1. Most American movie villains have British accents because we associate them with having high intellect and low morals.
Hannibal Lecter! Scar! The Trunchbull! If you’ve ever noticed that the best villains have British accents — especially in movies where no one else has one — here’s why: The Queen’s English has been shown in studies to be associated with people who are “more educated, intelligent, competent, physically attractive, and generally of a higher socioeconomic class.” That’s all fine and good, BUT that accent also sounds “less trustworthy, kind, sincere, and friendly than speakers of non-RP accents.” Add to that the fact that having a different accent makes someone sound like an outsider, and it starts to make perfect sense why practically all movie villains are British.
2. Millions of years ago, Earth was covered with giant mushrooms instead of tall trees.
It sounds like something out of a Dr. Seuss novel, but around 420 to 350 million years ago, trees were just a few feet tall, but mushrooms were 24 feet tall and three feet wide!!! Imagine all of the raviolis you could make with those bad boys.
3. Mother’s Day was quite literally invented to be anti-commercialism.
Anna Jarvis, the inventor of Mother’s Day, intended for the day to be about honoring moms — she wanted children to visit their mothers, or at least write to them, and for everyone to “live this day as your mother would have you live it.” She hated how the floral, candy, and greeting card industries tried to capitalize on the holiday she created; at one point, she reportedly had 33 Mother’s Day-related lawsuits pending, and even endorsed boycotts of florists who raised the price of carnations for the holiday. “I want to tell you that you are using a beautiful idea as a means of profiteering,” Anna Jarvis, the inventor of Mother’s Day, once told a gathering of candy retailers. “Mother’s Day was not intended to be a source of commercial profit.”
….do not use this as an excuse if you forget to send your mom flowers on Mother’s Day.
4. There’s a sexual phenomenon named after President Calvin Coolidge, of all people.
The Coolidge Effect, as it’s called, is when a male who is uninterested in sexual activity with one female is suddenly interested in sexual activity when presented with a new female. Now, “Silent Cal,” as he’s often called, isn’t often thought of as one of the more sensual presidents, but a visit to a chicken farm with his wife Grace spawned the medical phenomenon. According to a popular anecdote, Mrs. Coolidge noticed that that a rooster was mating with hen after hen. She asked the attendant to point out the rooster’s vigor and prowess to her husband, and when it was brought to his attention, the president said, “Tell Mrs. Coolidge that there is more than one hen.” Calvin!!
5. The logo for Chupa Chups was designed by none other than Salvador Dalí.
Designing a logo for a lollipop certainly wasn’t beneath one of the most famous painters of the 20th century. Turns out, the surrealist was pals with Enric Bernat, the founder of Chupa Chups, and got to work designing the logo when Bernat complained about his troubles branding his candy. Dalí did his friend a solid, doodling on newspapers for an hour before coming up with the fanciful script design the company is still known for today.
6. Modern thong underwear was introduced by Fiorello LaGuardia, the mayor of New York City.
Yes, the LaGuardia that the airport is named after. Thongs as a concept were old hat by the time he got involved in 1939 — they were highly present in Ancient Greece, Rome, and other cultures — but the mayor is recognized as the man responsible for bringing them into the mainstream. That year, he ordered all nude dancers in New York City to cover up during the World’s Fair to make the city seem a little more classy. Thanks to his demand, g-string thongs were invented, and underwear as we know it has never been the same.
7. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, has so many cats on its grounds that it employs a “Press Secretary to the Cats.”
The 70 stray cats at the famed museum were “hired” to control the mice population and prevent them from chewing on the artwork. The press secretary is an honorary additional title for the current personal assistant to the museum’s director.
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WAIT, DON’T GO ANYWHERE!!! Which of these facts did you find the most interesting?!
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British people sound evil.
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Giant mushrooms!?!?!?
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Mother’s Day wasn’t supposed to be commercialized.
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Calvin Coolidge was sexy.
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Salvador Dalí designed the Chupa Chups logo.
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Thongs.
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CAT PRESS SECRETARY!!!!!
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7 Random Facts You’ve Probably Never Heard Before
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