TASER is actually an acronym for Tom A. Swift Electric Rifle. The Tom Swift is in reference to a book character that is an inventor of amazing gadgets, who was a childhood favorite of the Taser’s inventor Jack Cover. – WTF Fun Facts
People
Fun facts about people in history and other weird celebrity facts!
WTF Fun Fact – Cheaters Never Prosper
In 2005, a Chinese lottery ticket seller discovered he could still buy lottery tickets a couple minutes after the winning numbers were announced. He defrauded the lottery of 28 million yuan (~$4 million) before being caught and sentenced to life in prison. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan
A poor 19th century Chinese man failed the civil service exam, fell ill, reread a Christian pamphlet he had earlier ignored, and dreamed that he was Jesus’ brother. He led a cult/rebellion that conquered much of southern China, crowning himself as “Heavenly King.” – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Hong Xiuquan – Wikipedia
WTF Fun Fact – Long Speech Short Reign
The longest US presidential inauguration speech was made by William Henry Harrison at 8,445 words. The speech was so long, and the weather so awful, that Harrison caught pneumonia and died on April 4th, making him the shortest reigning US president ever. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Harrison
WTF Fun Fact – Michael Buble Fired From The X-Files
Michael Bublé, while working as an extra, was fired from the set of The X-Files for stealing a hot dog from craft services table. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The Hilarious Reason Michael Buble Was Fired From The X-Files – CINEMABLEND
WTF Fun Fact – Jack White Saves Masonic Temple
The largest Masonic Temple in the world, the Detroit Masonic Temple, was saved from foreclosure in 2013 by Jack White of the White Stripes. He paid off $142,000 owed in back taxes since they gave his mother a job when she was in need. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Masonic_Temple
WTF Fun Fact – Portable Dialysis Machine
17-year-old Canadian Anya Pogharian invented a portable dialysis machine which cost $500 to build as part of her high school science fair project. A dialysis machine typically costs about $30,000. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Anya Pogharian, Montreal teen inventor, takes portable dialysis machine to the world | CBC News
WTF Fun Fact – Wizard Of Wikipedia Steven Pruitt
As of February 2021, Steven Pruitt has made over 4 million edits to Wikipedia’s English content and 35k original articles under the alias “Ser Amantio di Nicolao”. He was named one of the 25 most important influencers on the Internet by Time magazine in 2017. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Steven Pruitt – Wikipedia
WTF Fun Fact – David Beckham’s Leg Insurance
In 2006, David Beckham took out an insurance policy for his legs and looks for £100 million. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Going Out On A Limb – Lloyd’s
WTF Fun Fact – Hats Stop Radio Coverage For Kings Wedding
In 1923, the Archbishop of Canterbury vetoed live radio coverage of King George VI’s wedding, fearing men in pubs would listen while still wearing their hats. Instead, a silent newsreel was shown in cinemas worldwide. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Galileo’s Fingers On Display
After being sold at auction, astronomer Galileo’s tooth, thumb and middle finger are now on display along with a third finger at the Galileo Museum in Florence. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Galileo’s fingers to be displayed in Florence science museum | Museums | The Guardian
WTF Fun Fact – Underwater Periscope
In the 1930’s, Dorothy Beck used an underwater periscope to sketch fish as she travelled around the world. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Chris “Fenderman” Black
In 1995, Chris “Fenderman” Black married his Fender Stratocaster guitar that he purchased 35 years prior. He did so after his actual wife joked that he spent so much time with it that he should marry it. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.deseret.com/1995/6/1/19215651/wife-fumes-as-briton-weds-object-of-desire
WTF Fun Fact – White House Correspondent’s Dinner Men Only
The White House Correspondent’s Dinner was for men only until 1962, when JFK refused to attend unless women did. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Twins As Prime Minister & President
Between 2006 and 2007, Poland’s prime minister and president were identical twin brothers, making them the first brothers in history to hold a country’s prime ministership and presidency at the same time.. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Hero Taylor Winston
29-yr-old Marine veteran Taylor Winston stole a truck to drive victims of the Las Vegas shooting to the hospital. He and his girlfriend made 2 trips picking the most critically injured each time after helping boost others over a fence away from the shooter. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: How a Marine vet saved 2 dozen lives during the Las Vegas shooting (businessinsider.com)
WTF Fun Fact – Umm Nyolokh
The Humr people of Sudan consume Umm Nyolokh, a drink made from the liver and bone marrow of giraffes which is believed to contain traces of the psychodelic drug DMT . The Humr people tell of hallucinations of giraffes after drinking Umm Nyolokh. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Elderly Crime In Japan
Many elderly Japanese are committing petty crimes in order to get free shelter and food. Twenty percent of crimes are committed by someone over age 65. Of the 2,500 over-65s convicted in 2016, more than 1/3rd had at least five previous convictions. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Why some Japanese pensioners want to go to jail – BBC News