Deceased Thomas Trobaugh was included as a coauthor of a 1990 math paper after he appeared in a dream to explain some of the key ideas to the other author. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: 1990-thomason.pdf (gwern.net)
People
Fun facts about people in history and other weird celebrity facts!
WTF Fun Fact – Superbike Racer Celebrates Too Early
In late 2020, superbike racer Andre Verissimo lost first place at the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna after celebrating his victory before crossing the finish line. He ultimately finished in third place. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Superbike Racer Celebrates Too Early And Ends Up In Third Place (sportbible.com)
WTF Fun Fact – Canadian Fills Potholes Himself
In 2019, John McCue, a 22-yr-old Canadian man, took it upon himself to fill potholes with a sign: “I filled the potholes. Pay me instead of your taxes.” Drivers gave him cash, coffee, and joints for his efforts. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Stellarton man handed cash, coffee, cannabis for filling potholes | CBC News
WTF Fun Fact – Billionaire Plans To Bury Bentley
Eccentric Brazilian billionaire Chiquinho Scarpa announced his plans to bury a $500k Bentley so he could drive it in the afterlife. After incredible outrage at his wastefulness, he announced on the day of the burial to the media that it was a prank to get everyone to become an organ donor. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Florida Man Donald Watts
Florida resident Donald Watts was found by police rolling naked in a muddy ditch while making bird noises. After using 2 stun guns with no effect, officers called for a K9 backup which Watts imitated and managed to bite before finally being subdued and arrested. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Florida Man, Nude and Covered in Mud, Arrested for Biting Police Dog (newsweek.com)
WTF Fun Fact – Longest Abdominal Plank
In early 2020, George Hood, a 62-year-old ex-marine, set the world record for the longest abdominal plank, holding the position for 8 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: New planking world record set by 62-year-old former Marine – CNN
WTF Fun Fact – Blibber-Blubber
In 1906, Frank H. Fleer developed the first chewing gum “Blibber-Blubber”. It was never marketed because it was brittle and sticky and bubbles splattered when burst that required solvent to remove the splatters. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Blibber-Blubber – Wikipedia
WTF Fun Fact – Emergency Backup Goalie Wins
David Ayres, a 42-year-old ex-junior goalie and Zamboni driver, filled in as the emergency backup goalie in the Carolina Hurricanes’ win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb 2, 2020. The Hurricanes lost two goalies to injury leading to Ayres being called into action. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – A Glass Box With 6000 Scorpions
In 2004, A Malaysian women spent over a month in a glass box at a shopping mall with over 6,000 scorpions. She was only stung 7 times. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3675556.stm
WTF Fun Fact – Nixon Smuggled Satchmo’s Weed
In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon unknowingly carried Louis Armstrong’s suitcase containing 3 pounds of marijuana through US customs at Idlewild Airport in New York.
Source: Nixon Unknowingly ‘Muled’ for Pot Smuggling Louis Armstrong? (niagarafallsreporter.com)
WTF Fun Fact – Maurice Micklewhite Now Michael Caine
In 2016, British actor Michael Caine, born Maurice Micklewhite, legally changed his name to his stage name after he got sick of the continuous hassle at the airport because security knew him only as Michael Caine. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: My name is Michael Caine … actor changes name due to Isis | Michael Caine | The Guardian
WTF Fun Fact – Astronaut And Musician Chris Hadfield
Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian astronaut to walk in space, was also the first to release an album (Space Sessions: Songs From A Tin Can) which was recorded primarily in orbit. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – World’s Rarest Autograph
Shakespeare’s signature is one of the world’s rarest autographs in existence. There are only six known autographs on only 4 documents – all currently in museums. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The world’s rarest autograph (paulfrasercollectibles.com)
WTF Fun Fact – 100 Years Of Prince Albums
Deceased musical artist Prince had enough unreleased music stored in his vault to output an album every year for the next century. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Take a look inside Prince’s underground bank vault full of unreleased music | Consequence of Sound
WTF Fun Fact – Masana Izawa
Since 1974, Masana Izawa has been defecating outdoors after getting engaged in a brawl to stop a waste treatment plant from being built. He as only used a toilet 14 times since then. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: This Man Has Been Pooping Outdoors for 45 Years in Order to Save Nature (news18.com)
WTF Fun Fact – Craft Beer Opening
On October 14, 1978, Jimmy Carter signed the bill H.R. 1337 which created an exemption from taxation of beer brewed at home for personal or family use, which opened the door for today’s craft beer brewers. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: How Jimmy Carter Sparked the Craft Beer Revolution (kegworks.com)
WTF Fun Fact – Wealthy Ben Franklin
In 1785, Benjamin Franklin was the richest person in the United States. Adjusted for inflation, he is also among the richest Americans ever. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://medium.com/mba-asap/15-quotes-by-ben-franklin-f5f613e6fd71
WTF Fun Fact – Charles Lightoller
Charles Lightoller survived his first shipwreck at age 15 and later survived the Titanic. During WWI he sank a German U-boat by ramming it. Using his private boat, he rescued over 100 men from the beaches of Dunkirk during WWII. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The Second Officer who survived Titanic and saved 130 lives at Dunkirk | Sky HISTORY TV Channel