34 Fun & Exciting Random Facts You Never Knew – Part 205

An art historian watching the movie Stuart Little in 2009 recognized a prop in the background as a lost painting (Sleeping Lady with Black Vase) by the Hungarian artist Róbert Berény. The film's set designer had found the work at a California antique store for $500. It eventually sold at an auction for €229,500.

2. In Finland, city planners are known to visit parks immediately after the first snowfall, when the existing walking paths are not visible. People naturally choose desire paths, clearly marked by their footprints, which can be then used to guide the routing of new purpose-built paved paths.

3. Michel Vaujour was a French convict who was jailed in 1986 for attempted murder and armed robbery. He forced his way onto the prison's roof one day by wielding nectarines that were painted to look like grenades and his wife picked him up in a helicopter and whisked him away.

4. A Ugandan man named Jordan Kinyera, saw his father lose their land in a legal fight at the age of 6. He spent 18 years in school and became a lawyer and won back the land 23 years later.

5. The Japanese command didn't realize Hiroshima had been totally destroyed until almost a whole day after it happened. Vague reports of some sort of large explosion had begun to filter in, but the Japanese high command knew that no large-scale air raid had taken place over the city.

A recent study out of the University of Kansas found that it takes about 50 hours of socializing to go from acquaintance to casual friend, an additional 40 hours to become a “real” friend, and a total of 200 hours to become a close friend.

7. Obsessive taking of selfies and posting them to social media has been found to be linked to common symptoms of mental disorders that include narcissism, low self-esteem, loneliness, self-centeredness, and attention-seeking behaviors.

8. "Drooping ears" is a trait for domesticated animals that doesn't occur in the wild (except elephants). Almost all species gain a trait when domesticated. One experiment successfully domesticated foxes over 40 generations, and by then their ears were drooping.

9. Hunter S. Thompson killed himself while being on the phone with his wife. She mistook the cocking of the gun for the sound of his typewriter keys and hung up as he fired.

10. The Cassandra metaphor occurs when valid warnings are dismissed. The Greek God Apollo gave Cassandra the gift of prophecy, but she refused his love so he placed a curse that nobody would believe her. She was left with the knowledge of future events she could not alter or convince others of.

The Man in the Iron Mask was an unidentified prisoner held for 34 years until his death in 1703. He was forced to wear a mask to ensure no one knew his true identity. His cell had multiple doors so no one could listen. If he spoke of anything other than his immediate needs he would be killed.

12. At the age of 19, Michael Caine had a near death experience in the Korean War that “formed his character” for the rest of his life. He learned to live every moment as if it were his last and to always look on the bright side of life.

13. McDonald's sued Irish fast food chain Supermac for trademark infringement but failed and ended up losing their Big Mac trademark as well because they were unable to prove that they had used the Big Mac trademark in the EU.

14. Ghana and Ivory Coast produce at least 70% of the world's cocoa beans and the world is running out of cocoa farmers as the next generation refuses to take up this job because of the difficulty of the process and wages as low as 84 cents a day.

15. A Swedish man named Kaj Linna was wrongly imprisoned for murder for 14 years until a true-crime podcast brought out clues that led to his exoneration. Awarded a record sum in damages of 18 million SEK, he now lives in the Canary Islands with his wife who was his Spanish-language teacher in prison.

In 2012, a computer error caused all the fireworks in the San Diego's Fourth of July Celebration to go off at once, instead of over 18 minutes.

17. The National School Lunch Act of 1946 was passed, in part, because of the number of draftee's that were rejected during World War 2 due to being malnourished.

18. In 2016, researchers from the Nautilus exploration vessel were cruising along the deep seafloor off California's coast when they came upon the bright purple creature with giant, googly eyes (Stubby Squid). The scientists couldn't contain their laughter.

19. A man named Gary Plauche murdered his son’s molester and kidnapper on live TV. He received no jail time.

20. Ross Perot had a Sesame Street character named "H. Ross Parrot." When asked to comment Perot said, "1) the nose is too small. 2) it's not a real Texas accent. 3) my family loves it, my grandchildren love it." and "I'm sure that parrot thinks he's much better looking than I am."

Korean parents have begun hiring thugs who protect their children from bullies. These thugs pose as "fake uncles" and intimidate bullies who have been harassing the bullied kid. In some cases, the thugs will visit the bullies’ parents at their workplace and publicly shame them.

22. Coconuts transported themselves around the world by floating through the sea. This is one reason (along with human interference) why coconuts are so widespread worldwide. So, yes, coconuts do migrate.

23. Khemjira Klongsanun, a runner in a Vietnam Marathon, found an abandoned puppy on the side of the road during the race and ended up carrying it for the remaining 19 miles until the finish line. She adopted it afterward.

24. Rose plants are placed at the end of a row of grape vines on vineyards to act as early warning signs of mold or mildew.

25. “Coffin Clubs” are groups of old people in New Zealand who are banding together to make their own funeral caskets. They say that it helps combat loneliness and is a cost-effective way of having a coffin. They also make baby coffins and donate them to local hospitals.