WORLD'S SHORTEST INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE

At 10.4 feet long the (No-name bridge) over the Riberia de Abrilongo on the border between Spain and Portugal is the world’s shortest international bridge.

NOTE: The world’s shortest international bridge is often erroneously awarded to the bridge that spans the United States – Canada border on Zavikon Island. The Portugal – Spain bridge is 13 feet shorter  than the bridge on Zavikon Island.

QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Queen Elizabeth II can only be charged with a crime in four countries: South Sudan, Kosovo, Vanuatu and Palau. Everywhere else she is protected by sovereign or diplomatic immunity.

CAPTURE OF THE DUTCH FLEET AT DEN HELDER

In 1795, French cavalry captured fourteen Dutch warships at Den Helder as the water had frozen due to exceptionally cold weather, making it the only time in recorded history when horse-riding soldiers captured a fleet of ships.

THE SIMPSON PARADOX

Can both of these statements be true?

• David Justice of the Atlanta Braves had a higher batting average than Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees every year from 1995 to 1997.
• Derek Jeter had a higher batter average over the three years 1995 to 1997 than David Justice.

Think about it. One batter had a higher batting average each year for 3 straight years than the other batter, but the other batter had a higher batting average over the same 3 year period. Is that possible?

The answer is; yes.

The possibility for one player to have a higher batting average than another player each year for a number of years, but to have a lower batting average across all of those years is a common example of the Simpson Paradox. In the case of batting averages, the Simpson Paradox presents itself when there are large differences in the number of at-bats between the years.

Briefly stated, the Simpson Paradox is a phenomenon in probability and statistics in which a trend appears in several different groups of data but disappears or reverses when the groups are combined.

Justice’s and Jeter’s statistics are shown in the box below. Highest batting each year and for all 3 years combined is shown in bold type. (Note the differences in at-bats between the two players in 1995 and 1996). 

Derek Jeter		1995	1996	1997	TOTAL
	Hits	12	183	190	385
	At Bats	48	582	654	1,284
	Average	.250	.314	.291	.300
David Justice	Hits	104	45	163	312
	At Bats	411	140	495	1,046
	Average	.253	.321	.329	.298

THE SUNNIEST PLACES ON PLANET EARTH

During the months of June, July, August and September, Sacramento, California is the sunniest city on the planet.

AVERAGE HOURS OF SUNSHINE FOR THE TEN SUNNIEST PLACES ON EARTH
COUNTRY	PLACE	YEAR	DAY
United States	Yuma, Arizona	4,015	11.0
United States	Phoenix, Arizona	3,872	10.6
Egypt	Aswan	3,863	10.6
United States	Las Vegas, Nevada	3,825	10.5
Sudan	Dongola	3,814	10.4
United States	Tucson, Arizona	3,806	10.4
Chad	Faya-Largeau	3,792	10.4
Egypt	Kharga	3,791	10.4
Sudan	Abu Hamed	3,763	10.3
United States	El Paso, Texas	3,763	10.3

COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST SUNSHINE: AVERAGE HOURS OF SUN
COUNTRY	PLACE	YEAR	DAY
United States	Yuma, Arizona	4,015	11.0
Egypt	Aswan	3,863	10.6
Sudan	Dongola	3,814	10.4
Chad	Faye-Largeau	3,792	10.4
South Africa	Upington, Northern Cape	3,732	10.2
Niger	Bilma	3,674	10.1
United Arab Emirates	Abu Dhabi	3,609	9.9
Madagascar	Tulear (Tollara)	3,597	9.9
Kenya	Lodwar, Turkana	3,578	9.8
Australia	Tennant Creek, Northern Territory	3,569	9.8

WORLD’S SUNNIEST PLACES BY MONTH: AVERAGE HOURS OF SUNSHINE
MONTH	COUNTRY	PLACE	MONTHLY	DAILY
Jan.	South Africa	Uppington, Northern Cape	353	11.4
Feb	Thailand	Songkhla	349	12.5
Mar	United States	Yuma, Arizona	336	10.8
Apr	Canada	Alert, Nunavut	377	12.6
May	Canada	Eureka, Nunavut	512	16.5
Jun	United States	Sacramento, California	420	14.0
Jul	United States	Sacramento, California	440	14.2
Aug	United States	Sacramento, California	407	13.1
Sep	United States	Sacramento, California	348	11.6
Oct	Mongolia	Khalkhgol	335	10.8
Nov	South Africa	Uppington, Northern Cape	345	11.5
Dec	South Africa	Uppington, Northern Cape	367	11.8

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON

The largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington is Spokane. The largest river in the county is the Spokane River. The tallest mountain in the county is Mt. Spokane. The city of Spokane was built along the Spokane Falls. The largest suburb is Spokane Valley. The largest lake in the county is Long Lake, alternatively known as Spokane Lake.

PANAMA CANAL TOLLS

·         Ships (with few exceptions) are charged a toll based on their weight. The average toll for a ship to travel the canal is $150,000, but it can get much more expensive for the largest ships and additional surcharges.

·         All tolls for the Panama Canal must be paid in cash, and must be paid at least 48 hours in advance.

·         With the opening of the new, large locks as part of the canal expansion completed in 2016, much larger ships can now pass through the canal.

·         Prior to the completion of the 2016 canal expansion, the most expensive regular toll was paid by the cruise ship the Norwegian Peal, which paid $375,000 to cross the canal.

·         The new record for the most expensive toll ever paid is now held by the MOL Benefactor, a 10,000 TEU cargo ship, which paid $829,000 to transit the new locks.

·         It is expected that when a post-Panamax ship (which can hold up to 13,000 TEU of cargo) transits the new canal, that the record toll will pass $1 million.

The cheapest toll ever paid to travel the canal was 36 cents in 1928 by Richard Halliburton, who swam the length of the canal.