1. almost half of the rice farmers in japan are over 65 years old.

2. in march, 2012, the copyright on the beatles’ album “please please me” will run out. link

3. bicycle riding in the nude is not permitted in new zealand – you have to wear a helmet. link

4. if all of the petroleum used in the united states were replaced by biofuel originating from algae, it would require 40,000 square km to “grow” the algae. this total area is one-seventh of the area used to grow corn in the united states in the year 2000.

5. algae converts carbon dioxide in the water and sunlight to create oxygen and biofuel. it can absorb up to 99% of the co2 in the water.