In the 1980s there was a persistent rumour in the UK that McDonald’s was funding the Irish Republican Army. This was ultimately traced back to a U.S. talkshow where the company was praised for its generosity in funding Individual Retirement Accounts.
Author: Weirdo
There was a mysterious culture…
There was a mysterious culture in Eastern Europe between 5,500 to 2,700 BC which constructed sophisticated, organized, densely-populated settlements – only to burn them to the ground every 60-80 years to rebuild the same settlement as before.
The Austrian town of Salzberg…
The Austrian town of Salzberg initally refused Nazi flags to be hung off buildings for the filming of The Sound of Music. When the director threatened to use real archival footage of the city enthusiastically greeting Hitler, they quickly changed their mind and allowed it.
Nicholas II, last Tzar of Russia…
Nicholas II, last Tzar of Russia, had a Japanese tattoo of a “dragon with a black body, yellow horns, a red belly and green paws.” He got it on a trip to Japan. Later he was attacked by “Sanzo, a former samurai who fought in the Satsuma Rebellion.” All this before the Russo-Japanese War.
In the wake of Hurricane Dorian…
In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, a Celebrity cruise ship rerouted to deliver food, water and aid to survivors in the Bahamas. Kitchen staff made around 10,000 meals & guests volunteered to pack them.
Marilyn Monroe once walked around…
Marilyn Monroe once walked around New York City in broad daylight with nobody noticing her. She asked her companions “do you want to see her?” When they said “yes”, she changed her walk, speech, and posture, and strangers who previously ignored her realized who she was.
In 1971, burglars broke into…
In 1971, burglars broke into an FBI office by writing a note that said “Please don’t lock this door tonight” and plastering it onto the front door. It worked and they stole several files.
A German soldier, Artur Fischer,…
A German soldier, Artur Fischer, survived Stalingrad on the last plane out. After the war, he went on to invent many ubiquitous items such as the synchronized camera flash and the plastic wall anchor, and held over 1100 patents before dying at age 96.
Dave Thomas, the founder of the successful…
Dave Thomas, the founder of the successful fast food chain, Wendy’s, worked at KFC prior to Wendy’s and was responsible for the red and white striped chicken bucket design.
During his time with Colonel Sanders, Dave worked tirelessly to help create brand recognition, understanding that the more the customer believed in your brand, the more loyal they would be to your business. Dave recommended that KFC trim down their menu so that the company could focus on a signature dish that would distinguish them against their competitors. He also thought up the red-and-white-striped chicken bucket and the revolving sign designed to look like the bucket. He pressed the Colonel to appear in more commercials for the brand, believing that if the consumer knew and could relate to him, they would be more likely to develop an affinity for the brand.
After Lawrence’s pistols misfired, during Andrew Jackson…
After Lawrence’s pistols misfired, during Andrew Jackson’s assassination attempt, Jackson credited divine providence with intervening on his behalf. A century later, both pistols were tested and fired at the first shot. The odds that both would misfire was estimated to be about 1 in 125,000.