: Near England, the jumpy Russian sailors mistook British fishing trawlers for Japanese torpedo boats. They opened fire for twenty minutes, sinking a British boat and accidentally hitting two of their own ships. This nearly caused Britain to declare war on Russia.

: A world where money literally grows on trees and is heavily regulated by the government.

In 1904, the fleet set sail from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific, a voyage that should have been routine but turned into a comedy of errors:

: During a gunnery practice against a stationary target, they missed every shot except for one—which hit the ship actually towing the target.

: A plane takes off with 81 passengers but lands with 82.

: Denied use of the Suez Canal by Britain, they had to sail all the way around Africa. Along the way, sailors picked up various exotic pets, including snakes and crocodiles , which ended up roaming the decks.

: If you want to read something short and impactful, try " The Gift of the Magi " by O. Henry, a famous tale about sacrificial love during the holidays.

: A character whose daily commute lasts an entire lightyear.