivors in a kind of purgatory or hell? Maybe it is just happening in the mind of one of the survivors? Who knows? But you will have to tune in to find out!
The truth is that no one should miss the premier of the 6th season on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, which will be broadcasted on the same day all around the world.
Here are a few some fun facts about everyone’s favourite TV show:

• Lost is one of the most expensive television series’ ever made!
• Dominic Monaghan (Charlie), Matthew Fox (Jack) and Jorge Garcia (Hurley) all originally auditioned for the role of Sawyer
• The pilot episode cost $10 million to make and is one of the most expensive in the history of TV.
• Because of the Writer’s Guild strike, Lost producers had to compress eight planned episodes into five, including a two-hour season finale.
• At first, the series was named “The Circle”
• The character of Vincent the dog, is actually a bitch named Madison
• Lost is filmed on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

T’was the Night Before Trivia: All About Santa Claus

Santa Facts

As the magical night of Christmas Eve creeps ever closer, children around the world are sure to be putting pen to paper in the hope that plenty of Christmas goodies will be waiting for them under the tree this year.

It’s only November but already the spirit of the season is in the air; the anticipation, the streets filled with twinkling lights, freshly roasted chestnuts on every corner and inappropriately early Christmas songs blasting out from shop doors. Here at Amuso we too would like to think we’re fully prepared for the holiday season, so to get things started here are some fun and festive facts about the man in red: Santa Claus!

• The main influence behind the modern-day Santa that we all know and love was Saint Nicholas of Myra. “St. Nick” was known for his generosity and had a tendency to leave gifts for the less fortunate, who often found coins waiting for them in their shoes!

• Another possible inspiration for Santa Claus was Odin, a God of Norse paganism, who was depicted as having a long white/grey beard and was said to ride an 8-legged horse, capable of jumping incredibly large distances and comparable to the legend of Santa’s flying reindeer.

• Tales of Saint Nicholas described him as throwing coins in people’s windows, or where a window was closed, tossing them down the chimney — which may have influenced Santa’s preferred method of delivering his presents!

Turkey Day Trivia: The Finer Details of Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING

On November 26^th American’s sit down with family and loved ones for a rich meal of turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. For the foreigners (and maybe even the odd American) who are unsure what Thanksgiving is all about, Amuso is here to fill you up on tasty Thanksgiving and turkey trivia!

Thanksgiving... exposed!

• Thanksgiving has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863, but was not an official holiday until 1941
• The holiday takes place on the fourth Thursday of November in the U.S.A.,  but the second Monday of October in Canada.
• The earliest Thanksgiving celebration took place on the 8^th of September 1565 in Saint Augustine, Florida by 600 Spanish settlers. The first thanksgiving by English pilgrims took place in 1621.

• The celebration was originally tied to Harvest Festivals.  However in North America the holiday takes place to thank the Native Americans (and God of course — they were Pilgrims after all) for helping the early settlers survive Plymouth’s harsh winter.

Politics & Trivia: Universal Children’s Day

WE BELIEVE THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE…

On the 14^th of December 1954 United Nations General Assembly recommended that all countries celebrate Universal Children’s Day not only to bring to light what needs to be done to improve the welfare of all children across the globe but also to promote togetherness and understanding amongst children.  Here at Amuso we want to do our part by informing you on what this day is all about so you too can take a step towards a better world for the future generations.

• The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) sets non-negotiable minimum standards and obligations in respect to the freedoms and rights of children across the globe.
• The CRC has been has been ratified by all but two countries; the United States of America and Somalia. That’s more nations than any other international treaty.  (And on a personal note, as an American I’m as outraged as I hope all our readers are.)
• At the end of 2007 there were over 2million children living with HIV/AIDS

Music Trivia: Surreal Videos & Lady Gaga

“Bad Romance” – Weird, wacky and wonderful!

On Wednesday 11^th November “Bad Romance”, the latest song and music video of eccentric pop sensation Lady Gaga, exploded into the spotlight in an array of dazzling disco glam with a darkly surreal twist.  The new video was directed by Francis Lawrence, who has previously worked with artists such as Jay Z, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani, and features a range of unearthly characters, show-stopping costumes and sensational effects.

Gotta Love the Gaga...

Influenced by such artists as David Bowie and Madonna, and with a notorious passion for fashion and breaking the boundaries of pop, Lady Gaga is sure to create a stir with this most recent release. The star dances and stomps her way through the video as she’s kidnapped by supermodels and sold to the Russian mafia in an eye-catching portrayal of a romance turned sour.

Things to look for in the melange include a bat skull headpiece, a hairless Sphynx cat, a long white bear coat and Alexander McQueen’s bizarre sparkly lobster claw shoes from the Spring 2010 collection. In some of the slightly creepier scenes we see Lady Gaga with an alien-like protruding spine and enormous glistening eyes, before she finally ends the video in bed with a burnt human corpse.

Science Trivia: White Nose Syndrome

WHITE NOSE SYNDROME – A Good Use of Taxpayers’ Funds?

With the news that the US congress has approved $1.9 million of taxpayers’ money for research into White Nose Syndrome, one has to wonder if this is simply another case of mistaken priorities made by those in power.

Suddenly, I don't feel sleepy.

For those who aren’t aware of this (very imaginatively named) condition, White Nose Syndrome has nothing to do with drugs, Columbia, or the 1980′s.  The syndrome refers to a fungus which is vastly reducing bat populations across the northeastern states of America. The white fungus grows on the noses and wings of hibernating bats, keeping the furry critters from sleeping and in turn leaving them without energy to hunt.

While we all love Trivia, in this case the syndrome has a non-trivial (some might say devastating) ecological impact.  Imagine cities plagued by mosquitoes, and crops infested with hoards of insects that would otherwise have been eaten by previously well-rested winged little wonders.

Sports Trivia: World Series of Poker

A GOOD BET:  EVEN THE LOSER GETS $1.25 MILLION

On Saturday, November 7^th 2009 nine men are set to battle it out at the poker table for a chance at $8,546,435. For those who missed out of the millions this year before you get back to poker practice catch up on some WSOP facts so your ready to rock when the 2010 circuit rolls around!

Let the chips fall where they may...

• The November 9 is the nine finalists who will take part in the World Poker Series Main Event. Check back here for updates!
• A poll carried out by the WSOP shows that 78% poker fans place Phil Ivey as the 2009 favourite.
• Apparently in this game of chance nobody loses, the 9^th place will take home $1.25million.
• Phil Hellmuth holds several WSOP records including: Most Bracelets (11), Most WSOP cashes (68), Most Final Tables (41)
• When 22-year-old Peter Eastgate won the Main Event in 2008 he became the youngest person to take home the big prize. He walked away with $9,152,416.

Music Trivia: MTV European Music Video Awards

On the 5^th of November the 16^th European MTV Music Awards will be held in Berlin, Germany. Before you head to MTV to cast your vote catch up on your VMA, EMA and MTV trivia!

The Nominees Are...

• MTV was launched in New York on August 1^st 1981, its original purpose (believe it or not) was to air music videos 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
• The term VJ or Video Jockey was popularized by MTV but was actually invented by Merrill Aldighieri and employee of New York nightclub ‘HURRAH.’ The club was a hangout for the future-founders of MTV.
• Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles was fittingly played as the first music video on MTV
• In the early years, viewer’s would have to suffer momentary blackness between video’s while someone at MTV inserted a new tape into the VCR
• The first bands made popular by MTV included Eurythmics, Culture Club, Prince, Bon Jovi, The Police and Def Leppard
• The rock band KISS publicly appeared without make-up for the first time on MTV in 1983
• The MTV opening video was the Apollo 11 Moon Landing played to the original theme song. Obviously the ‘Moon Man statue’ awarded to the winners of Video Music Awards is a tribute to these early days.

Sports Trivia: Is the World Series Really a “World” Series?

We know New York is sometimes called “The World’s Capital…”

For the next five days the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies are taking to the pitch to battle it out for the title of world baseball champion. For the avid fans here are a few facts about the series to help fill the excruciating 24hr gaps between the games. For those of you who are still wondering why the World Series of Baseball doesn’t actually involve the WHOLE world Amuso has the answer for you!

Nothing trivial for World Series fans

• A disorganised version of the World Series began in 1884 however these games are not recognised by Major League Baseball because they were ‘pre-modern baseball.’
• In 1902, after battling for a monopoly of the baseball league the American League and National league challenged each other to a game of football. The result of their feud was the original National Football League (NFL).
• The World Series is called as such because baseball, at the time, was not recognised outside of North America, consequently the winner of the tournament was the best team in the world by default.
• The New York Yankees won the 1949 – 1943 World Series, they are the only team to win the cup more than three consecutive times.