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Most of us have a small Ravenclaw inside of us, and we adore learning new things about the world, especially if they’re random facts that completely blow our minds. A lot of us are still spending loads of time working and studying from home, which leaves plenty of time for random browsing—so we’re picking up semi-useless but fun new facts about the world every day.

Like the fact the American Gothic painting shows a farmer and his daughter, not his wife. Or how Gandalf carries his pipe in his staff.

You’re probably aware of the ‘I was today years old’ jokes that people post online when they want to share something weird that they just learned with everyone. Well, these jokes have made a resurgence during the coronavirus lockdown, and there are plenty of new ones to make our jaws drop. 

Bored Panda has collected some of the best ‘I was today years old’ moments for you to enjoy (and to have random cool facts to drop during your next Zoom cocktail party), so scroll down for some truly weird facts that are true and don’t forget to upvote your faves.

#2

todayyearsoldig tweets about KFC, and picture of KFC owner with person on his back

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kitty.boom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read about it years ago, but didn't know they sent him a painting. That's cool and sweet too!

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#4

_youhadonejob1 tweets about screwdriver handles and picture of person using screwdriver

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This typically is not the best idea, though. Rather use a socket wrench with bits and operate it really carefully. Using special oils to loosen a screw firstbor to de-rust it can also help. Merr mere force likely destroy the screw!

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#5

soapachu tweets about aubergines and picture of aubergines

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glowworm2
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know that because I'm more familiar with the purple kind in the stores. I didn't know that that's how they grow. BTW, this is the white version. The purple version starts out purple from the beginning.

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New Fact For Dog Lovers

So, since we’re talking about random facts today, let’s share some other cool ones, shall we? For instance, did you know that one study found that dogs prefer to align themselves “along the North-South axis under calm magnetic field conditions” when they have to go number two? Researchers studied 70 dogs over two years, and this was the first time that magnetic sensitivity was proven in dogs. Science is weird and wonderful.

#7

sassycrass tweets about measles completely erases body's immunological memory

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Ani Archeron
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Measles targets memory cells?? Thanks to every scientist who ever put an ounce of thought into creating that life-saving vaccine.

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Old Weird Fact That Is True

Another brain-melting fact is that there were fewer than 1.5k people living in Central Europe for significant periods of time during the Stone Age. Yeah, that sounds unbelievable. IFL Science made a great analogy about how you could fit all those people on a modern mid-sized cruise ship.

#11

Shxperienced tweets about buttload and picture of wine barrels

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The English are unchallenged in having absurd units of measurement.

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#12

bakbakbakkerr tweets about turtles and picture of turtle inside

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Not-so-MadMax
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh god, they really should talk to the people making cartoons. I have been gravely misinformed in my youth...

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A Modern, But Random, Cool Fact

Speaking of modern times, if you’ve ever complained about TV ads being too long, just wait until you realize that Old Spice made a 14-hour promo. Their ad ran on December 18, 2018, in São Paulo, Brazil, and won the Guinness World Record for the longest TV ad ever. You can find the abridged version right here (don’t worry, it’s just over 3 minutes, not 3 hours long).

#17

ThatEricAlper tweets about American Gothic and portrait of farmer and his daughter

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chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The painter's sister Nan who modelled as the woman in the paintintg, perhaps embarrassed about being depicted as the wife of a man twice her age (modelled by a dentist), started telling people that Wood had envisioned the couple as father and daughter, not husband and wife. The painter Grant Wood himself remained vague on this point.

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#20

bryan_spoon tweets about why you don't park in front of fire hydrants and picture of car near fire hydrant

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chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not parking in front of a fire hydrant should be common sense.

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Sweetie Dahling
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...I grew up without these and had to learn to be mindful of them when I moved to another country. Not to say that this person wasn't just being an a*****e....but sometimes outwardly a*****e-y behaviour is just the result of obliviousness

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Shart
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And its totally legal for the fire dept to do this

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Spikey Bunny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolutely! I told my children this long before they were learning to drive... I wanted them to remember

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varwenea
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry to be rude, but it's just dumb that anyone did not already understand this.

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Rissie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not why you don't park in front of a fire hydrant. You don't park in front of a fire hydrant to prevent firemen have to perform an extra task by having to do this and to give them ample access to one... Now you might have finally realized fire hoses are not garden hoses. Sure.

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NMN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder what was the reason the person thought it was before seeing that. Like, seriously, access to the hydrant, what other reason s/he might have thought?

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Denise Mclean
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They had none. The man grew up without them. I think the problem is that people scan read too much and then believe what they want to have heard.

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Stille20
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You shouldn't do it because it impedes access and wastes time. They punch it through your window because they are making a point.. and because they can.

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Tim Douglass
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually they punch through your window because that large supply line doesn't bend much. The intent of having the large outlet on the street side (there are smaller ones on the other sides) is so the FD can use a short, straight line right to the pumper parked in front of the hydrant.

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Ben Smith
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How dumb are you? What do you think happened? The fire department just shrugs and says, “oh well, I guess we let it burn.”

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Yeah, you heard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not everyone would know not to park there; not every country has fire hydrants. Or peiple may think a hose can go over their car in an emergency.

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Johnny
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's also the reason firetrucks have that nice big bumper on the front -- if they can't get the hose through your car, they'll just push it away. Don't worry about damage to the truck bumper since you (or your insurance) will be paying for that too.

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MacDudu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why couldn't they have gone over or under the car with the hose? Just mindless.

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Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of the laws regarding vehicles are pretty common sense.

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Dawn Ours
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

how about the fact it's illegal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Kim
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hose could've easily gone over the car. It's not a huge vehicle exactly...

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Donald Holder
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the city or county is not responsible for repair costs either by law. And you will be ticketed by the cops afterwards for illegal parking. A fine that can run upwards of $150 dollars in the US.

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Benny Best
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i wonder how old they will be when they realise not to park on a red curb?

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Jace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s not the reason. That the consequence for doing it.

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Jaelyn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the nicer the car the more pleasure they'll get bustin your windows.

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Lisa Pownall
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Common sense is a misnomer, it doesn't exist in enough people to be common. The lack of sense, in this case, is undeniable, regardless of where you come from. I'm from the other side of the world and we have the same law and the same consequence for disregarding that law in an emergency. Two things should have made them wary of parking there. The large yellow metal object (the fire hydrant) and the red-painted gutter. They look different here, but I'd still know not to park there.

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Moose Finley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve seen this done a few times one time they flooded a Jaguar

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Yunus SJ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope it's understood that the car window breaking is not the reason why; rather the firefighters delaying their tasks in order to put the hose through the car first, is the reason why

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Henk Jan Bakker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you consider this the reason... You probably also never murdered someone because there is a life sentence going with it. THINK!!

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Lynn Morello
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And how many people think that Fire hydrants NEVER get used. As in this picture.

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Teresa Groth
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is the only thing you didn’t lear, not really you didn’t learn it’s against the law TOO!

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Marnie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here's on old Bored Panda post with similar pics. Enjoy! https://www.boredpanda.com/firefighters-break-windows-car-parking-fire-hydrants/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

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Mark Serbian
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AND - There's a HUGE fine that goes with this! It's almost easier to throw away the car - especially if the owner of the property where the fire they're trying to put out decides to sue you. Massively ugly!

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Bob Connely
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And if you googlie the topic, there are pics out there of high-end luxury sedans suffering this same fate...

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Caroline Driver
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm guessing that's what the red line is for? 'Oh look, I've found a parking space' Dumbass

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Steve Cruz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saw a fire truck pull behind a passenger vehicle in the fire lane in front of a grocery store. They honked, then honked again, then rammed the idiot out of the way.

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Liesa Yopp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this before, they do NOT F around with fires. If you're in the way they'll wreck you fast.

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elfin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe that red curb is supposed to provide a clue.

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Barbara Vandewalle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not to notice but there is a RED curb in front of the fire hydrant. Both come with DO NOT park here.

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Leo Petipas
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't need common sense when it's in the Driver Examination Manual.

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Karen Johnston
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Um, isn't it part of the rules of the road test? You shouldn't have to be reminded.

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Geoffrey Holland
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You have got to be f*****g kidding me how can someone be that sheltered?

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desert29rat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that fire departments have a way to "work through" this stupidity.

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Chanelle Knapp
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The other option is to use their truck to push your car out of the way. And then they send you a bill for the damage your car did to their truck. This is the less destructive option.

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Craig Lee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is exactly what they would do if it were a van or a vehicle without a window close to the opening of the hydrant.

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Jeremy
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3 years ago

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The hose could have easily gone over

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David Jeu
Community Member
3 years ago

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Maybe they should think about putting the inlet on top of the fire hydrant. Will make life easier for everyone. I dont own a car so i dont really care but still :)

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Charlotte
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't own a car, so you don't care if someone else's idiocy and selfishness causes someone to lose their property, home or life to a fire? I assume your smug apathy also comes from your own imperviousness to fire? Or are you just really f*****g stupid, as well as lacking in empathy?

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A Source for More Daily Fun Facts

The internet continually proves that there are still things for us to learn. Luckily, someone took the ‘I was today years old’ concept and created a whole project around it. This initiative regularly shares new facts on social media, mainly Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and their dedicated website.

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However, you can always check out Reddit for a daily dose of ‘I was today years old’ moments. Two groups, r/IWasTodayYearsOld and r/TodayYearsOld, are full of weird but true facts you might want to know about.

#24

TechConnectify tweets about word footage

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David Jeu
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This all make sense now. Btw love technology connections channel.:)

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#25

Sarahmcgphoto tweets about warning against going to sleep with a concussion and picture of woman holding her head

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Flisey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was told "bumped his head in the middle of the bed" was really "his wife killed him'. My grandmother was one dark woman

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Got Your Own Fact to Share?

Here at Bored Panda, we are always eager to learn. Have you ever had an 'I was today years old' moment? Share it with other Panda users and us. Whether it’s funny, cool, or downright strange, if you find it interesting, share it in the comments below!

#26

todayyearsoldig tweets about Bikini Bottom houses and picture of Bikini Bottom house and car mufflers

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Untitled_Goose_Man
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How old were you when you realized Bikini Bottom is under Bikini Atoll, where the US tested hundreds of nuclear weapons? Spongebob is a nuclear mutation

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#27

RavenElyseTV tweets about pasta spoon and picture of pasta with spoon

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have known this for ages but forget to do it and always ended up cooking more pasta than needed.

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#28

BitchItsSpice tweets about yellow watermelon and picture of yellow and red watermelons

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Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They taste identical, so don't bother going out of your way for it.

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#30

kevinddaly tweets about stock photo for the Mamma Mia! and picture of stock photo for Mamma Mia! and poster for Mamma Mia!

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