Looking for inspiration for how to spend your share of the government’s $152 billion economic stimulus plan?
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[How I Spent My Stimulus]
Ever wonder why some coins have ridges, while others do not?
The answer is surprisingly simple:
When coins where made of gold or silver, the value of the coin was based on the value of the metal in it. Thus, a $10 gold coin had $10 worth of gold in it.
Before ridges, thieves would file off the edges of the coins and make a slow but steady profit from passing on the slightly smaller coins, while collecting the rest.
To prevent this practice, the government began minting ridges into the edges of coins so that you can easily tell if a coin has been tampered with.
Though coins are no longer made of gold or silver, they still have ridges, because we’re accustomed to seeing them that way.
Now you know.
[Via: Big Site Of Amazing Facts]
[Photo Via: Clearly Ambiguous]
In Thailand, thieves steal the pieces and parts off of expensive rides, then buy what’s left at a police auction for a reduced price, reassemble, and sell the cars off for profit.
To send a message to these car launderers, the Thai government staged a smashing of a stripped Ferrari 456 GT. By bulldozing over the $1.2 million ride, they hope to show that this (very creative) type of stealing won’t be tolerated.
[Via: Wrecked Exotics]
Apparently it pays to be a successful Indian cricket player.
After taking top spot in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup, the India team received the following:
(Keep in mind:
10 lakh = 1 millon
1 crore = 100 lakhs or 10 million
1 lakh = 100 thousand
5 lakh = 1/2 million
1 US Dollar = Rs 40)
- Prize money worth $490,000 for winning the Twenty20 World Cup.
- The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) announced a prize of $3 million (Rs 12 crore) for the team. Each member got a check for Rs 80 lakhs.
- A special cash reward of Rs 1 crore was given to Yuvraj Singh for his 6 sixes in an over.
- The support staff, including the Manager, Bowling Coach, Fielding Coach and Physio got Rs 15 lakhs each.
- Lalit Modi, Vice President of BCCI, gifted a Porsche to Yuvraj Singh on his personal capacity.
- Neosport presented a Mercedes to R P Singh for his excellent bowling performance in the tournament.
- Sahara India gave flats (worth Rs 25 lakhs = $62,500) to each cricketer.
- The Delhi government has decided to offer free Air services to all members of Team India for 5 years.
- Air India and Indian Airlines announced out-of-turn promotion for some cricketers including Dhoni, Uthappa, Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh. They will also get a steep hike in their salary.
- The Haryana government has given Rs 21 lakhs to Joginder Singh.
- The Karnataka government has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakhs each for player, Robin Uthappa and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad.
- Maharashtra government has announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakhs each for Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma.
- Virender Sewhag and Gautam Gambhir will receive Rs 5 lakhs each from the Delhi government.
- The Kerala government has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakhs for S Sreesanth.
- The Baroda Cricket Association has handed over checks worth Rs 11 lakhs each to Pathan brothers – Irfan Pathan and Yusuf Pathan. In addition, they also received Rs 5 lakhs each from the Gujarat government.
- RP Singh became the first recipient of the Manyavar Kanshiramji International Sports Award that carries a reward of Rs 10 lakhs.
- The Jharkhand Government has bestowed the first “Jharkhand Ratna” award on Mahendra Singh Dhoni. According to the Chief Minister of the state, Dhoni will get a “surprise gift” on arrival.
- The Union government has decided to give Z+ Security cover to M S Dhoni. Although it’s not an award, only few eminent and VVIP persons in the country receive such security cover.
[Via: Cricket Buzz]
