Here are 25 kickass random facts. For part 829, click here
1-5 Kickass Random Fact
1. Sublime’s debut album “40oz. to Freedom” was recorded in secrecy at the studios in California State University. The lead singer, Bradley Nowell, recalled how they would sneak in after closing time, stay there till 5:00 AM, hide from security, and manage to get $30k of studio time for free. – Source
2. Magnus Carlsen intentionally plays non-book “inaccuracies” during the opening (moves he knows aren’t the best), in order to force the game into a non-book position, so his opponents will have to think for themselves instead of going by memorized opening theory. – Source
3. When Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed for MLS club LA Galaxy, LeBron James sent him one of his Lakers jerseys as a “welcome to LA” gift. Zlatan’s response was to sign it and send it back. – Source
4. A depressed patient attempted suicide by gunshot to the head, destroying the part of the brain that may cause depression. Most of her depressive symptoms went away. – Source
5. Hot Cheetos and Takis burned up the snack world in 2012, with schools in several states banning the foods as unhealthy and disruptive while confiscating them on site. That sparked a black market at some schools, with Takis becoming an underground currency. – Source
6-10 Kickass Random Fact
6. In over 50 years, ‘In N Out’ has kept its menu essentially the same, with the exception of the “Secret Menu Hack” of Animal Styles fries or burgers that started in the ’60s. – Source
7. Japan’s Tobe Zoo conducts lion escape drills using a human in a lion costume. Due to Japan’s earthquake-prone location, these elaborate drills are crucial to prepare for emergencies. – Source
8. Piso Firme is a project which replaced dirt floors with concrete floors in Mexican slums. Changing the flooring, improved the residents’ health and happiness, but also their children’s communication and vocabularies. – Source
9. After the outlaw George Parrott was executed in 1881, his skull was used as an ashtray, and his skin was made into a pair of shoes and a medicine bag. The doctor who performed the autopsy later became Governor of Wyoming and wore the shoes to his inaugural ball. – Source
10. Bodies of victims from Pompeii’s Vesuvius eruption didn’t turn to stone. Rather, their bodies were enveloped in debris that hardened. The bodies decayed, leaving hollow cavities. During the first excavations, these cavities were filled with a plaster-like material, creating detailed replicas. – Source
11-15 Kickass Random Fact
11. The Earliest known “Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce” was from 1844. Tomatoes, native to Peru, were considered too “exotic” for Italian tastes for almost 300 years. They were initially called “Pomidoro” meaning “golden apple” referring to the yellow color variety introduced to Italians in the 1500s. – Source
12. Australia is moving North at a rate of 2.7 inches per year, since 1994 it has moved over 5 feet. – Source
13. The feeling of being awake when you’re actually sleeping is a disorder called paradoxical insomnia and the reason for it is unclear. – Source
14. Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have a son together named River Phoenix. The couple named him after Joaquin’s late brother who passed away on 31 October 1993. – Source
15. The OSS (the precursor to the CIA) had a psychological report of Hitler made by psychologist Walter C. Langer between 1943 – 1944. It is most notable for making several accurate predictions on Hitler’s future, including his attempted assassination, his refusal to surrender, and his suicide. – Source
