Ten Random Facts

Louis Jaques Mandé Daguerre agreed with the French government to disclose his secret photographic process to the public in exchange for an annual pension of 6000 francs.
Inventions

The Beach Boys formed in 1961.
Entertainment » Music

The blue whale's blow can reach over 59 feet (12 m) in height, the highest of all cetaceans.
Animals

A galaxy of typical size – about 100 billion suns – produces less energy than a single quasar.
Space

If one were to unravel the entire human alimentary canal (esophagus, stomach, large and small intestines), it would reach the height of a three-story building.
People

According to international definition, fog occurs when visibility is 600 feet or less. Visibility in mist may extend up to 3,000 feet.
Environment

Centipedes, or members of the class Chilopoda, always have an uneven number of pairs of walking legs, varying from 15 to more than 171 pairs. Common house centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrato) have 15 pairs of legs.
Animals » Insects

A cat's meow in Japanese is described as nyan-nyan or nyaa-nyaa.
Words and Numbers

India ink (sometimes called "Chinese ink") was not known until recently in either China or India.
Words and Numbers

Clint Eastwood was 41 years old when he debuted in the role of maverick Det. "Dirty" Harry Calahan in the action film "Dirty Harry" (1971). Reportedly, the part had been turned down by Paul Newman, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Frank Sinatra. Eastwood insisted on performing his own action stunts, including the famous scene where he jumped from a bridge to the roof of a moving school bus.
Entertainment » Movies

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