Astronaut Alan Shepard hit two golf balls on the moon in 1971, but 300 million golf balls are lost in the US each year. Divers retrieve them from golf course lakes and ponds, paying 7-10 cents per ball and selling them for up to $2 each. It can be hazardous work due to toxic water […]
A base year is a reference year used to compare data from different years, allowing normalization of results over time and control of time-related factors such as inflation. It is used in finance, real estate, economics, and other industries to measure performance and control inflation. It is also used to establish national standards for evaluating […]
A fiscal year is a 12-month period for accounting purposes, not necessarily corresponding to the calendar year. Businesses should consider their type and peak periods when choosing their fiscal year end. The IRS accepts any 12-month period, but it cannot be changed during the year for tax purposes. A fiscal year is more about accounting […]
Ecuador celebrates New Year’s Eve with bonfires and effigies of disliked figures from the previous year, ranging from scarecrows to 10-meter-tall monstrosities. It’s becoming popular to burn superheroes and cartoon characters, and jumping over the bonfire 12 times is a tradition. Ecuador is also known for its unique geographical features. New York City might get […]
Over 6,300 people die daily from work-related accidents or illnesses, totaling 2.3 million deaths annually, with agriculture, construction, and mining being the most dangerous industries. Poor occupational safety costs 4% of global GDP yearly. North Dakota is the deadliest state to work in America. We work to live and often live to work. But the […]
Business years consist of twelve consecutive 30-day months and are used by businesses and non-profits for inventory assessment, sales projections, and planning. The start of a business year may not coincide with the calendar year. Business years are annual periods used by some businesses and non-profit organizations for various purposes. The typical formula for a […]
Chinese New Year is celebrated in many cultures, especially in areas with large ethnic Chinese populations. It lasts for 14 days, with the last day being an all-out celebration of lights and parades. The actual day of celebration varies, and it is a public holiday in some countries. Families and friends visit each other, a […]
Venezuela has the highest annual lightning strikes with around 1.2 million strikes per year, occurring over Lake Maracaibo for thousands of years. The phenomenon lasts for 10 hours with 3,600 strikes every hour, and is linked to the area’s landscape. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away and can hit the same object multiple […]
Many Asian nations follow the lunar calendar, with the Chinese New Year being a 15-day festival starting on the first day of the first moon. Celebrants wear red, exchange gifts, and eat lucky foods. The festival ends with the Lantern Festival and fireworks. Vietnam’s Tet Nguyen Dan is celebrated for seven days, while Korea’s Sol-nal […]
Cold temperatures are deadlier than heat, with 5.4 million cold-related deaths compared to 311,000 heat-related deaths between 1985 and 2012, according to a study of 13 countries. The research found that moderately cold days were the most dangerous, with the human body’s respiratory and cardiovascular systems particularly affected. The study examined deaths from a range […]
The US green card lottery, or Diversity Immigrant Visa program, grants approximately 55,000 visas annually to citizens of countries with low US immigration rates. Winners can eventually become citizens and there is no cost to apply. Eligibility rules change yearly. Approximately 55,000 people each year win the US green card lottery, also called the Diversity […]
Plastic bags harm ecosystems and animal life, with 1 trillion used annually worldwide and 380 billion in the US alone. Cleanup costs millions and 12 million barrels of oil are needed for US bags. Only 5% are recycled, and plastic waste can breed pests. Kroger will phase out single-use bags by 2025, and California has […]
To keep children healthy and minimize absenteeism, ensure they get vaccinations, eat healthy, get enough sleep, exercise, wash hands often, and avoid sharing food and grooming supplies to prevent the spread of germs and diseases in school. When kids are in school, they are surrounded by germs they may not have been exposed to before. […]
Americans work an average of 39.5 hours per week, longer than any other OECD country. The average salary is $37,128. Countries with longer working hours include Greece, Mexico, and South Korea. South Korea had the highest annual working hours, but the government has implemented limits to curb overwork. 40% of American men born after 1956 […]
The “millennium bug” was a problem caused by two-digit year codes, which could have crashed computers in 2000. Instead of a permanent fix, programmers used a temporary solution called “windowing,” which is causing issues in 2020. The Year 2 issue has resurfaced, affecting systems such as parking meters and cash registers. The programmers predict potential […]
A light year is the distance light travels in a year through a vacuum. Astronomers use it to describe large distances. Our solar system would have to be 800 times larger to have a diameter of one light-year. The closest star is Proxima Centauri at 4.2 light-years away. By knowing how fast light travels, we […]
A company year, or tax year, is a 12-month period for accounting and tax purposes. Companies can choose their own year based on business needs, but must report on their operations and earnings to tax authorities. The start and end of the year can be changed with approval from tax authorities. A company year, more […]
A leap year has 366 days, with February 29 as an extra day, occurring every four years to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year. The tradition of women proposing on February 29 dates back to ancient Ireland. Those born on February 29 are called “jumpers” and special adjustments are made for them. […]
In AD 536, a giant volcano in Iceland erupted, covering Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia in darkness for a year and a half. This led to widespread deaths, starvation, and freezing summer temperatures. The catastrophe was followed by two more eruptions and an epidemic of bubonic plague. The worst times lasted until […]
The base year of the consumer price index (CPI) is used to calculate percentage changes in consumer goods prices, determine purchasing power changes, and track inflation rates. The CPI base year can vary depending on available statistics and preferences, and agencies should always disclose it in reports. CPI data is readily available, and researchers can […]
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