Random #363 – 50 Quirky Random Facts

In 1993, the International Shooting Union prohibited women from competing alongside men in shooting events. This decision followed Zhang Shan's gold medal victory in Skeet Shooting at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

27. Thames Mud Butter was a machine lubricant that was produced in the late 19th century using fats skimmed from the sewage effluent of London.

28. Fatso the Fat-Arsed Wombat, an unofficial mascot of the 2000 Summer Olympics, gained tremendous popularity to the extent that the Australian Olympic Committee attempted to restrict athletes from appearing with Fatso to prevent overshadowing their official mascots.

29. The HMS Thesis submarine disaster of 1939 involved an escape chamber that saved the lives of four individuals. Tragically, panic overcame the fifth person during its use, resulting in the demise of all 98 others on board.

30. Upon ejection using a Martin-Baker ejection seat, fighter pilots are honored with membership to the "Ejection Tie Club." In addition to a tie, patch, certificate, and tie pin, they are also provided with a subsidized limited-edition Bremont watch as part of this prestigious group.

In addition to his acting career, Dermot Mulroney is a talented cellist and has contributed his musical skills to several film soundtracks composed by Michael Giacchino, including Rogue One, Jurassic World, and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

32. The horse guard wasp is a species found in the eastern United States that serves as a natural biological control for horse flies. These wasps hang around horses and eliminate horse flies. Despite their buzzing noises, horses are not disturbed by them.

33. The Titanic became the unexpected site of the discovery of tiny iron-eating microbes. These unique microbes form rusticle structures, resembling icicles, composed of 35% iron compounds and a community of symbiotic microbes and fungi. "Halomonas titanicae," the specific microbe involved, is projected to contribute to the gradual dissolution of the Titanic by 2045.

34. Dolphins possess the fascinating ability to call each other by using distinctive whistles, essentially their own "names." They respond solely to their individual whistles, offering a distinct whistle in return. Scientists believe that dolphins exhibit behavior similar to humans, responding when they hear their own name.

35. Until the early 1920s, astronomers generally believed that the Milky Way contained all the stars in the Universe. However, the 1920 Great Debate between astronomers Harlow Shapley and Heber Doust Curtis, followed by Edwin Hubble's observations, revealed that the Milky Way is merely one of many galaxies.

In 1967, the DSV "Alvin," a deep-sea submersible, experienced an extraordinary encounter at a depth of 610 meters when it was attacked by a swordfish. The swordfish became entangled in the Alvin's hull, forcing the submersible to make an emergency ascent. The fish was subsequently recovered at the surface and served as a meal.

37. The Locomotives Act of 1865 in the United Kingdom imposed strict regulations on motor vehicles, including a speed limit of 2 to 4 mph, a minimum crew of three persons, and a requirement for a man to walk at least 55 meters ahead of the vehicle, waving a red flag and sounding a horn.

38. A bolt of lightning is astonishingly four times hotter than the surface of the sun.

39. Some Jeep vehicles feature hidden "Easter Eggs" consisting of designs of animals and other symbols scattered around the vehicle. These surprises can be found on the windshield, carved into the dashboard, beneath the seats, and near the gas cap, among other unexpected places.

40. Jungholz is an Austrian village that can only be accessed through Germany. Due to access complications, the village has followed German customs since 1868 and even used the Deutsche Mark as its currency until 2002. This unique situation arose from German land being sold to an Austrian taxman in 1342.

The leading hypothesis for the existence of stripes on zebras is their role in deterring horse flies from biting them.

42. In the past, people would place bets on the outcomes of battles. In 1691, an astounding amount of over £200,000 (equivalent to £40,000,000 in today's money) was wagered solely on the outcome of the Siege of Limerick.

43. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright envisioned a unique community called Usonia, located 25 miles north of Manhattan and consisting of 47 houses. Wright personally determined the placement of each house based on its surroundings and designed three homes himself while approving the architectural plans for the remaining 44.

44. Cicada wings possess remarkable properties that shed water, dirt, and bacteria. These wings have an anti-reflective surface to avoid detection by predators, accomplished through the presence of nanopillars 4000 times thinner than human hair and the presence of waxy substances.

45. KFC took an unconventional approach by sponsoring a short film titled "A Recipe for Seduction." The plot revolves around a girl named Jessica Mansera, who must decide between marrying a wealthy suitor chosen by her mother or pursuing a relationship with the new house chef, Harland Sanders.

The iconic cover of The Doors' 1970 album, "Morrison Hotel," was captured at an actual hotel bearing the same name in Los Angeles. Without permission to photograph, the band quickly positioned themselves behind the hotel windows while the clerk was momentarily away from the desk.

47. Roger Marie Bricoux, one of the musicians aboard the Titanic, tragically perished along with the rest of the band members. However, due to a series of circumstances, Bricoux was not officially declared dead until the year 2000. The French army mistakenly considered him a deserter during World War I.

48. Upon reading the initial draft of "Smokey and the Bandit," Burt Reynolds candidly expressed to director Hal Needham that it was the worst script he had ever encountered. Nevertheless, Reynolds committed to making the film, and much of the dialogue was improvised on set.

49. Reynolds, the company renowned for producing Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil, once ventured into the realm of deep-sea exploration. They constructed and operated a remarkable deep-sea submersible known as the Aluminaut, which held the distinction of being the world's first aluminum submarine.

50. Despite its current association with coffee and donuts, the first Tim Hortons establishment in Canada actually originated as a charbroiled burger and hot dog restaurant in North Bay, Ontario.