In This Country, Everyone was a Trillionaire.

How to pay for a meal in Zimbabwe

But having so much money does not mean that every citizen was super rich. It was just that the value of the money was super small.

This was a phenomenon called Hyperinflation where the rate of inflation was so high, it diminishes the value of the money within days.

The phenomenon happened in Zimbabwe during the last decade. In 2006, the inflation rate exceeds 1000% and from then on, the economy of the country just got worse. By mid November 2008 the inflation rate became 89,700,000,000,000,000,000,000% or 89.7 Sextillion %

The effect of hyperinflation caused the price of goods to sky rocket to dizzying heights. In fact, at the peak of the fiasco, 100 Billion Zimbabwean Dollars can only buy ONE egg.

In 2009 the currency was effectively abandoned and was replaced with a combination of foreign currencies including US Dollars, South African Rand and Botswana Pula. This system of mixed currencies is still in use until today.



Read More : 1, 2, 3, 4

Nauru - Tiny Country With The "Largest" Population

Nauru is a little island nation in the middle of Pacific Ocean. It is the second smallest country on earth. So small in fact that it is only about 0.1 times the size of Washington DC or twice the size of Sydney.... err... airport.

Despite being a small country, the population is

  "huge". 

This country has the highest rate of obesity in the world. 97% of men and 93% of women in the country of less than 10 000 people are obese. As would in other places, along the obesity came all sorts of diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and some types of cancers.

Nauru is also in the top spot for having the highest rate of diabetes on earth where a third its people have diabetes.


Read more: 1, 2, 3

Know more about Nauru here and here.

This Bug is Probably Munching on You While You Reading This...

Consider this... While you are reading this article, a bug is munching on you right before your eyes.

Actually the situation above is quite a common phenomenon. Most human adults carry a bug called Demodex folliculorum, a species of bug related to the scorpions. It is commonly called the face mite and it can be found in follicles on your face especially on your eyelashes.

It lives head down into the follicle and feeds on skin debris and secretions. Its digestive system is so efficient that it does not produce any waste.

people with oily skin and those who uses cosmetics heavily, tend to have the heaviest infestations.

Although it is commonly harmless to humans, having large numbers of Demodex on the face may cause itchiness and skin disorders. It may also cause the eyelash to fall off easily.

Read more: 1, 2, 3, 4

Malaysia Welcomes its 14th King in its 54 Year History

On December 13, 2011, Al-Sultan Al-Mu'tasimu Billahi Muhibbuddin Tuanku Alhaj Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Siltan Badlishah ascended to the throne as Malaysia's 14th King.

At 84 years old, he created history as the oldest Sultan to ascend to the post and the only one to have held the post twice!

He succeeded Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah who was the youngest ruler to hold the post. His reign as king ended on December 12, 2011.

In Malaysia's unique rotational monarchy system, 9 rulers from 9 different hereditary states take 5-year turns to be on the throne. The remaining 4 out of 13 states that form the country did not have monarchs and are headed by governors.

Read more about Malaysian Monarchy here.

Other sources: 1, 2, 3

Today The World is Welcoming the Birth of a New Country

9th July 2011 will be remembered by the people of South Sudan as they officially declared their independence from Sudan and become the 193rd UN Recognised Country.

The independence of South Sudan came after referendum in January in which 99% of the people of the south voted to be separated from the north.

Both territories have been at war for decades with the casualties of some 2.5 million people.

Source

Space Shuttle Atlantis Begins Final Mission

On the 8th of July, 2011, at 11:29 a.m. local time, NASA successfully launched the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

This launch is historic because it marks the end of NASA's Space Shuttle Program after being started 30 years ago.

After the mission the shuttles will be placed in museums throughout the country and the journey to the ISS will become a commercial endeavor.

The shuttle Atlantis which is on its 12-day mission will arrive at the ISS on Sunday.

Read more: 1, 2.

The Case of Nyan Cat, the Viral Video

On 16th June 2011, due to the popularity of Nyan Cat video, The people at Youtube decided to enable a custom flash player to replace the normal progress bar showing a mini Nyan Cat with a rainbow trail.

To learn more about the origins and the evolution of the Nyan Song click here.

See how long can you endure the cuteness here and here.