Here are 25 kickass random facts. For part 652, click here
1-5 Kickass Random Fact
1. In search of a new mathematical model to replace the decimal system, Gottfried Wilhelm von Liebniz read a 3000-year-old Chinese book “I Ching”. Fascinated by the simplicity of Yin and Yang, Liebniz used this philosophy to create the binary number system. – Source
2. Chemists have developed two plant-based plastic alternatives to the current fossil fuel-made plastics. Using chemical recycling instead of mechanical recycling, 96% of the initial material can be recovered. – Source
3. In 1995, a policy known as “the Wall” was created. It discouraged info sharing between the CIA and FBI, playing a critical role in the inability to stop 9/11. It got so bad agents played a CD with Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” into the phone as they were told their access was denied. – Source
4. Architect Alejandro Echeverri was approached by the mayor of Medellin, one of the most dangerous cities in the world, to revitalize the city. He focused on building in the poorest areas first to bring people and infrastructure into these neighborhoods. Crime dropped substantially. – Source
5. Eric Money is the only person to ever score for both teams in an NBA game. Due to an officiating error by a referee, an NBA game between the Sixers and Nets in 1978 had to be replayed beginning in the middle of the game. Money was traded from the Nets to the Sixers during the span between games. – Source
6-10 Kickass Random Facts
6. Jeremy Meeks’s mugshot was so hot that it got him a modeling contract while he was still in jail. He served 13 months in jail and walked into NY Fashion Week a year later. He also walked in Milan Fashion Week, helped to launch a fashion line, acted, & more. All within 5 years of his release. – Source
7. Florida had brought in 2 Irula tribesmen from India to catch the invasive Burmese pythons. When 1000 hunters were able to manage to catch just 106 snakes, the duo caught 27 snakes in just 4 weeks, including a 16 ft long female. – Source
8. Demi Moore was the highest-paid actress ever (at the time) in 1996, earning $12.5M for Striptease, which bombed at the box office and earned her a Golden Raspberry Award. She also was a producer for all 3 Austin Power movies. – Source
9. When the 1924 New York chess tournament players visited the Bronx zoo in between games, Polish grandmaster Saviely Tartakower consulted an Orangutan named Susan regarding the opening he should play the next day. He played 1.b4 in the game which later became known as the orangutan opening. – Source
10. Andreas Mihavecz holds the Guinness World Record for surviving the longest without any food or liquids, after being mistakenly brought into custody and forgotten about in his holding cell. – Source
11-15 Kickass Random Facts
11. Mario Andretti is the only driver ever to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, and the Formula One World Championship. – Source
12. Marine pilot Robert “Bob” Kingman used the propeller of his airplane to chop the wings of an enemy airplane in combat. Then safely landed his plane with a bent propeller and no fuel. – Source
13. Federico Castellucio, a.k.a Furio Gunta from The Sopranos, is an accomplished painter and discovered a misidentified 17th-century painting valued at $10 million, purchasing it for $68,000. – Source
14. Ted Bundy scored 39/40 on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist which is the highest recorded score of any serial killer. – Source
15. A large number of Japanese companies are owned by ‘Keiretsu’, mega conglomerates of companies historically run by families. One of these Keiretsu, Sumitomo Group, owns Mazda, NEC Corporation, and Nippon Steel, and traces its history back to a Copper Refining business started in 1615. – Source
