Random #360 – 50 Eccentric Random Facts

Sublime's debut album, "40oz. to Freedom," was recorded in secrecy at the studios at California State University. The lead singer, Bradley Nowell, recalled how they would sneak in after closing time, stay there till 5:00 AM, hide from security, and managed to get $30,000 worth of studio time for free.

2. The last writer's strike in 2008 led to the first season of Breaking Bad being two episodes shorter and saving Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) from being killed off. He was originally planned to be killed off in the first season.

3. In the court of King Charles I of England, there was a courtier named Jeffrey Hudson who stood only 18 inches tall. He once challenged a man of normal height to a duel with pistols over an insult. His opponent came to the duel armed with a water squirt gun, while Hudson shot him in the head with a real gun, killing him.

4. The Roman physician Galen used wine as a disinfectant for all types of wounds and even soaked exposed bowels before returning them to the body. Only five gladiators died under his watch.

5. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen intentionally plays non-book "inaccuracies" during the opening phase of a chess game, moves that he knows aren't the best, in order to force the game into a non-book position. This strategy compels his opponents to think for themselves instead of relying on memorized opening theories.

In the early 1930s, Cadillac had a policy of not selling cars to black people. However, in 1933, Nicholas Dreystadt, a middle manager at General Motors, crashed a GM executive committee meeting and convinced them to drop the policy and instead market to black people. Within a year, sales increased by 70%.

7. The moon is one of the least reflective objects in the solar system. If Neptune's moon Triton were in its place, it would appear seven times brighter.

8. One Night Cough Syrup was sold in the late 1800s and contained alcohol, cannabis, chloroform, and morphine. This mixture was available over the counter and promised to eliminate your cough in one night, so you could sleep.

9. Since 2020, white LED streetlights have been turning purple due to a defect caused during the manufacturing process between 2017 and 2019. The yellow phosphor coating delaminated, and the blue LED began showing through, resulting in a purplish glow.

10. The Little-Known Legend of Jesus in Japan tells the story of Jesus settling down in Japan, growing garlic, marrying a farmer's daughter, fathering three children, and living until the age of 106.

After the fires that followed the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many insurance companies tried to avoid covering the losses, except for Lloyd's of London, which declared, "Pay all of our policyholders in full, irrespective of the terms of their policies." This stance solidified Lloyd's reputation in the U.S.

12. The Tower Bridge in London is a relatively modern bridge designed to resemble medieval architecture. In fact, there are pictures of its construction.

13. An 1861 Japanese book about the "history" of the United States included imaginative scenes such as George Washington punching a tiger and John Adams slaying a giant snake.

14. In 1982, Delta Air Lines employees raised $30 million to purchase a new Boeing 767 as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation to the company during economic hardships in the airline industry.

15. While the English language is classified as a West Germanic language, its vocabulary reflects significant influences from French (approximately 28% of words) and Latin (also around 28%), alongside some grammatical and core vocabulary influences from Old Norse.

Killer whales have the ability to imitate human speech. They can replicate words like "hello" and "bye bye," as well as mimic sounds from other orcas.

17. Miranda, a moon of Uranus, boasts a cliff named Verona Rupes, which is estimated to be 20 km high. This colossal cliff is the tallest known in the solar system, and if one were to jump off it, they would fall for approximately 12 minutes due to the lower gravity before hitting the ground.

18. A "munchy box" is a popular takeout food item in Scotland that typically includes kebab meat, fried chicken, pizza, chicken tikka, samosas, onion rings, chow mein noodles, pakora, naan bread, garlic bread, coleslaw, and other fast foods, served with sauces such as curry sauce.

19. During a televised game, a foul ball struck a young boy in the head. Rather than waiting for EMTs to arrive, Jim Rice ran into the stands, took the boy into the clubhouse, and immediately had him treated by the team's medical staff. Rice is credited with saving the boy's life.

20. Seretse Khama, the former president of Botswana, successfully transformed the world's poorest nation into one of the fastest-growing economies on the planet.

Every year, approximately 100 Americans choke to death on pen caps, but this number used to be higher before manufacturers started including a hole in the cap for safety.

22. Contrary to popular belief, the treatment for rabies involves only four shots in the arm, not the 21 shots in the stomach. This treatment method has been in practice for over 40 years.

23. Following the execution of outlaw George Parrott in 1881, his skull was repurposed as an ashtray, and his skin was used to make a pair of shoes and a medicine bag. The doctor who conducted his autopsy later became the governor of Wyoming and even wore the shoes to his inaugural ball.

24. During the last two decades of his life, Dwight Eisenhower took up painting and produced approximately 260 paintings, including a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.

25. The tune "Stars and Stripes Forever" serves as an emergency alert at the circus. When the band plays it, it signals a fire, prompting performers and circus staff to go to their emergency stations and start the evacuation process.