Did an Actor Deliver an Outstanding Performance in a Film On the Condition That It Never Be Seen>

Two months in, how’s your 2025 going?

Spring is just around the corner, you know. We’re now what, three weeks away from the annual renewal of the world? Yep. It’ll be spring soon, and with it comes all the wonderful things thereof.

Robins.

Flowers.

Warmer weather.

Baseball.

I’m gonna be a happy camper very very soon! (Honestly, I’m a happy camper most of the time anyway, but spring brings out the best in me.)

So … let’s share some trivia, shall we?

Did you know …

… babies are born without kneecaps? The patella, or kneecap bone, does not appear until somewhere between the ages of 2 and 6. It develops from the thick cartilage that stretches across the knee joint. (You knee-ded to know that.)

… poor dental health can lead to cancer? Not taking care of your teeth can lead to gingivitis, or an inflammation of the gums. Over time, high levels of this inflammation in the body can lead to an increased risk of developing cancer. (So brush your dentist twice a day and see your teeth twice a year!)

… a popular Star Wars character appears in a photograph of a Saudi Arabian king? Saudi artist Shaweesh (born 1990) superimposed a picture of the character of Yoda into a 1945 photograph showing Saudi King Faisal (1906-1975) at the United Nations. Shaweesh said he put Yoda into the photo at the U.N. because Yoda is “wise, strong, and always calm.” The photo caused quite a bit of controversy when it was printed in a Saudi high school textbook in 2017. The Saudi Education Minister called the photo’s inclusion in the text a “mistake,” and said the books were recalled and reprinted. The country’s Undersecretary of Curricula and Educational Programs was dismissed from his post because of the picture. (The Force, it appears, was not with him.)

… popcorn is the main go-to food for moviegoers in the United States? You knew that, of course, but you may not know what the main go-to is in other nations. In Korea, dried cuttlefish are the big seller at the local cinema. In Spain, it’s sunflower seeds. Russians enjoy Beluga caviar at the movies, while the Chinese movie lover snacks on salted plums. But the oddest has to be Japan – moviegoers there enjoy iwashi senbei, or baked fish skeletons covered with soy and sugar. (Ugh.)

… South Koreans have a holiday for the alphabet? Every October 9, residents of South Korea celebrate their alphabet. (Why they do it, I couldn’t tell you.)

… an actor delivered an outstanding performance on the condition that it never be seen? During the filming of the movie Dr. Strangelove in 1964, actor George C. Scott (1927-1999) was cast in the role of Air Force General “Buck” Turgidson. Scott was hesitant about taking the role, especially after learning director Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) intended to film the movie as a comedy. Kubrick asked Scott to, in essence, “ham it up” in the role, and that put Scott even farther off being in the film. The actor felt he should only be slightly funny, and allow star Peter Sellers (1925-1980) to go for the real laughs. Kubrick finally asked Scott to go over the top only in rehearsals, when the cameras would not be running – but Kubrick was pulling a fast one on the actor. The rehearsal takes were filmed and used in the final print, though Scott had toned down his performance for the “real” takes. Scott felt betrayed by Kubrick’s decision, so much so that he vowed never to work with the director again. Additional trivia note: Scott kept his vow, though later in his career he would say his work on Dr. Strangelove was his favorite-ever role. (And when you consider what roles Scott portrayed, that’s quite the compliment.)

… a famous baseball player had his uniform number retired, even though when he played numbers were not worn? John Peter “Honus” Wagner (1874-1955) was probably the best shortstop ever in baseball, and he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1900 to 1917. During that time, players did not wear uniform numbers. But from 1933 to 1951, Wagner was a coach for the Pirates, and in that capacity he wore uniform number 33. The number was retired in 1956, shortly after Wagner’s death.

… whale milk has the consistency of toothpaste? The reason is because whale milk is between 30 and 50 percent fat. (Thanks for Mason for the tip! Now I have to get that image out of my head.)

… only one country in the world does not have mosquitoes? Iceland has no mosquitoes. No one is sure of exactly why that is, but I’m pretty sure the people there are glad for it. (And we are envious of it.)

… what the collective word is for a group of pugs? According to the American Kennel Club, a group of pugs is properly called a “grumble.” (No grumbling about that one.)

… your brain is eating itself? Don’t panic, you’re not the star of a 1950s horror movie. The process, called phagocytosis, is totally normal. In phagocytosis, larger cells consume smaller cells or molecules to remove them from the system. It takes place in your brain on a regular basis. Far from being harmful, phagocytosis actually helps preserve your brain. (It does, however, explain a lot.)

… a barn owl’s ears are set askew? The left ear of the barn owl is higher than the right, and it points downward so the bird can hear sounds from below it. The right ear is angled upward to hear sounds from above. (A natural radar, in other words.)

Now … you know!