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The Vatican City – 0.44 km² is the smallest country in the world with the least population. It is encircled by a 2-mile border with Italy. Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, making it one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park. It is located within the city of Rome, Italy. This country with the least population has ample of unique features which are described below:It is the only UNESCO world heritage countryMost of you have heard about UNESCO's world heritage sites in countries but Vatican City as a whole is entirely designated as the world heritage country by UNESCO.A unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces lie within the boundaries of this small state.The basilica, erected over the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, is the largest religious building in the world, the fruit of the combined genius of Bramante, Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and Maderno.The Vatican Museums are 9 miles longThese museums have plenty of art and paintings available in them, which is one of the largest collections of art in the world. Pope Julius II founded the museums in the early 16th century.Benito Mussolini signed Vatican City into existence.The dispute between the Italian government and the Catholic Church ended in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Pacts, which allowed the Vatican to exist as its own sovereign state and compensated the church $92 million (more than $1 billion in today’s money) for the Papal States.The Pope is the Head of StateThe Pope is ex officio head of state of Vatican City since the 1860s, functions dependent on his primordial function as bishop of the diocese of Rome. His official title with regard to Vatican City is Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City.The Swiss Guard was hired as a mercenary force.The Swiss Guard, recognizable by its armor and colorful Renaissance-era uniforms, has been protecting the pontiff since 1506.The Swiss Guard’s role in Vatican City is strictly to protect the safety of the pope. Although the world’s smallest standing army appears to be strictly ceremonial, its soldiers are extensively trained and highly skilled marksmen. And, yes, the force is entirely comprised of Swiss citizens.It has the world’s shortest railwayWith just two 300-metre tracks and one station, the Vatican’s railway network is the shortest in the world. It’s used for importing goods and for ceremonial purposes and there are no regular passenger trains scheduledIt has its own armyKnown officially as the Pontifical Swiss Guard, this army is only 135 people strong. They were a uniform that looks like it hasn’t been changed since the Renaissance, but they do have modern military training too.It owns a telescope in Arizona, USAWith light pollution increasing in Rome, it became increasingly difficult to use the Vatican’s Observatory located 15 miles outside of the city. So, in 1981 the Vatican purchased a state of the art telescope that sits on top of Mount Graham in southeast ArizonaIt drinks more wine than anywhere else in the worldAn average Vatican resident consumes 54.26 litres of wine every year, giving this country the highest wine consumption rate per capita in the world.The ATM speaks LatinTurns out, all those years you spent learning Latin in school will finally come in handy. The Vatican Bank is the only one in the world to offer ATMs that address customers in the language. Quick tip: when you see “inserito scidulam quaeso ut faciundam cognoscas rationem,” it’s prompting you to insert your card to start. You’re on your own for the rest.

The date is September 14, 2082.In a surprise announcement, citizens all over the country had been gathered into central locations to “volunteer” teens for the First Annual Hunger Games. Each US state had one male and one female randomly selected and transported to Fort Jackson, SC for basic training.The 100 recruits were then flown to Washington, DC, where a state-of-the-art arena dome, with the latest in holographic technology, had been erected in secret by government defense contractors. As citizens gather around the country to watch the spectacle, some remember how Sunday afternoons used to involve watching a long-banned sport called football, which they vaguely remember being less violent than the promised bloodshed ahead.The contestants ascend on their podiums and size each other up. Many had grown attached during basic training, having already planned out alliances and strategies, only to have themselves put on opposite ends of the starting ring. Most of the states’ two contestants have at least agreed to work with each other, creating around 20 teams of two rather than 50 roving individuals. There is a temporary lull in the action, when Alaska’s male contestant is discovered to have committed suicide during the ascent. After peacekeepers dispose of the body, the countdown resumes. Alabama’s female, too nervous to wait, bolts forward towards the cornucopia before the countdown terminates, getting instantly killed by electric shock.While the contestants do not notice, some of the more astute in the audience notice that the contestants are arranged by state in order of entry into the Union. With that, the action starts with Delaware as all hell breaks loose.Delaware’s and Pennsylvania’s pairs attempt to team up, but are attacked by the New Jersey duo, who somehow managed to bring homemade shanks into the arena. Both of Delaware’s tributes are stabbed, and Pennsylvania’s duo flees the scene. New Jersey team finds the nearest cover and plots their next move.George and Georgiana, cut off from its pre-planned allies, decide to flee the cornucopia.Connecticut, bitter rival to Massachusetts, races them towards the cornucopia.Rhode Island's tributes try to get someone to notice and ally with them. But, no one pays any attention to them. The female tribute finds a machine gun, but neither of them know how to use it, having never seen a gun back home and skipped gun day on basic training. They each grab a clam cake and head for the exit . They are never seen again.Maryland’s two tributes begin shouting at each other, with one trying to convince the other that the real enemy is outside the arena and that they should resist the Games, while the other argues for sheer survival in the chaos. Both are killed when South Carolina’s male tribute, having been among the first to reach the cornucopia, throws a live hand grenade between them. New Hampshire and New York’s tributes team up, working together to drown Virginia’s two tributes. New York’s male then snaps his female counterpart’s neck before fleeing the scene. New Hampshire’s teens race off to rendezvous with Vermont’s tributes.North Carolina’s tributes flee the cornucopia, per their plan.Kentucky’s female sneaks into the cornucopia and grabs a crossbow and bolts before fleeing, while her male counterpart grabs a knife and flint. Their retreat is covered by Tennessee’s pair, which trips Ohio’s team on their way to intercept. Ohio is forced to flee.Louisiana’s tributes, despite the all too brief basic training, are easily the heaviest tributes, weighing 250 pounds each and averaging only 5′6″. Both flee into the woods seeking a place to hide, knowing they stand no chance in combat.Indiana’s team pushes Mississippi's tributes aside, as they also are too heavy to move quickly. Arriving at the cornucopia, they break Illinois’ female’s nose for a basket of bread. However, Indiana’s female is killed by Illinois’ male, who catches up with them with his own homemade shank. Illinois’ male makes with a shotgun, although with only 3 shots, while his teammate grabs a lighter and some rope.Alabama’s male, a high school football player, rushes in, tackling Mississippi's male tribute along the way. Grabbing a pistol and 2 spare ammo clips, it escapes into the forest.Both of Maine’s tributes are shanked by Missouri’s tributes, who escape into the forest.Arkansas’ tributes, also too obese for combat, attempt to grab a shotgun anyway. Michigan’s team gets there first and grabs two pistols, shooting both of Arkansas’ tributes dead. However, they did not notice Florida’s tributes rushing up behind them. One Michigander is cracked over the head with a large pipe, while the other is kicked in the goolies. Florida’s male grabs the pistols while the female grabs three canteens of clean water.Texas’s male, a high school quarterback, pulls out his contraband brass knuckles and knocks out both of Iowa’s tributes. He then covers for his partner, who grabs two revolvers and a rope.Both of Wisconsin's tributes flee the cornucopia in the same direction as Pennsylvania, who they'd agreed to ally with. Wisconsin's female developed a crush on Pennsylvania's male, but her partner doesn't know about it.California's duo splits up, thoroughly sick of each other. The male, a survivalist from Northern California, flees into the woods an climbs a tree for safety, while Valley Girl runs off to find Washington state's duo.Minnesota’s tributes flee the cornucopia.Oregon's pair, also survivalists, flees the battle after grabbing a machete to join up with Northern California.Kansas teams up with Nebraska, taking two spears, a pair of throwing knives, bread, and water from the cornucopia.West Virginia’s tributes have decides to go full Hunger Games, emulating Katniss and Peeta, figuring you shouldn't try and improve perfection. However, while “Peeta” was attempting to grab food, he is shot by a stray bullet and died. “Katniss” grabs a bow and a quiver full of arrows.Nevada’s female, suffering withdrawal from a cocaine addiction, collapses on the platform. Her counterpart flees the cornucopia.Colorado’s tributes flee the cornucopia.North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana team up, grabbing knives, a shotgun, food, water, and a tent before exiting.Washington’s tributes grab a hatchet and water. They accept Valley Girl into the team and attempt to hide out.Idaho and Utah reach the cornucopia at the same time and fight. All four are killed when Idaho’s male accidentally sets off a land mine.Oklahoma's team hides behind a nearby tree to assess the chaos. Turning around, they are ambushed by Texas's tributes, who gun them down and take their shirts and the male's glasses for fire starting.New Mexico and Arizona's tributes did not like each other during basic training, but team up from necessity to grab a machete, a tarp, water, and a few spears.Alaska’s female, having lost her teammate, has not been idle. Initially fleeing, she sets up a hidden shelter in a cave, as well as an obvious one nearby. Returning that night, she hits the jackpot. Getting beef jerky, a knife, clean water, and a sniper rifle, she makes off just in time. The Dakota/Montana alliance returns to the cornucopia, setting up shop in the center of the map.Hawaii’s tributes flee the cornucopia, but run into a locked and loaded South Carolina team an hour later. Neither survive.In the distance, multiple cannon shots are fired.Day 2Some tributes stalk, while others wait.Highlights:Vermont/New Hampshire team foolishly builds a roaring fire during the night. Texas team shows up and guns them down, as well as Illinois’ male, who attacked the campfire just a few seconds prior.Alabama's male, both New York tributes, and both North Carolina tributes fall for Alaska's decoy shelter at different times during the day. She picks them off from the safety of her concealed hideout.Florida's male tribute backstabs his counterpart and joins up with George and Georgians.Massachusetts and Connecticut get in a swordfight in a clearing. Northern California/Oregon team, unnoticed overhead, drop a tracker Jack nest on the area, killing all four.Kentucky picks off Colorado's tributes with their crossbows, but are killed by New Mexico, who made a pair of atlatls.That night, many cannon shots are fired.The action calms for the next few days. Texas, West Virginia, Alaska (female), and NoCal/Oregon emerge as the clear frontrunners, racking up more kills. Dakota/Montana team still hold the middle, surrounding it with landmines.Arena Event: Volcano Eruption in the center of the map.Dakota/Montana team is killed instantly.NoCal/Oregon are still in the trees, and can't get out fast enough to escape.South Carolina’s team grapples with the Florida Georgia threesome at the edge of the lava flow. A tremor causes all five to fall into the lava.Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are trapped on an island. Wisconsin chooses to save Pennsylvania’s male rather than her compatriot.Texas's tributes shove Louisiana into the lava.…Day 11Texas attempts to sneak up on “Katniss's” campsite. Texas's male is caught in a snare. Seeing her chance, Iowa's female, who managed to survive thus whole time, ambushes Texas's female. Waking up, “Katniss” shoots all three of them without asking questions. Also having stalked Texas for revenge for the death of his teammate, Missouri's male comes out with a shotgun, getting to say what he's been waiting his whole life to say.Out of ammo, Arnold returns to the cornucopia, not realizing that Alaska is waiting for him. One last headshot, one last cannon boom. Suddenly, the are dissipates, and Miss Alaska is crowned the winner.In case you're wondering what she looks like, here you go:“And there you have it folks, Alaska will claim the title for the First Annual Hunger Games! Remember, I'm your host, Michael Pothoven. Tune in next year for the next Games, in which the upcoming Distrcit system will be utilized. Thanks for watching, everyone!”

In this condition? SURE!I used to work at an aircraft museum, and I’ve visited “boneyards,” large and small. We got that question a LOT… many people still assume that the fleets of retired warbirds set out to pasture are still sitting there, pristine, ready to be claimed for the price of scrap metal, then turned around and sold for a million dollars.NOPE. Absolutely, totally, not. Look, I get the allure…”the government threw these away, and now they are worth millions…. surely I can still get a nice, fresh-condition, thrown away one that's worth a million bucks at no charge!” Well, Vincent Van Gogh would’ve gladly given you a fresh piece of art if you just bought that starving artist a coffee & pastry at the local café when he was alive. True once… but that is no longer the case. Ditto that winning lottery ticket that you didn’t buy a share of last week when it was a dollar. Even more so when it comes to valuable warbirds. They are valuable now because they are rare… and rare because 99% of them were thrown away. 15,000 Mustangs were built - today there are about 150 flyable ones… all owned by private citizens.First, there are NO MORE P-51 Mustangs at the famous AMAARC “boneyard” in Arizona. Those were gone decades ago… before the Vietnam War! Second, there is a reason that Mustangs cost around $2 million today…. the people who rescued them spent a LOT of their own money restoring them back to flying condition from rusted out wrecks.You want a cheap JET from the government? I’ve attended auctions at military bases where jet fighters were being sold off to the public. I’ve seen an A-7 and an F-14 sold for only a few hundred dollars…. here you go:That's the only kind that's “cheap,” unless you spend a few million $ to start a museum and PERHAPS get a non-flyable display aircraft on loan. The US military today will make certain it can never fly again.You’re a scuba-diver, and you know where there is an underwater wreck, and you have a boat? Good luck… some private groups got in trouble and lost a LOT of money retrieving them, just to have the US Navy say “it still belongs to us, thanks for the free labor.”All the easy, “low-hanging fruit” have been fetched by others long ago. Today, you may have to mount an expedition of experts just to obtain a hunk of rust that's barely recognizable as a plane. It’s not unusual for a restoration to replace nearly every part of a plane in order to get it airworthy, or even presentable. Good example: the P-38 “Glacier Girl” recovered from Greenland…buried for half a century, dug out from 268 feet of ice & snow in 1992. It cost close to a million dollars just to get it out and START the process getting it airborne again…. a restoration that took 20 years to complete. Why would people do that with their own money? Because there were only 2 left in the world. And you want the private owners to give it away to you now?Glacier Girl - Wikipedia