Dr. Who actor John Barrowman was turned down for Will and Grace because he was too straight, even though he’s gay.

The part instead went to straight actor Eric McCormack. Will and Grace is a comedy show that premiered in 1998 and went on to become one of the most famous shows on television and lasted for eight seasons. The show centers around the relationship between a straight interior designer named Grace, and her gay roommate named Will.

The show details often ridiculous events that transpire in New York as Will and Grace interact with various straight and gay characters. It collected 83 nominations and won 16 Emmy Awards during its run, yet there was always a fierce battle between what was considered “too gay.”

This problem was highlighted during casting when gay actor John Barrowman auditioned for the part of Will and was turned down for being, “too straight.” The role was then given to straight actor Eric McCormack who producers believed better portrayed a typical gay man.

Barrowman says this move was typical of a “homophobic” Hollywood that still gets unnerved at the thought of a legitimate gay couple. The saddest part he says, “is it’s run by gay men and women.”

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The mayor of Bogota solved the city's jaywalking problem by mocking pedestrians with MIMES!

If you're from Latin America (like I am), you'll know that jaywalking is a pretty big problem there. Even when people have perfectly good and safe ways to cross the streets, they'll still jaywalk, leading to more traffic and less safety. 

This is exactly one of  the problems that Antanas Mockus, a political newbie elected to be mayor of Bogota, decided to tackle. He realized that one of the most powerful motivators for people was social pressure. This gave him a crazy, but effective idea. 

He hired mimes to hang out on busy intersections. Anytime they saw a jaywalker, they would follow them around, mimic them and mock their behavior. 

What was the result? The people being mocked obviously felt embarrassed and didn't do it again. But it also had another effect: the bystanders didn't want to be mocked themselves, so they started obeying pedestrian rules. The program was so successful that the program was expanded from 20 mimes to over 400!

This mayor has a lot of really fun and interesting ideas to solve problems. To read more about the way he governs, read the source. 

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Different kinds of tea have some amazing non-drinking health uses. Read on for more info!

If you’re at the right level of health consciousness (or simply an avid tea drinker) then you’re likely already well acquainted with the health benefits of tea. Green tea can benefit the skin, which is why it’s a common ingredient in many lotions. 

Chilled black tea can be used to cure bad sunburns by applying it to the affected areas. It soothes the skin and can help speed up recovery. Cold chamomile tea is also great for sunburns, specifically the inflammation caused by them as well as other inflammatory irritants like poison ivy. 

For mouth sores, used tea bags are great for speeding up recovery. Black tea is also great for marinating tenderized beef thanks to its tannins. And if you’re ever feeling like the smell in your shoes or gym bag is getting a bit too offensive, dry tea bags work great for absorbing offending scents and replacing them with more pleasant ones. 

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Aerosmith has made more money from Guitar Hero than from album sales.

Following the release of Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band 2, the popularity of the franchises began to wane. In the wake of this, titles like Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and The Beatles Rock Band were being released to a high degree of success.

Though Aerosmith’s own Guitar Hero, released in 2008, was very successful and popular, many people were displeased with some omissions on the song selection. Additionally, many felt that a lack of improvements in the gameplay made the game feel not worth it.

Despite this, the game sold like hotcakes. In its first week, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith sold more than 550,000 copies, grossing more than 25 million in sales. In the following three months, it sold over a million copies and made $50 million dollars. Aerosmith also benefitted in album sales with a 40% sales increase.

Though the exact numbers aren’t known, Aerosmith earned more from the game than album sales. Of course, not all of this was from the game’s royalties. Merchandising and concert sales were both boosted from the game. Today, the game has sold 3.6 million units.

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Former US President Theodore Roosevelt was saved by paper!

While Roosevelt was campaigning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on October 14, 1912, a saloonkeeper named John Schrank shot him. The bullet lodged in his chest only after penetrating his steel eyeglass case and passing through a 50 page single-folded copy of the speech he was carrying in his jacket. 

After being shot, Roosevelt continued to present his speech saying “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose. But fortunately I had my manuscript, so you see I was going to make a long speech, and there is a bullet—there is where the bullet went through—and it probably saved me from it going into my heart. The bullet is in me now, so that I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best.” 

After his speech, Roosevelt collapsed to the floor. He was then taken to the hospital and made good recovery!

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