# 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:** 112
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2225 "2021-07-03T03:18:13Z")
Not cleavage - the iconic pose over the subway grate. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2226 "2021-07-03T03:18:21Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I see you were going for the cleavage thing, but it looks like a stick man with mega clown feet I saw it as the dress blowing up as she’s standing over the grate. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2227 "2021-07-03T03:21:24Z")
Sorry, mega clown wins. Can’t unsee it now. ---
**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:** [July 3, 2021, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2228 "2021-07-03T03:57:28Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I saw it as the dress blowing up as she’s standing over the grate. > [@](#): > > Not cleavage - the iconic pose over the subway grate. Good to see someone got it. That’s what comes of keeping your mind below the gutter. [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_dress_of_Marilyn_Monroe#/media/File:Marilyn_Monroe_photo_pose_Seven_Year_Itch.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_dress_of_Marilyn_Monroe#/media/File:Marilyn_Monroe_photo_pose_Seven_Year_Itch.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2229 "2021-07-03T16:40:12Z")
Surely a coincidence, but a darn good one. Saw an article ([here](https://fullfact.org/online/great-pyramid-speed-of-light/) is a similar article) stating that, out to (IIRC) 9 decimal places, the speed of light in m/s is the same as the latitude of the Great Pyramid of Giza in decimal degrees. My BS detector went off, so I independently looked up the speed of light in m/s: 299,792,458 m/s (Wikipedia) And converted 29.9792458 degrees N to 29 degrees, 58 minutes 45.3 seconds latitude. Then I opened up Google Earth to check the latitude (it displays lat/long of your mouse pointer). Sure enough, this latitude passed through the center of the Great Pyramid. Well, within a few meters. Interesting! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2230 "2021-07-04T19:24:49Z")
There are a billion microphones in a kilophone. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2232 "2021-07-05T00:56:34Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Good to see someone got it. That’s what comes of keeping your mind below the gutter. And looking up. _rimshot_ For reasons beyond my ken, a couple of my college classes brought in Tom Ewell and he talked-about that iconic scene. The lesson I took from it was to never bring in a third-tier actor to talk about the only scene anybody remembers where he was just an observer. He gave the same presentation twice. This was long before the internet and the movie came out when the oldest of us were infants, so few of us had seen the picture. ETA: Some of you may say, “We know you, @drop. You were one of the pervs who had seen it.” You know me so well! ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2233 "2021-07-05T18:42:01Z")
Today I learned about the [Tragedy in the Torngats](https://alavigne.net/Outdoors/TripReports/2004/Torngats/). In 2003, Susan Barnes and Daniel Pauze decided to hike the tallest peak in the Torngat Mountains (Labrador, Canada). They didn’t make it home. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3do7p44q600) is a 22 minute documentary on it. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2234 "2021-07-06T10:55:06Z")
One degree of latitude would be about 5-million inches, so 6 decimal digits would be within 0.2 inches. One more decimal place would barely be discernible to the human eye. So the equality would remain true for any number of additional digits, which could be randomly chosen and still not be disputed. The pyramid probably moves tectonically by 0.0000001 degree in a short period of time. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2235 "2021-07-06T16:43:15Z")
Indeed! The “speed of light” figure gives us a very narrowly defined line of latitude…that doesn’t quite pass through the center of the great pyramid. Maybe a stone’s throw away. I guess it is often thus when we examine numerical coincidences closely. I suppose one could take a line of N or S latitude at 3.1415926535 and find an interesting place it runs through, then write an article about it. Same deal. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2236 "2021-07-06T17:13:04Z")
I easily went there about a dozen times as a kid. I don’t recall ever actually seeing any injuries while I was there. (Referring to Action Park some posts back) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2237 "2021-07-06T17:51:48Z")
I just learned that white was a very uncommon color on cars before circa 1950. The reason was that titanium dioxide, the pigment used in white automotive paint, was very expensive until DuPont figured out how to produce it in large quantities in the late 1940s. Before then if you wanted a light colored car your best option was something like a very light, creamy yellow. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2238 "2021-07-06T18:39:03Z")
So just read in [1491](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JMKVE4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1) that during the Mayan dark age (around 1000AD) literacy appeared to be lost. But written inscriptions continued. So we have a bunch engravings of Mayan glyphs that appear to be total nonsense. Presumably the scribes knew that literacy had been lost, but there was no reason to tell their bosses, as they were the only ones who could read anyway. So if their boss was willing to pay for an inscription commemorating their great victory, they would get one even it was the mayan equivalent of “woqiurqwpoirul;kdgd;fgopiapdfg”, they would be none the wiser. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2239 "2021-07-06T19:49:06Z")
Well if you need some firewood stacking for winter and cant be arsed to do it yourself, a recording of running water and some neighbourhood bevers sounds like the way. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2240 "2021-07-06T20:06:20Z")
I just learned that two of the Dionne quintuplets are still alive (at 87). ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2241 "2021-07-06T20:09:15Z")
It is reported that [more Floridians die from misusing generators than from hurricanes.](https://patch.com/florida/southtampa/generators-killed-more-floridians-last-4-years-storms) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2242 "2021-07-06T20:44:51Z")
I just discovered that Princess Leia’s hairstyle is called a Cootie Garage, and I think _Star Wars_ will never be the same again. > **[Stunning 1920s Hairstyles You Can Rock Today - Facty](https://facty.com/network/answers/things/stunning-1920s-hairstyles-you-can-rock-today/)** > > Given the fact we're hurtling towards the new roaring 20s, it's time 1920s hairstyles and fashion got their renaissance. It's a shame the hairdos sported by Josephine Baker and Louise Brooks went out of fashion. Then again, what is fashion but... ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2021, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2243 "2021-07-07T07:16:41Z")
I have heard that the term ‘basket case’ was invented as an “urban myth” or more correctly 'urban exaggeration" to emphasise the disabilities some soldiers received during WW1. The Surgeon General denied there were any such returned servicemen. It got a run again during WW2 and again the S-G said there were no actual cases, but by that time the phrase had become established as descriptor for any enterprise run so badly it was a hopeless case. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2021, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2244 "2021-07-07T10:46:59Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > I suppose one could take a line of N or S latitude at 3.1415926535 and find an interesting place it runs through, then write an article about it. Same deal. Like the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur? ---
**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:** [July 7, 2021, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2245 "2021-07-07T11:32:20Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > I have heard that the term ‘basket case’ was invented as an “urban myth” or more correctly 'urban exaggeration" to emphasise the disabilities some soldiers received during WW1. The Surgeon General denied there were any such returned servicemen. It got a run again during WW2 and again the S-G said there were no actual cases, but by that time the phrase had become established as descriptor for any enterprise run so badly it was a hopeless case. For what it’s worth: [https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g56003-d106117-i256065992-National\_Museum\_of\_Funeral\_History-Houston\_Texas.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g56003-d106117-i256065992-National_Museum_of_Funeral_History-Houston_Texas.html) I accidentally deleted my earlier post (thinking I could edit it) and meant to come back to restate it. 2019: Colorado had 151 cases of catalytic converters reported stolen 2021 (so far): Colorado has had nearly 2500 catalytic converters reported stolen > **[Nation’s first catalytic converter anti-theft program starts in Colorado](https://kdvr.com/news/nations-first-catalytic-converter-anti-theft-program-starts-in-colorado/?fbclid=IwAR16ze8RHY1vCxRC9cloXkddMgm2vACXgfhwv2qeume2CqLEcYALPhlgC80)** > > AAA Colorado has joined with the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) and other key state and law enforcement partners in a first-of-its-kind partnership to give Coloradans free devices… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=111) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=113)