16-20 Kickass Random Facts
16. In 1972, Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack shot a feature-length documentary on Aretha Franklin but forgot to use clapperboards, which made it impossible to sync audio and video and left all of the footage unusable. The film was finally salvaged and released 46 years later. – Source
17. In 1998, a burglar stole a priceless diamond ornament originally belonging to empress Elisabeth of Austria, replacing it with a gift shop replica. Newspapers covered up the theft by claiming it had been speedily recovered and the fake remained on display for 10 years. – Source
18. The left-brain/right-brain theory that each side of the brain controls certain functions and people’s abilities are based on their stronger side is actually a myth. Studies have shown that both sides of the brain collaborate to perform tasks and that they perform the equal activity on average. – Source
19. The American board game “Chutes and Ladders” is a bastardization of an ancient Indian game called Moksha Patam. The game’s original theming represented the Hindu soul’s arduous path to liberation from the cycle of reincarnation and has been played by the same ruleset for nearly 2,000 years. – Source
20. Despite Genghis Khan’s reputation as a genocidal ruler, he was very tolerant of the religions of his subjects, consulting with various religious leaders. He also exempted Daoists, Buddhists, Christians, and Muslims from tax duties. – Source
21-25 Kickass Random Facts
21. The first recorded instance of a person living in three centuries was that of Margaret Ann Neve, a woman from the British island of Guernsey who lived from 1792 to 1903. – Source
22. Rocky Marciano, the legendary boxer, had a fear of being “broke” and was obsessed with cash. He hid cash in various places, and his accountant couldn’t convince him of the concept of ‘checks’. Rocky gave away checks, sometimes as much as $50,000. He once traded a $5,000 check for $2,500 cash. – Source
23. In 2011, near Syracuse, N.Y., a man riding bareheaded in an anti-helmet law rally lost control of his cycle, went over his handlebars, hit his head on the pavement, and died. State troopers said he motorcyclist likely would have survived the accident if he’d been wearing a helmet. – Source
24. CIA had an instruction manual for U2 pilots describing what they could eat, so that didn’t have the urge to poop while on a mission, which often spanned around 9 hours. The plane had no means of disposing of the fecal matter. – Source
25. Alexander the Great encouraged his men to shave so that enemies couldn’t grab their beards during combat. – Source
