Things I learned lately 19 Apr

• America is home to 301,874 zombie houses that have been abandoned by their owners, but not foreclosed upon by the banks.
• The biggest safety issue regarding the Google self-driving car isn't the car itself, it's the other drivers gawking at the driver-less car and not paying attention to the road
• The magnetic north pole is now moving at a rate of 64km per year in a northward direction.
• Subway said that just because they call it a foot-long, doesn't mean it's supposed to be 12" in length. Foot-long is just a moniker. So, I wonder how that translates to the 6 inch sub? Are inches just a moniker too? Or maybe 5 is the new 6.
• Django action figures were pulled from many US store shelves because they 'trivialize the horrors of slavery'. Needless to say, the controversy has caused those still available to buy to skyrocket from $30 each to over $200 each.
• Iran is producing its own version of Argo to counter US propaganda.
• The conventional wisdom that the best grip for a steering wheel is hands at 10 and 2 o'clock is obsolete and dangerous according to AAA. '10 and 2' dates from an era before power steering. Turning the wheel required more force and pulling down on it was the easiest way. But easy-to-turn wheels and airbags have made it so that if the hands are at 10 and 2 when the airbag deploys, they'll be knocked into the face. If they're at 9 and 3 or 8 and 4 the hands will be thrown sideways in the worst case scenario.
• Jimmy Fallon is officially replacing Leno on the Tonight Show in 2014. Bye bye Jay. I may start watching again.
• How Canadian cities ranked in the TomTom N. American Congestion Index: 2nd - Vancouver; 6th - Toronto; 10th - Montreal; 18th - Ottawa; 26th - Calgary; 34th - Edmonton.
• eBay now automatically tacks customs and duties onto any purchase made from a US seller (bought by a Canadian). But they don't tell you what that charge is until AFTER you buy the item. 
• During the Boston lock-down following the search for the bombing suspects, select Dunkin' Donuts locations were allowed to remain open to service law enforcement and first responders.