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34 Random Bits of Trivia to Make Your Ignorance Go Away Forever

You can never have too many facts

34 Random Bits of Trivia to Make Your Ignorance Go Away Forever

April 18, 2024 Add Cracked to Google

Before we begin, we need you closed-minded individuals to either open it up or to just walk away. We have a lot of facts to dole out today, so we can’t waste any time trying to cram them into some stubborn mind. We’re not doing the helicopter spoon move with a fussy toddler here, okay? We’re serving up these facts buffet-style, so grab a plate or sit in the corner and pout. Your call, kiddo.

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34

In the early 19th century, West Point's 1st year curriculum was just math and French. The best math textbooks at the time were in French, so students had to learn the language first. And they needed math because they were all military engineers -- West Point was the first engineering school in the U.S. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

33

The Avengers: Endgame

The Avengers: Endgame plot grew out of a throwaway comment. The Russo brothers couldn't figure out what to do with Thanos, as he was super powerful and could beat the Avengers easily. One day, producer Trinh Tran said Kind of really wish we could just kill him, which gave the Russos a totally new idea. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

32

The deepest man-made hole on Earth is 7.5 miles deep. It's the USSR's Kola Superdeep Borehole, and its deepest part is nine inches in diameter but reaches a third of the way down the continental crust. One of the Borehole researchers' most amazing finds was two-billion-year-old rocks with intact organic compounds inside. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

31

Koala fingerprints are nearly identical to human ones. At one point, Australian authorities were even concerned that koala fingerprints might have messed up criminal investigations. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

30

In Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Ego's planet is based on fractal artwork. The filmmakers brought on Hal Tenny, who makes Mandelbrot set art, as a visual consultant. They based much of Ego's core, landscape, and the structures on the planet, on his concepts. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

29

We almost got a Sofia Coppola adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Her version was supposed to adapt the original fairy tale, and she wanted to shoot underwater. They did some underwater shooting tests, but she left the project when too much money started pouring in, because she couldn't make the movie she wanted to make. NOW YOU KNOW CRACKED.COM — Source

28

WEIRD WORLD A South Korean actually defected to North Korea. That's extremely rare, of course, and the South Korean military carried out a search - but they weren't successful. CRACKED.COM — Source

27

WEIRD WORLD In North Carolina, a deer broke into a county courthouse, but deputies saved the day. The deer was let go with a stern warning, according to North Carolina authorities. CRACKED.GOM — Source

26

WEIRD WORLD In Hawaii, a surfer had her board bitten by a boar who was swimming. Surfer Ingrid Seiple was surfing in Hawaii and spotted what she thought was a Hawaiian monk seal - but it turned out to be boar instead. It started swimming towards her, and apparently bit her board. CRACKED.COM — Source

25

WEIRD WORLD There are now emergency airlifts of Beanie Babies to the US taking place. adidas Because global supply lines are jammed, Beanie Babies are being flown on cargo planes from China in time for the holiday season. CRACKED.COM — Source

24

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

WEIRD WORLD Reindeer in British Columbia are fiercely attacking poor old Rudolph. Specifically, it's a decoration of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in Fort Nelson, BC - the young bucks nearby keep beating the crap out of it, over and over. CRACKED.COM — Source

23

WEIRD WORLD A five-year-old caught driving had the most adorable explanation for doing that. Не told cops that he was just out trying to buy a present for his sister, apparently. CRACKED.GOM — Source

22

WEIRD WORLD South Dakota teachers played a ridiculous, Squid Game-type game. They had to scramble to grab dollar bills, which would go towards funding their classrooms. The game's sponsor apologized afterwards. CRACKED.COM — Source

21

WEIRD WORLD Prince Andrew's ex-wife says that nobody ever got persecuted as bad as her. adidas Specifically, Sarah Ferguson said she was maybe the most persecuted woman in the history of the royal family. CRACKED.COM — Source

20

WEIRD WORLD Someone in Maryland tried to fight snakes in their house... ... and burned it down. The homeowner destroyed their house in an attempt to control a snake infestation, officials said. CRACKED.COM — Source

19

WEIRD WORLD Apparently, we've created tiny Pac-Man robots that will destroy the Earth. The little Pac-Man replicas are autonomous living robots that, it turns out, have learned how to reproduce. Anyway, here's hoping there's no lab leak. CRACKED.COM — Source

18

WEIRD WORLD There's a new world record for a soul train line, and it's a total of 536 people. Black Entertainment Network organized the line in question, in New York City. CRACKED.COM — Source

17

NBA

An NBA player had to retire because he fell asleep with a pack of ice on his ankle. CRACKED COM B.J. Tyler accidentally fell asleep with a pack of ice on his ankle, causing severe nerve damage. Robbed of the speed that his game was based on, he was subse- quently forced to retire. — Source

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16

'Umarells' is a term used in Italy used to describe old men that watch construction sites. G10 GRAGKED.COM The elderly men gather to observe, comment and criti- cize, often with their hands clasped be- hind their backs. — Source

15

Romania

Hoia baciu forest is referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of Romania. CRACKED.COM It's known for paranormal activity and unexplained events, including intense feelings of being watched, ghost sightings, bi- zarre-looking vegetation, UFO sightings, and hun- dreds of missing persons. — Source

14

Two students planned to poison Chicago's water supply with typhoid, anthrax, and other pathogens. CRACKED.COM Steven Pera and Allan Schwander were arrested in 1972 for the plan. They hi- jacked a plane once out on bond and flew to Cuba. One died in prison while the other made it back home and was given 5 years probation. — Source

13

Jakarta is sinking 10 inches per year. CRACKED COM This is in part due to ex- cessive use of groundwa- ter and lack of piped wa- ter. It is expected that the city will be completely submerged in the next 30 years. — Source

12

Bette Davis

Bette Davis owned a nightclub in Hollywood for US servicemen and women where everything was free. CRACKED.COM The Hollywood Canteen was a place for troops to have fun before embark- ing on tour, and other ce- lebrities would regularly volunteer to serve food or perform. — Source

11

Like birdshot and buckshot, there is a shotgun round called a Rat Shot. CRACKED COM It's a small caliber bullet cartridge that can be load- ed into handguns and rifles to be used as a low power shotgun round effective for killing small pests and birds without damaging buildings. — Source

10

Michelangelo wrote poems to another man, Tommaso dei Cavalieri. CRACKED COM After his death, his grand-nephew pub- lished his poems and changed the pronouns of the person ad- dressed from mascu- line to feminine. — Source

9

Areas in Northeast France are deemed too physically and environmentally damaged by conflict for human habitation. CRACKED.COM The 460 square miles area contains so much human and animal remains and millions of items of unexploded clas- sic and chemical ordnance from WWI that it's been le- gally defined as Impossible to clean. — Source

8

Brain Damage

A test used to determine brain damage involves pouring water into the ear. CRACKED.COM If you pour cold water into a per- son's ear, their eyes will move in the direction of the opposite ear. If you pour warm water into their ear, their eyes will move towards that ear. This is used to test for brain damage and is called 'ca- loric stimulation.' — Source

7

Novelist Patricia Highsmith kept about 300 snails as pets. The author of 'The Talent- ed Mr Ripley' and 'The Price Of Salt' would carry them in her handbag to parties, calling them her companions for the eve- ning. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

6

When it comes to wine, a cat pee-like aroma is often indicative of a high-quality vintage. Sauvignon Blancs from warmer countries such as South Africa, California and Australia tend to have less of the 'cat's pee' aro- ma than the ones pro- duced in France, New Zea- land and Hungary. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

5

Abraham Lincoln declined an offer to bring in war elephants to the United States. While the letter from the King of Siam was addressed to former President James Buchanan, it was up to Lin- coln and his Secretary of State William Seward to po- litely decline this offer. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

4

A black cat crossing your path from right to left is considered good luck in Germany. From left to right is unlucky. The supersti- tion is said to have stemmed from the 17th century where they began to be linked with witchcraft. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

3

Beaver College changed its name to Arcadia because anti-porn filters blocked access to the school's website. The rise of systems de- signed to filter out sexually explicit material online re- peatedly blocked access to the college's website. Be- cause of its name, the insti- tution appealed to 30% few- er prospective students. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

2

Dolphin calves are typically born tail first so they don't drown during the birthing process. Dolphins virtually nev- er have twins; they give birth to one baby at a time every 1 to 6 years depending on the species and indi- viduals. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

1

Back in the 1800s, composer Franz Liszt was worshiped like a rock star. In fact, he received so many requests for locks of his hair that he eventually bought a dog, only to snip off patches of its fur to send to his admirers. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Source

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