Strange But True

* It was Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri who made the following sage observation: "Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world."

* Romans thought that roses could prevent drunkenness.

* The neon sign was invented in France in 1910, but the first one didn't come to the United States until 1923. That was the year a car dealership in Los Angeles put up two brightly lit "Packard" signs. The novelties literally stopped traffic in the streets.

* Those who study such things say that China gets more earthquakes than an...