10 Most Expensive Paintings Ever Sold

1. $135 million Adele Bloch-Bauer I, Gutav Klimt 2006
2. $104 million Boy with a Pipe, Pablo Picasso 2004
3. $95.2 million Dora Maar with Cat, Pablo Picasso 2006
4. $82.5 million Portrait du Dr Gachet, Vincent van Gogh 1990
5. $78.1 million Au Moulin de la Galette, Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1990
6. $76.7 million The Massacre of the Innocents, Paul Rubens 2002
7. $71.5 million Portrait de L'Artiste sans Barbe, Vincent van Gogh 1998
8. $60.5 million Rideau, Cruchonet Compotier, Paul Cezanna 1999
9. $55 million Femme aux Brax Croises, PAblo Picasso 2000
10. $53.9 million Irises, Vincent van Gogh 1987

What is the wooden spoon in sports?

'Wooden spoon' is a phrase which refers to the performance of an individual or a team which finishes last in a competition. Sometimes, a mock or real wooden spoon award is also handed over to the contestant coming last. The phrase is apparently based on the fact that a wooden spoon is almost valueless compared to the winner's trophy which is made of precious metal. The term had its origin in Cambridge University where professors used to dangle wooden spoon before students who failed in examination.

What's the origin of 'nineteen to the dozen'?

While the exact origin of the phrase is unknown, it is often traced back to the Cornish beam engines of the Newcomen era in the 18th century. These engines could pump 19,000 gallons from a tin mile. All this from just 12 bushels of coal. In speech, the phrase means someone who talks too fast or too much.

Why does milk overflow when boiled but water does not?

Milk overflows when boiled for the first time because it contains entrapped air. The air expands on heating and tends to escape lifting the surface of milk. Once all the air is expelled, the boiling would be regular and smooth. A second boiling would not lead to overflow. Entrapped air in mother's milk is the cause of pain for babies that goes under the name 'colic pain'. Breast feeding is therefore to be done in small doses at a time.

Which is the largest burger in the world?

A Pennsylvania restaurant put a 15pound burger on its menu, claiming it to be the largest burger available. Dennis Liegey, the owner of Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, 120 kms northeast of Pittsburgh, named it the 'Beer Barrel Belly Buster' which comprises 10 pounds of meat moulded into a 20-inch patty on a specially baked 17-inch bun. The remaining weight comes from 25 slices of cheese, a head of lettuce, three tomatoes, two onions, plus copious quantities of mayo, ketchup, relish, mustard, and peppers.