Facts You Probably don’t Need

• The comic book guy from The Simpsons’ real name is Jeffrey Albertson.

• Percival Everitt invented the first modern coin-operated vending machine in 1883 in London. The first machines were used for dispensing post cards.

• There is a fortress castle called Mont Saint-Michel off the coast of Normandy, France that is accessible by foot at low tide, but becomes an island at high tide. It was the only spot in Normandy that never fell to the English during the 100 Years War. It has also served as a church and prison.

• The first Batmobile made its debut in in Detective Comics #48 in 1941. It was based on a 1936 Cord convertible.

• Ducks are known to eat sand, pebbles, and gravel in order to add grit to their system. The grit then helps them to digest normal food.

• Naked mole rats have adapted so that they can actually survive for nearly 20 minutes without any oxygen.

• While humans share about 98% of our DNA with chimpanzees, 40 to 50% of our DNA is the same as cabbage.

• Potatoes have more chromosomes than humans.

Facts by Sean McVeigh, factologist.