Fact of the day thread

[Pete]

Today’s fact. In 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans hockey team became the first American team to win the Stanley Cup.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. A 21-year-old man from Arizona saved a woman's life using CPR he learned watching an episode of The Office.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. In 1974, the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis published a paper titled "The Unsuccessful Self-Treatment of a Case of 'Writer’s Block.'" It contained a total of zero words.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. Ornithologists often use Cheetos to study behavior in crows. Along with being easy to spot because of their bright orange color, they’re also one of a crow’s favorite treats.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. Forrest Mars, the creator of Peanut M&M's, was allergic to peanuts

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. In a 2004 episode of Sesame Street, Cookie Monster revealed that before he started eating cookies his name was Sid.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. One of the world's largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons is located at a U.S. Navy base near Seattle, which is partially defended by trained dolphins.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. Boring, Oregon and Dull, Scotland have been sister cities since 2012. In 2017, they added Bland Shire, Australia to their “League of Extraordinary Communities.”

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. The Truman Show Delusion is a mental condition marked by a patient’s belief that they are the star of an imaginary reality show.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. When Americans moved out of one house and into another in the early 20th century, they would burn all their old dishcloths so that none of the bad energy that had been wiped up in the old house would move with them into their new abode.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. In the 1920s and ‘30s, many movie theaters had signs instructing ladies to "Please Remove Your Hats” to keep their elaborate headwear from blocking anyone's view.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. The Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships are held in Finland. A recent winner said he prepared for the event by “mainly drinking.”

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. A newborn blue whale gains about 200 pounds a day during its first year.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. China owns all of the pandas in the world. They rent them out for about $1 million a year.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. Johnny Carson’s first three wives were named, in order, Joan, Joanne, and Joanna. (His first wife went by “Jody.”)

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. The Vatican Bank is the world’s only bank that allows ATM users perform transactions in Latin.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. Weird Al Yankovic wrote his parody song “The Saga Begins” before Star Wars: Episode I was released. LucasFilm denied his request to see it early, so he relied on internet spoilers for plot details

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima for work when the first A-bomb hit, made it home to Nagasaki for the second, and lived to be 93.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. There's a five-story, blood-red waterfall in Antarctica.

 

[Pete]

Today’s fact. In 1897, Indiana state legislators tried to pass a bill that would have legally redefined the value of pi as 3.2.