50 Random Facts List #205

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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. 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.

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.

32. 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.

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

34. 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."

35. 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.

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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. “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.

40. Cats can recognize their own name. But unlike dogs, they are just not as keen to show their owners what they have learned.

Steven Spielberg made up that he snuck into Universal Studios, found an empty office and began his internship by faking it. In reality, his father had to pull some strings to get him an internship through a family friend.

42. American actor Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi) spent the first 9 years of his life in a hospital and when he was finally well enough to leave, was sent to a Japanese internment camp in Arizona.

43. Between 1309 and 1814 the River Thames would freeze so solid and deep that people held fairs on them, often having large Bonfires and the frozen river could even hold elephants on it.

44. Franklin Dixon, the author of over 200 Hardy Boys books which have sold over 70 million copies worldwide is not a real person but a collective pseudonym for dozens of authors who have written for the series. Canadian author Leslie McFarlane wrote 19 of the first 25 books.

45. The 'thousand-yard stare' is a phrase often used to describe the blank, unfocused gaze of soldiers who have become emotionally detached from the horrors around them. It is also sometimes used more generally to describe the look of dissociation among victims of other types of trauma.

The oldest known piece of music is a drinking song called the Epitaph of Seikilos. Its lyrics include the line "Life exists only for a short while, and time demands its toll."

47. Crows and ravens can mimic human languages.

48. Charles Joughin, the chief baker of the Titanic survived paddling for three hours in the frigid Atlantic waters after the sinking of the ship. This was due to a combination of two factors; he'd drunk a decent amount of alcohol, and he was a very good swimmer. He was the last man to leave the ship.

49. Marvel Comics writer Mark Gruenwald, upon his death in 1996, by request had his ashes mixed in with the printing ink for the collected edition of his series Squadron Supreme. Most first printings of the book likely contain his remains.

50. When your eyes look right, your eardrums bulge to the left, and vice versa. However, scientists have discovered that the eardrums move 10 milliseconds before the eyes do, and they don't know why.