12 Trivia Tidbits for Sunday, July 28, 2024
Remember that lady who put a human finger in her chili and tried to sue Wendy's? She’s back!
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The Paris Olympics Are Off to a Weird Start
The opening ceremonies were highlighted by an opera-singing, headless Marie Antoinette, while a series of coordinated fires left France’s high-speed rail system all jammed up. Meanwhile, Snoop Dogg carried the Olympic torch, and the Seine is likely still full to the brim with poop.
The Largest Peacetime Security Detail in France’s History
The Olympic Games are being guarded by 45,000 police officers, 10,000 soldiers, 22,000 private security officers and, for some reason, a bunch of LAPD officers who were allowed to bring their guns along.
The ‘E-Bike for Hiking’
Outdoor apparel brand Arc’teryx teamed up with mobility tech start-up Skip to create an exoskeleton meant to help the casual outdoorsman get through long, arduous hikes.
The Loneliest Diseases
Since vaccines were invented in 1796, several diseases have gone from killing hundreds of thousands of people per year down to single digits. Diphtheria and Smallpox used to kill 20,000 per year each, but have shrunk down to zero. Varicell used to kill four million, now it tops off at under 500k. Rubella used to kill 50k per year, but has lately been held to about five.
From Steel Mill to Quantum Computer
America’s first “utility-scale quantum computer” is being built on a $9 billion campus at the site of an old Chicago steel mill.
Southwest Airlines Is Finally Assigning Seats
After five decades of allowing passengers to sit wherever the hell they want, Southwest has decided there’s more money to be made in assigning seats, charging extra for “premium” seats with a modicum of leg room.
Butterflies Can Hoover Up Pollen in a Telekinesis-Like Mastery of Physics
Butterflies can suck pollen out of flowers from over a half-inch away, using static electricity. This allows them to scoop up more of the good stuff without wasting time landing on every flower.
Biden Pulled a Sully
Forecasters thought that, optimistically, U.S. GDP would increase by 2.1 percent over the past year. The numbers just hit, and the Commerce Department says we collectively achieved a surprising 2.8 percent, which bodes extremely well for the coveted “soft landing” out of recession.
Canceled Olympic Events
Some of the oddest events in Olympics history include chariot racing, hot air balloon racing, pigeon murder, tug-of-war, actual gun duels and painting.
Skibidi Toilet: The Movie
Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures are in talks with the creator of Skibidi Toilet to make a feature film or TV series out of the bizarre, hyper-violent YouTube series.
The Highest-Paid Athletes at the Olympics
Basketball players and golfers have a duopoly on the list of richest athletes in Paris right now, with seven ballers and three golfers making up the top ten. Steph Curry and LeBron James take up the three and two spots, while golfer Jon Rahm is at number one as he rakes in $210 million per year.
A Disgraced Fast-Food Customer Has Weighed in on the Election
Anna Ayala went viral in 2005 for accusing Wendy’s of putting a human finger in her chili. It turns out she had planted the finger herself (it belonged to her husband’s coworker, who owed them money). For reasons no one will ever understand, she popped up in a New York Times story, claiming to have recently switched from Democrat to Republican.
