15 Bits Of Trivia About Alan Rickman, Endangered Nuns, And A Phantom Volcano
![15 Bits Of Trivia About Alan Rickman, Endangered Nuns, And A Phantom Volcano](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/4/3/8/887438_320x180.jpg)
Ah, the wonders of the world! So. so much to learn, so much to explore. From the heights of the highest mountains to the depths of the deepest oceans, our world is filled with fascinating facts and stories.
Today, we look to the past and present to bring you a collection of curious tales from around the globe. From MLK Day to Christianity, Joe Jackson to Hans Gruber, 70% Isopropyl Alcohol to Hattie McDaniel, the eruption of October 10th 1465 to Michigan's safety from natural disasters, the Hyundai and Kia Motors America whistleblower award to the Boston Strangler, smiling across cultures to kosher salt, cursive writing to Caligula's war on the sea, and Andrew Bedwell's attempt to break a sailing record with Red Bull, we have something for everyone.
So, settle in and get ready for a journey through the strange and unusual. Who knows what you'll learn along the way!
Red Bull: inspiring Andrew's dreams, but not more.
![CRACKED RED BULL TURNED DOWN A MAD ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC. Andrew Bedwell attempted to break the record for sailing the smallest boat across the Atlantic. His boat, Big C, is only 3.2 feet long. Не looked for sponsors, but Red Bull said no, calling it inspirational, but mad.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/6/1/887061.jpg)
Caligula conquered the sea.
![CRACKED CALIGULA'S WAR ON THE SEA. Caligula declared war on the sea in 40 CE, and commanded his soldiers to gather seashells, promising a reward of one hundred denarii each.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/6/0/887060.jpg)
Back to the basics: 14 states require cursive for motor skills development.
![CRACKED were LESS THAN HALF OF US STATES MANDATE CURSIVE WRITING. Many schools dropped handwriting and cursive writing when the Common Core State Standards didn't require it, but now 14 states have laws that make teaching cursive writing mandatory. Advocates say it's important for fine motor skills.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/4/887054.jpg)
Salt with a purpose: Koshering up meat in a jiffy.
![CRACKED KOSHER SALT IS CHEMICALLY SUPERIOR. Kosher salt got its name from its use in Jewish butchery. The big grains draw moisture from meat faster, part of preparing it to eat. It's not from any special salt mines or minerals; it's been used for its effectiveness in koshering meat.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/3/887053.jpg)
Smiling
![CRACKED SMILES CAN BE DECEIVING IN SOME PLACES. Smiling varies in how it's seen across cultures - sometimes seen as positive, other times seen as a sign of less intelligence. Also, when corruption is high, people don't trust those who smile.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/9/887059.jpg)
Rep. Tom Moore commends the Boston Strangler... for his 'kindness'.
![CRACKED - paisonge3 - with I SALVARY LAUZIN - A TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE COMMENDED THE BOSTON STRANGLER. In 1971, Rep. Moore pranked the Texas House of Representatives with a resolution praising the Boston Strangler. It said he helped the weak and lonely and was recognized by MA for his techniques with psychology and population control.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/1/887051.jpg)
Michigan
![CRACKED MICHIGAN: NO HURRICANES, TORNADOES, OR EARTHQUAKES HERE! Michigan is incredibly safe, shielded from natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Past quakes and twisters haven't been as bad as other states.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/4/7/887047.jpg)
Hyundai and Kia Motors America
![CRACKED WHISTLEBLOWERS GET $24 MILLION. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a record-breaking $24 million whistleblower award in connection with info about Hyundai and Kia Motors America. It's the max allowed by law out of the $81 million the US collected.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/4/9/887049.jpg)
Nature's atomic bomb: 2.2 million times stronger than man's.
![CRACKED THE MISSING VOLCANO. On October 10th, 1465, a huge eruption happened that stumped geologists for years. It was equivalent to 2.2 million atomic bombs, and left sulfuric acid from Antarctica to Greenland (but they can't find the volcano that caused it).](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/7/887057.jpg)
History made, but not in Hollywood Forever.
![CRACKED HATTIE MCDANIEL WAS HONORED (AND SHUNNED) BY HOLLYWOOD. Hattie McDaniel made history when she won an Oscar for Gone with the Wind, but wasn't allowed to be buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery because of her race.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/2/887052.jpg)
Alcohol with benefits: 70% isopropyl.
![CRACKED HIGHER ALCOHOL CONTENT ACTUALLY DISINFECTS LESS EFFECTIVELY. Rubbing alcohol is 70% or 99% isopropyl. Experts recommend 70% for disinfecting, because it contains more water, which kills bacteria. Higher than 80%-85% doesn't disinfect as well.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/5/887055.jpg)
One audition changed Rickman's life forever.
![CRACKED HANS GRUBER IN DIE HARD Alan Rickman was unsure about acting in films, but producer Joel Silver got him to audition for Hans Gruber in Die Hard. That jumpstarted his film career, even though he was in his 40s.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/8/887058.jpg)
An unorthodox parenting style, to say the least.
![CRACKED JOE JACKSON'S BIZARRE THREAT. Joe Jackson was dad to music icons The Jackson 5, Michael and Janet. Не fostered their careers, but also was verbally harsh, even threatening to drop them like a hot potato if they stopped singing. Michael never forgot that.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/4/8/887048.jpg)
Faith fades fast.
![CRACKED NUNS ARE A DYING BREED. Christian numbers in America have dropped a lot in the past 10 years. Catholic sisters are facing big trouble because hardly any are under 40. The average sister is 80.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/6/887056.jpg)
One dream: peace and brotherhood.
![CRACKED MLK DAY IS CELEBRATED IN JAPAN King's anti-nuclear activism and his wish to visit Japan to spread peace and brotherhood are remembered every year in Hiroshima.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/0/5/0/887050.jpg)