Things I learned lately 6 July

• The Gulf of Mexico's 'dead zone' may be the size of New Jersey this summer.
• 144 years after the invention of electric telegraphy, the last telegram service in the world will shut down. This technology is still used in India, where about 5,000 telegrams are sent down the wires daily. On July 14 2013, it will stop.
• Mr. Snuffleupagas’ first name was Alyoisus.
• Since 1981, when a Quebec provincial law was passed to promote gender equality, no change may be made to a person's name without the authorization of the registrar of civil status or the court. Newlyweds who wish to change their names upon marriage must go through the same process as changing their names for other reasons. This law does not allow a woman to immediately legally change her name upon marriage, as marriage is not listed among the reasons for a name change.
• In 2010, Ukranian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov paid $216 million for a penthouse at One Hyde Park in London. It's the most expensive home ever sold (that I know of).
• Beijing positioned firefighters in Tiananmen Square during the 2012 leadership transition to prevent self-immolation protesters from burning themselves.
• A 17 year old girl, Jackie Mitchell, struck out Babe Ruth and then Lou Gehrig in 7 pitches. She was such a threat to the game of baseball, the commissioner voided her contract days later.
• There are people working in McDonald’s in Soho who can look out of the window and see parking meters earning more than they do.
• Portland, Oregon City Council unanimously voted to require that businesses offer sick leave to their employees. The policy says workers must get up to 5 paid sick days off per year.
• Google may be working on its own smart watch as is (reportedly) Apple. Gigiddy.