15 Bizarre Facts About James Blunt, Elf, And The Black Death's Silver Lining
![15 Bizarre Facts About James Blunt, Elf, And The Black Death's Silver Lining](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/8/3/877383_320x180.jpg)
We all know the platypus is weird, but did you know they're one of few mammals that lay eggs? And not only are they weirder than most animals, their venom is also some of the most dangerous out there. With 80 different toxins, it's no wonder this animal is considered to be such a threat. Switching for a moment to history, burning at the stake may seem like something from medieval times, but it's actually been around for much longer than that. This method of execution has roots in ancient Babylonia and Israel and was used well into more recent years. Bags of gunpowder were sometimes tied around victims' necks in an attempt to shorten their suffering before setting them ablaze. And back in the present, in 2008, an auto parts manufacturer had to recall 37 million vehicles due to faulty airbags prone to exploding and shooting shrapnel-like material at drivers and passengers alike. Thankfully, they have since fixed the problem so you can drive without worry… for now.
The US bombed Laos 8 times a minute for 9 years.
![Laos is the most heavily bombed nation in history. USAF GRACKED.COM The US secretly dropped an average of 8 bombs a min- ute for 9 years during the Vietnam war. Almost $200 million was spent over the last 25 years to remove un- exploded ordnance.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/8/877398.jpg)
Silicon Valley Rick Rolled us without us knowing.
![There was a Rick Roll hidden in Silicon Valley. CRACKED.COM In Silicon Valley, Gilfoyle hacks a smart fridge and this code is displayed. In the code is the URL for the music video of Rick Ast- ley's Never Gonna Give you up on YouTube.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/9/877399.jpg)
James Blunt sold Emily Blunt on eBay.
![James Blunt sold his sister on eBay as a damsel in distress. GRACKED.COM James sold his sister Emily when she could not find a ride to a fu- neral. She ended up marrying the man who won the auction.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/0/0/877400.jpg)
Some of “Elf” was filmed in a psychiatric hospital.
![Many of the scenes in Elf were filmed at an abandoned psychiatric hospital in Vancouver. CRACKED.COM In the '50s, Riverview Hospital was home to more than 4,000 ра- tients. The X Files, Super- natural, Saw, Deadpool 2, and many others have filmed scenes on the site.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/6/877396.jpg)
Use water to swallow pills.
![Swallowing pills without water can make it take longer for them to work. SL NO. sd Magnes CRACKED.COM It also increases the chance of the pill to get stuck in your esophagus, and in worse scenarios make an ulcer in your esoph- agus mucosa.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/4/877394.jpg)
A plague in Europe was the beginning of a worker revolution, just remember that.
![The Black Death was responsible for the beginning of the end of European Feudalism. CRACKED.COM As there were fewer work- ers, their lords were forced to pay higher wages. With higher wages, there were fewer restrictions on trav- el. Eventually, this would lead to a trade class/mid- dle class.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/7/877397.jpg)
An argument over wine at Oxford ended with 93 people dead.
![A three day riot at Oxford University over wine killed 93 people in 1335. CRACKED.COM Two Oxford students com- plained to the bartender of the Swindlestock Tavern about the quality of wine served, and the argument spiraled into a brawl that killed 30 townsfolk and 63 university members.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/5/877395.jpg)
Radar detectors can detect detectors that detect detectors.
![Consumer radar detectors can have a detector to detect radar detector detectors. FUZZBUSTER® 2000 Superhet electrolert.inc. GRACKED.COM When drivers began using radar detectors, police forces began purchasing radar detector detectors, which led to manufacturers adding radar detector de- tector detector circuits to their devices.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/3/877393.jpg)
Humans are not top of the food chain, not even close.
![Human's place on the food chain is a mere 2.2 on a 1-5 scale. CRACKED.COM Apex predators such as lions and great white sharks have a trophic level of 5. Hu- mans rank even with pigs and anchovies.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/1/877391.jpg)
A couple in California found buried gold in their yard.
![In 2013, a California couple discovered a trove of gold coins in their backyard. 20 TTINGOUD U366 virzorland EEU Natizzori CO 8365 oars LASTERREIC asics 2402 37461 oor Fine G and DESSELT 1KILD Switzerbal ILO 1K Fine old AEUSSAY OR RINGS AMERICA GUY adidas CRACKED COF 40g witze Tucked away in eight buried cans were 1,427 rare mint-condition coins dating from 1847 to 1894. A rare coin expert who represents the finders appraised the U.S. coins at $11 million.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/0/877390.jpg)
Palau requires tourists to take an “eco-pledge.”
![Palau, in Oceania, is the first country to require tourists to take an eco-pledge. CRACKED.COM The government of Palau requires all tourists enter- ing to sign a pledge stamped on their passport promising to be environ- mentally conscious and tread lightly, act kindly, and explore mindfully.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/9/2/877392.jpg)
Someone may have illegally dug up artifacts to give to a museum.
![The National Museum of Ireland in Dublin believes it was gifted stolen artifacts. GRACKED.COM In 2016, an anonymous donor sent two Bronze Age axes and two piec- es of rare Viking jewel- ry to the museum, which may have been illegally excavated.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/8/9/877389.jpg)
An auto parts manufacturer made faulty airbags that shot shrapnel at drivers.
![Airbags in 37 million vehicles had to be recalled by an auto parts manufacturer in 2008. -PAIS CRACKED.COM Faulty inflators in Takata airbags ex- ploded and shot shrapnel-like materi- al at the vehicle's ос- cupants.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/8/8/877388.jpg)
Burning at the stake has been a thing for a long, long time.
![Burning at the stake as a method of execution has been practiced since Babylonia and ancient Israel. CRACKED.COM Bags of gunpowder were sometimes tied around the victim's necks, or they were hanged with a metal chain, to shorten their suffering.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/8/7/877387.jpg)
The platypus is weird as heck.
![The duck-billed platypus has a gene mix of birds, reptiles, and mammals and genetically has 25 possible sexes. GRACKED.COM The Platypus is one of the few mammals that lay eggs. They lactate but have no nipples, hunt via electricity, and their ven- om has 80 different kinds of toxins.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/3/8/6/877386.jpg)