var arrayFacts = [ "Inch by Inch…

The Battle of the Somme was the largest battle in World War 1, and an example of the war's futility. It cost well over a one million lives and gained only about 5 miles of land for the victors. Essentially, thirty men were lost per foot, or two and a half men per inch.", "Bombs Away!

The Allied fire bombings of Dresden, Germany were as destructive for that city as the Atom Bomb was to Hiroshima. The bombings occurred from February 13th to the 15th, with estimates of 35,000 to 135,000 dead, and perhaps 79% of the city destroyed.", "David and Goliath.

Recently, scientists have discovered evidence that the famous character of Goliath in the Bible existed. A piece of pottery was found with the name Goliath written on it. Carbon dating suggests that the piece comes from about 950 B.C. placing it within the framework of David and Goliath's epic battle.", "A Red Death.

At the height of its power, Communist governments ruled a total of 25 nations and one third of the world's entire population. That number may have been even greater if the Communists regimes had not caused so many deaths - perhaps as many as 100,000,000 people died at the hands of Communists.", "Bottom's Up!

Only once in its entire history did the U.S. government repeal an Amendment to the Constitution. It was in 1933 and the Amendment was the 18th, which had prohibited the consumption and distribution of alcohol.", "Where do we go from here?

There are more statues of Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark's female guide, than any other women in the United States. ", "Tea Time…

At a meeting in London, some British officials tried to execute the leader of Ireland, Eamon De Velera, by poisoning his tea. The Irish are great tea drinkers and the plot therefore seemed perfect.

But when the tea was brought to De Velera, the Irish servant was able to inform him of the plot. She spoke to him in the ancient Irish language of Gaelic and therefore no one else at the table was able to understand why their plot was foiled.", "Spies are us...

Although little is known of the great English writer Geoffrey Chaucer, we do know that he had various careers other than writing - he was a poet, court messenger, courtier, philosopher, and diplomat. He traveled extensively and many scholars believe that on these journeys he was actually working as a spy for the government.

Scholars sense that in Chaucer's work there is an indication that he had the attributes of a spy - the ability to imperceptibly wean information from people, a great eye for observation, a knack for blending in.", "Brotherly love.

Philadelphia was once the nation's Capital. Its role as such ended in 1800 thanks in large part to an outbreak of yellow fever in 1793. The capital was then moved to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia never again enjoyed the prominence it once had.", "1…2…3…4…1…2…3…4

The Indian battle-elephant was a vicious and frightening animal to face in the ancient world. Europeans, lead by Alexander the Great, first encountered them in 331 B.C. at the Battle of Gaugamela. They battled only 15, but the animals left a deep impression on Alexander and his army. Five years later, in the Battle of Hydaspes River, Alexander was better prepared when he had to face more than 200 war elephants.

He decided to utilize his army's greatest strength - the famed phalanx. The phalanx consisted of 256 men carrying 18-foot spears grouped together in squares. The men marched and thrust their spears in unison. The spears pierced the thick skin of the elephants and sent them retreating in fear and agony, trampling even their own men to get away. This and other innovations by Alexander allowed him to conquer 90% of the known world before the age of 32. He also has the distinction of never losing a battle - that's a pretty good percentage.", "That meeting was dead.

The philosopher Jeffrey Bentham always supported the cause of education. As requested in his will, he had his body preserved and stored in a wooden cabinet at the University College London. The body was often taken from the cabinet and brought to official meetings, where it was recorded that Bentham was 'present but not voting.'", "Snowed Over!

Many historians believe that Hitler's critical mistake during World War II was not fighting on two fronts but deciding to attack Russia during winter. During the attack the temperatures sometimes reached -30 degrees Celsius and in such a vast country the Germans were cut off from their supplies. Although they were initially very successful, by the end of the four-year battle in Russia some 4 million Germans had died.", "The enemy of my enemy…

Their victory in the French and Indian War may have inadvertently caused Britain's eventual defeat in the American Revolution. After the French and Indian War, the British took complete control of the North American continent. But that also enabled the colonists to stop relying on the British for protection against the French. Also, to pay for the costly war, the British began to heavily tax the colonists, embittering them against the crown as well as uniting them against a common enemy.

Colonists began seeing themselves as American citizens and not British subjects. And when the American Revolution began the French found an opportunity to avenge themselves of the defeat they suffered some years earlier. Their help proved crucial to the American victory.", "Saint or Sinner?

Hated in the West, revered in the East - Genghis Khan was undoubtedly one of the great military leaders in history. He united the Mongolian Empire and had control of the largest contiguous empire in history.

Starting in China, he stormed west on lighting fast horses with men hardened and chiseled in battle. His historic influence is undeniable - Mongols ruled for several centuries in Eurasia, changing forever its politics, culture and demographics. He even influenced the birth of modern nations like Russia, China and India.", "Angels and Orphans.

The majority of the work written by composer Antonio Vivaldi was actually written for and first played by a group of Orphans. Vivaldi began working for the Pieta Orphanage in 1706 as a music instructor. He remained at the Pieta off and on for the next thirty years.

He often tried producing his own work, especially operas, but when these failed he would return to the Orphanage. He died penniless in Venice trying to produce an opera.", "A fate worse than death…

Perhaps the worst health care crisis in history was the Black Plague of the 14th Century. Within half a century it killed a third of the entire population of Europe and changed the face of the continent forever.

The first symptom of the disease was a swelling under the armpits and groin. These would ooze puss and soon the victim's skin would turn black. Headaches, vomiting, aching joints were all constant. Within days the victim would die. The disease was incredibly efficient as well; some historians claim a mortality rate as high as 95%.", "Water Please!

The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 is considered one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. Estimates of the dead go as high as 6000. But it was not the earthquake itself that caused most of the damages; rather it was the fires afterwards.

During the violent initial shock, several water mains were broken and the fire department was left dry. All that could be done was to destroy whole sections of the city to cut off the fire's food. It worked, after four days of horror the fires eventually stopped.", "A howling good time.

Observers have traditionally placed a dummy in the bonfires set for the celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. The dummies were intended to represent the burning of Guy Fawkes, the most famous conspirator involved in the Gunpowder Plot.

To emphasize the suffering of Guy Fawkes, live cats were sometimes thrown into the bonfires to produce some chilling sound effects. Although the bonfires remain, revelers have thankfully done away with the cats.", "Serial killer slash social reformer.

Jack the Ripper, perhaps history's most famous serial killer, may have inadvertently helped improve the living conditions in London. His crimes generated so much press, wealthy Londoners finally became aware of the terrible hidden poverty in their own city. Shocked by these conditions, many began working for change, which came about after his murders.", "Bigger in person.

An inconsistency between the French and British inch has lead to the belief that Napoleon Bonaparte was a short man - hence the term 'Napoleon complex.' But this is not the case. After his death, Napoleon was believed to be 5 ft 2 because the British inch was actually shorter than the French inch. He was really 5 ft 6, making him slightly taller than the average Frenchmen of his day.", "It must have been something I ate.

For decades, Napoleon Bonaparte was believed to have died of stomach cancer on the Island of St. Helen. But recent research of his remains suggests that poison may have been the real cause.

Studies of his hair have found large dosages of arsenic, which was commonly used as poison at the time of his death. Also, his body remained composed for some years after his death, again suggesting arsenic, since this poison can have such an effect.", "I saw it first.

Although it is commonly believed that Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover the Americas, recent research has shown that this is not the case. The Icelander, Leif Ericson, came upon North America nearly 500 years before Columbus.

Recent archaeological research has found settlements in Newfoundland that are attributed to Icelanders. Icelandic literature discusses the adventures of Lief in detail and how, after being blown off course while coming back from Greenland, he discovered a strange New World. ", "Order please!

Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev, once rudely brought a UN meeting to a grinding halt. Khrushchev, always known as a boorish man, did not like the comments of another delegate in 1960. To register his annoyance Khrushchev took off his shoe and began pounding it on his desk, calling his opponent a jerk and stooge. When the General Assembly President tried to reestablish order, he pounded his gavel so furiously it actually broke.", "I never said such a thing…

Maria Antoinette was Queen of France and wife of King Louis XVI during the French Revolution. Considered by many to be a cold hearted and aloof woman, out of touch with the people of France, she was reported to have cruelly said during a bread shortage, 'If they have no bread, then let them eat cake.' But there is no evidence that Marie Antoinette ever said such a thing (some historians claim it was actually her grandmother).

In fact, at the time of the bread shortage Marie Antoinette wrote 'It is quite certain that in seeing the people who treat us so well despite their own misfortune, we are more obliged than ever to work hard for their happiness.' She was guillotined in 1793. ", "The lass mass execution.

The last mass execution in the United States occurred in August 1945 when seven German prisoners held in Fort Leavenworth were hanged for killing another German soldier, Werner Drechsler. The seven German POWs discovered that Drechsler had cooperated with U.S. Naval Intelligence.

In spite of this discovery, U.S. authorities placed Drechsler in the general population and he was killed on his first night in prison. After the crime the seven men were hanged and eventually buried in unmarked graves in Leavenworth's cemetery.", "Useless.

Although John Wilkes Booth is famous for shouting 'Sic simper tyrannis' [Thus always to tyrants] after shooting President Abraham Lincoln, his last words were actually 'Useless. Useless.'

After being shot by a Union soldier days after Lincoln's assassination, Booth raised his hands to his face, and, upon looking at them, uttered those sad words. Booth died on April 15, 1865, 11 days after the President he hated.", "A woman scorned.

Susan B. Anthony was a pioneer in the Women's Suffrage movement. She had been involved in various movements throughout her life, including education and the abolitionist movement. But it was her work with temperance (anti-alcohol) societies that pushed her in the direction of women's rights.

At a Temperance Society meeting in Albany, New York Anthony was denied the opportunity to speak because she was a woman. This rebuff prompted Anthony to focus her talents and skill on fighting for fair treatment of women.", "A gambling man by nature.

Richard Nixon was always known as a political gambler. But that is more true than one might expect. As a skillful poker player, Nixon managed to win about $6,000 while serving in the Navy. After completing his service, Nixon took his winnings and used them to finance his first campaign for Congress, which he won.", "It's earthshaking!

Earthquakes have plagued human history. The worst earthquake in history is very likely the earthquake that shook Egypt and Syria on July 5, 1201. The disaster took the lives of approximately 1,100,000 people and ranks it as one of the worst natural disasters in history."];