The “Seven Summits” — the highest peak on each continent:
About 80 mountaineers have climbed all seven.
Unusual phobias:
Politicophobia is defined as “abnormal” dislike of politicians.
U.S. state dinosaurs:
Highest-grossing films worldwide, to date:
At first that looks like a triumph of modern marketing — all of these films were made in the last 12 years. But here are the top ten when receipts are adjusted for inflation:
Titanic has made $1.8 billion worldwide to date, and it’s only number 6 on the all-time list. Gone With the Wind has made $3.8 billion, more than twice as much.
Cities with dubious epithets:
Wichita, Kan., calls itself the “Air Capital of the World.” Touché.
Only nine people have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony award:
If you count honorary awards, then Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli also qualify. If you count “daytime Emmys,” then so does Whoopi Goldberg.
Famous members of Mensa:
An alternative society is open to the stupidest 2 percent of the population. It’s called Densa.
Short actors:
Stature doesn’t equal talent. Asked for advice on acting, John Wayne (6’4″) said, “Talk low, talk slow, and don’t talk too much.”
Some of the busiest people in show business don’t exist:
That last one is such an open secret — “Smithee” even directed a Whitney Houston video — that the Directors Guild finally abandoned it in favor of random pseudonyms, starting with the 2000 James Spader bomb Supernova, directed by “Thomas Lee” (Walter Hill).
Some secret identities:
It’s been pointed out that Superman pretends to be Clark Kent, but Peter Parker pretends to be Spider-Man. If you have two identities, either one can be “secret.”