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Condom is a large municipality in the Gers region of France. One of its monuments is Condom Cathedral, former seat of the Bishop of Condom.

The word ‘laughter’ is mentioned 7 times in the King James Bible the word ‘slaughter’ is mentioned 55 times.

Atheists can be legally prosecuted, sent to jail, and in some cases executed, in 55 countries.

At the time of writing, in the United Kingdom, tampons are taxed as luxury goods. Jaffa Cakes are not.

From 1953 to 2002, the Piper to the Queen Mother was responsible for playing the bagpipes at the request of Queen Elizabeth’s mother.

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International Condom Day

International Condom Day seeks to promote the use of condoms as a means of preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

It is an informal observance celebrated in conjunction with Valentine’s Day. The holiday is also promoted by the AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) in an effort to reduce the spread of HIV through safe sex practices.

The simple fact is that scientific research demonstrates that condoms are an effective and important tool in the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as other sexually transmitted infections. Let’s consider some interesting nuggets of that large body of research:

• When it comes to HIV, using a condom makes sex 10,000 times safer than not using a condom. – Carey, Ronald F., et al. (1992)
• There is no medical reason why someone can’t use a condom. Even people with latex allergies can use them — there are latex-free condoms made of polyurethane and polyisoprene. – Hatcher, Robert A., et al. (2007)
• Condoms have been around a long, long time. The earliest known illustration of a man using a condom is a 12,000–15,000-year-old painting on the wall of a cave in France. – Parisot, Jeannette (1985)

Who binds with chains the poet’s wit,
The navvy’s strength, the soldier’s pride,
And lays the sleek, estranging shield
Between the lover and his bride.”
― George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying

• Condom availability in places of need around the world is increasing significantly, with 25.8 million female condoms provided through international and nongovernmental funding sources in 2009. Condom distribution increased by 10 million between 2008 and 2009. – UNAIDS (2010)
• The condom is one of the most accessible and inexpensive forms of birth control available. The cost of condoms is as low as $0.04 per unit. – UNAIDS (2010)
• Only 39 percent of American high school students are taught how to correctly use a condom in their health classes. Programs that teach young people about abstinence as well as contraception help youth to delay first sex and use condoms and other forms of contraception when they do have sex. – Kirby, Douglas. (2007)

“Staying in Africa, I think it will one day be admitted with shame that it might have been in error to say that AIDS is bad as a disease, very bad, but not quite as bad as condoms are bad, or not as immoral in the same way.” – Christopher Hitchens

And consider these other quite interesting facts about condoms:

• An average condom can hold a gallon of liquid. (The average healthy man over 24 produces a tablespoonful of 15 millilitres of sperm in a single ejaculation.)
• The oldest known condoms (that is to say, as in the oldest ones physically found) were discovered in a toilet in Dudley, England and were made from fish and animal intestine. They were dated around 1640.
• The term used by medical professionals and safer sex educators to refer to the phenomenon of decreased condom use is condom fatigue.

“Use a condom. The world doesn’t need another you.”
― Carroll Bryant

• 5 billion condoms are used every year, worldwide.
• The Chinese hold the world record for creating the largest condom. During the celebration of the World population Day in 2003, the people of Guilin, China, made a 80 meter x 100 meter condom and placed it on top of a hotel.
• The formal Danish word for condom is Svangerskabsforebyggendemiddel; whereas the Greeks employ the beautiful word προφυλακτικό.

“It’s the strange thing about this church, it is obsessed with sex, absolutely obsessed. Now, they will say we with our permissive society and our rude jokes, we are obsessed. No, we have a healthy attitude, we like it, it’s fun, it’s jolly, […] it’s a bit like food in that respect only even more exciting. The only people who are obsessed with food are anorexics and the morbidly obese, and that in erotic terms is the Catholic Church in a nutshell.” – Stephen Fry

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Mark David Chapman had a copy of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye on him when he murdered John Lennon in 1980. He believed a large part of him was Holden Caulfield, the novel’s protagonist.

Try to avoid talking about ‘preservatives’ in Poland as the Polish word prezerwatywa means ‘condom’.

In ancient times, the root part of the carrot plant that we eat today was not typically used.  The carrot plant however was highly valued due to the medicinal value of its seeds and leaves. For instance, Mithridates VI, King of Pontius (around 100BCE) had a recipe for counteracting certain poisons with the principle ingredient being carrot seeds. It has since been proven that this concoction actually works.

The most money ever paid for a cow in an auction was $1.3 million.

Two large studies conducted in Australia and the US between 2004 and 2011 concluded there is evidence to suggest that the more frequently men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they are to develop prostate cancer.

See other: Quite Interesting Facts

Odd City Names

Let us point an accusatory finger at the oddest city, town and village names from around the world.

Climax Springs, USA.
Although the name sounds appealing, it only refers to a small village of around 80 people in Camden County, Missouri.

Condom, France.
Also known as Condom-en-Armagnac, Condom is located on the Via Podiensis and home to two castles that dates back to the 13th century. Other than the castles and its odd name, the town is known for the production of Armagnac brandy.

Dix Hills, USA.
Located in Suffolk County, New York, Dix Hills is often described as one of the ‘nicest communities’ on Long Island. Most of its allure is derived from the fact that it was home to American jazz musician John Coltrane during the last years of his life.

Owanka, USA.
Even though the city is not tracked by the American Census bureau, Owanka has been assigned a zip code. Owanka is officially an unincorporated community in the Pennington County of South Dakota.

Placentia, Canada.
Located on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, the town of Placentia is home to several communities that amount to around 3,900 inhabitants. Sadly, the population is in rapid decline.

Shag Point, USA.
This is a point on the north coast of South Georgia, between Camp Bay and Sunset Fjord in the Bay of Isles. The name was chosen by the British, with first use on a 1931 chart.

Fucking, Austria

Pussy, France.
The small French village of Pussy is located in the community of La Léchère. The name comes from the Gallo-Roman name Pusiacum – pusus actually means little boy.

Fucking, Austria.
The number one puzzling town name is in western Upper Austria. In 2005, it was home to 104 people and 32 houses. Fucking has been around since 1070, named apparently after a legendary 6th century character called “Focko”. Translated, the name of the town simply signifies “place of Focko’s people.”

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