# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674 "2020-04-13T03:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 102
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2024 "2021-05-26T15:22:13Z")
Try to follow the conversation Boo Boo 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2025 "2021-05-26T16:34:13Z")
Ohh, the ~~mod~~ ranger is not going to like that, Yogi… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2026 "2021-05-26T16:45:42Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Up until about 30 seconds ago I always thought that. Is it not so? Berra got his nickname from childhood friend and fellow ballplayer [Jack Maguire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Maguire). ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2027 "2021-05-26T18:01:29Z")
Babe Ruth did, however, have his own short-lived ‘approved’ candy bar. Respectfully submitted for your approval. . . [Ruth’s Home Run (1928)](https://www.candywrappermuseum.com/ruthshomerun.html?fbclid=IwAR08uop6qh7wm36EYeeEEUDAcvst-yABDyWUmdgelGpNB-m6YWkpGGwhEs8) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2028 "2021-05-26T23:57:04Z")
Remember this scene? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ir1rzzGugIU/hqdefault.jpg "Airplane ! Captain is sick") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir1rzzGugIU) > An actual mass food poisoning incident occurred on a [Japan Airlines flight in February 1975](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines_food_poisoning_incident), after the release of _Zero Hour!_ but before _Airplane!_ , in which 197 people fell ill. Unlike in the movies, the pilots of the Japan Airlines flight had not eaten a contaminated meal and were therefore able to land the aircraft safely. As a result of the incident, however, rules were implemented requiring pilots to eat different meals prepared by different cooks in order to prevent the entire flight deck crew from becoming incapacitated. [Wikipedia source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airplane!) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2029 "2021-05-27T01:43:32Z")
How to sex a trout. Not something that was even remotely on my radar this evening. > [@Which board avatars do you like?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-board-avatars-do-you-like/942351/176): > > IANATS, but based on the shape of the snout, the @TroutMan trout _is_ a woman. For confirmation, we’d need to examine the anal fin. > > [2 Ways to Determine the Sex of a Trout - Fly Fishing | Gink and Gasoline | How to Fly Fish | Trout Fishing | Fly Tying | Fly Fishing Blog](https://www.ginkandgasoline.com/fly-fishing/2-ways-to-determine-the-sex-of-a-trout/) I happened to buy frozen rainbow trout fillets at Trader Joes’ a few days ago. Haven’t thought about, or eaten, a trout in probably 18 months and now I have 2 references in 5 days. Soon to be 3 references when those go down the hatch tomorrow. Sadly, the trouts from TJs give me no chance to practice my trout sexing; they’re already mutilated beyond recognition. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2030 "2021-05-27T02:10:26Z")
Good! I do NOT want to eat a sexy trout. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2031 "2021-05-27T17:35:33Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > It is probably a lot harder to rip off someone’s name like that these days. No kidding! Duluth Trading Company got in big trouble for encouraging consumers to “Don a Henley and Take It Easy.” > **[Don Henley Sues Maker of 'Henley' T-Shirt Over Pun](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/don-henley-sues-maker-of-henley-t-shirt-over-pun-48081/)** > > Don Henley is suing Duluth Trading Co. over making a pun out of his name in an ad. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2032 "2021-05-27T17:44:37Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > No kidding! Duluth Trading Company got in big trouble for encouraging consumers to “Don a Henley and Take It Easy.” I’d definitely side with Don Henley on that. An obvious pun on his name and reference to his song _for commercial gain_ without getting permission is not right. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2033 "2021-05-27T17:49:35Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > An obvious pun on his name and reference to his song _for commercial gain_ without getting permission is not right. Nitpick: “Take It Easy” was written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey (who sings the lead vocal), so technically it was not Henley’s song, although his claims were absolutely justified because of course he would be associated with the Eagles. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2034 "2021-05-27T19:09:32Z")
I disagree somewhat with the others. I think this IS an important and interesting fact, at least regarding Venus. When I look up at the night sky, I assume Venus is closer than the Sun (and Mercury)…when, about half the time, it’s further away. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2035 "2021-05-27T19:13:26Z")
Nope. Believe it or not, they were release before Revolver. Americans got to hear them early in the summer of 1966, while Brits had to wait until August. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2036 "2021-05-27T23:54:43Z")
I always wondered about shorthand. How fast can they go, how does it work, etc.? > **[Is the art of shorthand dying?](https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-34603886)** > > For more than 2,000 years people have used shorthand to make note-taking quicker and more reliable. But is it in danger of dying out? > It’s three times quicker to type out shorthand notes than to listen back to audio recordings, says Mary Sorene, secretary of the [British Institute of Verbatim Reporters](http://bivr.org.uk/). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2037 "2021-05-28T03:21:25Z")
In 1828 Sarah Goodridge, and American artist, painted a partial self-portrait and gave it to her friend (and possible lover, I was surprised to learn), Daniel Webster (US Congressman, Senator, and Secretary of State to two presidents). It was painted in watercolor on ivory, a mere 2.5" x 3" (in round numbers). That’s not surprising. What is surprising is the painting itself, which is called **Beauty Revealed** : [Beauty Revealed - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_Revealed) Pretty wild stuff for the first half of the 19th century. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2038 "2021-05-28T03:29:09Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > When I look up at the night sky, I assume Venus is closer than the Sun (and Mercury) When you can see it, it is likely the closest object of those three? It seems like it isn’t visible (too close to/other side of the sun) about 4 months of the year. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2039 "2021-05-28T04:11:25Z")
Good point, but I think not necessarily. Venus’ orbital diameter is of course smaller than Earth’s, but not THAT much smaller. The times it is most visible, because furthest from the sun (and so visible longer before sunset or earlier before sunrise), are when it’s neither closest to us (in front of the sun), nor furthest from us (behind the sun), but in between (far to the left or right) — in other words, rather further away in actual distance than the sun itself. The hypotenuse of a right triangle away… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2040 "2021-05-28T05:11:40Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > That’s not surprising. What is surprising is the painting itself, which is called **Beauty Revealed** : > > [Beauty Revealed - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_Revealed) > > Pretty wild stuff for the first half of the 19th century. I don’t understand your surprise. Exposed breasts have been painted and sculpted for millennia. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2041 "2021-05-28T11:55:39Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I don’t understand your surprise. Exposed breasts have been painted and sculpted for millennia. True, and I have many books on erotic art. But this seems very surprising coming from prim, proper 1828 America. Furthermore, they’re not abstract or generic boobs, but the artist’s own. Goodridge was, in effect, sexting.\* The fact that this was a very personal exchange , not a piece of public artwork, made it possible, I think. The existence of this piece was only made public in the late 20th century. Jane Austen once said that she wrote on “the little bit (two Inches wide) of Ivory on which I work with so fine a Brush, as produces little effect after much labour.” I don’t think this is what she had in mind. \*possibly Photoshopped – Goodridge was 40 at the time, and she might have idealized things. Or she might have been in that good shape. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2042 "2021-05-28T11:57:37Z")
Late-night TV host Johnny Carson was involved in a ten-year lawsuit: [Carson v. Here’s Johnny Portable Toilets, Inc.](https://loweringthebar.net/2010/04/man-still-cannot-use-heres-johnny-for-portable-toilet-business-says-trademark-board.html). Apparently a [company](http://www.heres-johnny.ca/) based in Moncton, NB (Canada) still uses the name. However - Johnny Cash did give permission to Canada Trust in the 1980’s to use his name and image to publicize their [Johnny Cash](https://www.blogto.com/city/2013/01/that_time_when_toronto_had_johnny_cash_machines/) branded ATM’s. They disappeared a few years later. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2021, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2043 "2021-05-28T14:30:47Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > When you can see it, it is likely the closest object of those three? It seems like it isn’t visible (too close to/other side of the sun) about 4 months of the year. Probably not. Venus is most visible at 1st and 3rd quarter (IIRC) meaning it is further away than the Sun courtesy of Pythagoras. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=101) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=103)