Random Facts Generator

On August 13, 1966, in response to John Lennon's "More popular than Jesus" comment, a radio station in Texas held a burning of Beatles merchandise. The next day, the broadcast tower was struck by lightning, damaging much of their equipment and sending the news director to the hospital.

A mathematician named Fry Lewis Richardson discovered that it is impossible to measure the length of coastlines in a meaningful manner. This so-called Coastline Paradox later led to the creation of the field of Fractal Geometry.

A devout Mormon set out in 1955 on an archaeological expedition to prove the Book of Mormon's claims. Instead after 15 years, he found that nearly every claim in the Book of Mormon was wrong and the papyrus J. Smith claimed written by Abraham was actually just a page ripped out of the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

After the death of the first Chinese emperor, Shi Huangdi, his second oldest son forged a letter in the emperor's name, stating that the eldest son is to commit suicide and the second oldest son would become emperor. That plan worked.

McDonalds Szechuan dipping sauce wasn't Szechuan at all, as the Szechuan peppercorn was banned in the US at the time of the original promotion.

The O'Hare Airport is named after an American fighter pilot named Edward O'Hare who was the lone defender during an attack on his carrier. He was killed leading the first night defense against a Kamikaze attack. Two years earlier, his own father was murdered for being the only man willing to testify against Al Capone.

Facial scans, iris scans, and your fingerprints are not protected by the Fifth Amendment and therefore not secure. If it’s a physical thing that exists in reality, like your fingerprint, you can be compelled by a court to give that up. If it is information, something you know that only exists in your mind, you cannot be forced to give that information up.

On October 5, 1892, the Dalton Gang rode into Coffeyville, Kansas, and attempted two simultaneous bank robberies. Townspeople recognized the outlaws and surrounded the banks. All gang members were shot and killed except for Emmett Dalton, who served 14 years in prison and then became a Hollywood writer.

While not enforceable, the U.S. has a flag code which advises Americans on proper flag usage. Examples include no marking or changing the flag's colors. It must be lowered at night unless properly lit, a flag may not be used on a float without a pole, and no flag apparel of any sort.

During the closing credits of the South Park episode 'Trapped in the Closet', all names were replaced with either "John Smith" or "Jane Smith". This was done to shield any of the production staff from potential lawsuits.