Random Fact Sheet #116 – 40 Facts That Will Open Your Eyes To A New World

During a visit to London, Boris Yeltsin nearly caused a diplomatic row by trying to hug the Queen. Afterward, it was suggested that the Russian should in the future be advised that apart from handshakes, people do not 'handle' the Queen.

27. Baristas at the CIA Starbucks do not write down the names of the customers on their cups and there are no frequent-customer award cards.

28. Edison offered $50,000 to Tesla if he succeeded in improving the efficiency of Edison's prototypical dynamos. Despite Tesla making a great deal of progress, Edison claimed that the offer was a joke.

29. Action movie star Steve McQueen was offered the leading role of Close Encounters by Steven Spielberg, but McQueen declined since he couldn't cry on cue. Spielberg offered to remove the scene but McQueen said it was the best part of the film.

30. A 91-year-old woman named Dorothy Steel made her big film acting debut as a merchant tribal elder, who advises Chadwick Boseman’s character in Marvel’s "Black Panther." She sent in her audition tape and Marvel executives said “Who is that old lady? We want her.” She began her acting career at the age of 88.

In 1997, Mexican film director Guillermo Del Toro's father was kidnapped in Mexico and the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $1 million for his release. James Cameron became aware of this and paid the ransom, even recommending a negotiator.

32. The last woolly mammoth died out 1000 years after the pyramids at Giza were built.

33. A study on human psychology conducted by researchers found that men aren’t really attracted to women’s butts, but rather the implied spinal curvature that creates the illusion. The spinal curvature positively affects the ability to have children.

34. Of the 13 languages attested from before 1000 B.C., only two languages (Ancient Chinese and Mycenaean Greek) have descendants who continue to be speak them to this day.

35. American lawyer Robert S. Abbott founded 'The Chicago Defender' in 1905 for just $7. With the top circulation of any Black-owned newspaper in the States, it made him a multi-millionaire and contributed to “The Great Migration.” Thanking his ex-landlady for encouraging him, he gave her an 8 room house.

A German man named Gunther drove the same car for 549,000 miles through 177 countries on a 26-year road trip. His wife Christine joined him for most of the journey, where they traveled to nearly every country on the planet.

37. A man named Derek helped father nearly 500 children through sperm donation because of many men being dead or left unable to reproduce after World War I in postwar Britain.

38. Polar bears actually have black skin and clear hollow fur. The clear and hollow fur enables the sun rays to get to the black skin that keeps the polar bears warm in the cold climate.

39. North Korea plays basketball with different rules. Slam Dunks are 3 points, Three-point “nothing but net” shots are worth 4 points and teams lose points when they miss free throws.

40. The British and Irish plug is regarded as the safest wall socket in the world.