# 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:** 114
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2266 "2021-07-12T17:51:42Z")
Driving on I-29 between Kansas City and Fargo ND over the weekend, I saw a road sign in either southern ND or northern SD that said simply “Continental Divide”. Which made no sense to me… we were a _long_ way from the Rockies. Apparently the sign marks the _Laurentian_ Divide, which separates the watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean and Hudson Bay. According to Wikipedia, “the divide traverses very flat terrain, especially in North Dakota, causing many travelers to believe the sign marking the divide is a joke.” ---
**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 12, 2021, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2267 "2021-07-12T18:28:06Z")
Well do I recall doing the same thing in Wyoming once, and I was excited to go over some big mountain pass, since I’d crossed before in Colorado. Big letdown. This is what the divide looked like: windswept flatness and scrub. [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/4010/4447275826_f1b5b65767_n.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/4010/4447275826_f1b5b65767_n.jpg) ---
**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 12, 2021, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2268 "2021-07-12T21:24:01Z")
Jacob Steinmetz has been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks. (In the third round, at number 77 overall.) He is said to be the first Orthodox Jewish player ever drafted. [-=Imagine That=-](https://vinnews.com/2021/07/12/ny-pitcher-becomes-1st-known-drafted-practicing-orthodox-jew/) ---
**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:** [July 12, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2269 "2021-07-12T21:47:56Z")
[Jon Moscot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Moscot) [was raised Orthodox](http://oychicago.com/tmpl-article.aspx?id=28451) but I guess he wasn’t practicing when he was drafted. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2270 "2021-07-12T21:54:09Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Jacob Steinmetz has been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks. (In the third round, at number 77 overall.) He is said to be the first Orthodox Jewish player ever drafted. > > [-=Imagine That=-](https://vinnews.com/2021/07/12/ny-pitcher-becomes-1st-known-drafted-practicing-orthodox-jew/) Apparently, he pitches on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays (but walks to the game on those days. I hope his home/hotel isn’t far from the stadium). Sandy Koufax was well-known for refusing to start a World Series game which was on Yom Kippur. Any other Jewish athletes who refuse(d) to play on the Sabbath or Jewish holidays? ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2271 "2021-07-12T22:04:39Z")
> **[8 Orthodox Jewish Athletes You Should Know](https://jewinthecity.com/2016/08/8-orthodox-jewish-athletes-you-should-know/)** > >   We’ve all heard of baseball legends Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax not playing the World Series on Yom Kippur. More recently, LA Dodger Shawn Green sat out on the holiest day of the Jewish year. Despite the famous joke from “Airplane” about... [https://www.sabbathtruth.com/free-resources/the-sabbath-blog/post/id/25536/t/sabbath-not-a-problem-for-these-athletes](https://www.sabbathtruth.com/free-resources/the-sabbath-blog/post/id/25536/t/sabbath-not-a-problem-for-these-athletes) ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2272 "2021-07-13T02:13:16Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Big letdown. This is what the divide looked like: windswept flatness and scrub. “Crossing the great dividing range” was historically a big deal hear in Australia, like crossing the the Rockies in the USA. Until I took a road trip to Sydney, that seemed kind of strange to me. Because on the inland side of Melbourne, the “Great Dividing Range” is some rising ground with hills. Although not flat like Wyoming, you know you are ‘crossing the range’ at the watershed divide only because a sign tells you so. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2273 "2021-07-13T04:15:24Z")
The United States Department of Defense is one of the largest single consumers of energy in the world, responsible for 93% of all US government fuel consumption in 2007 (Air Force: 52%; Navy: 33%; Army: 7%. Other DoD: 1%).[1] In FY 2006, the DoD used almost 30,000 gigawatt hours (GWH) of electricity, at a cost of almost $2.2 billion. The DoD’s electricity use would supply enough electricity to power more than 2.3 million average American homes. In electricity consumption, if it were a country, the DoD would rank 58th in the world, using slightly less than Denmark and slightly more than Syria (CIA World Factbook, 2006).[1] The Department of Defense uses 4,600,000,000 US gallons (1.7×1010 L) of fuel annually, an average of 12,600,000 US gallons (48,000,000 L) of fuel per day. A large Army division may use about 6,000 US gallons (23,000 L) per day. According to the 2005 CIA World Factbook, if it were a country, the DoD would rank 34th in the world in average daily oil use, coming in just behind Iraq and just ahead of Sweden.[1] .[Energy usage of the United States military - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_usage_of_the_United_States_military) ---
**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:** [July 13, 2021, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2274 "2021-07-13T07:08:54Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Jacob Steinmetz has been drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks. (In the third round, at number 77 overall.) He is said to be the first Orthodox Jewish player ever drafted. > > [-=Imagine That=-](https://vinnews.com/2021/07/12/ny-pitcher-becomes-1st-known-drafted-practicing-orthodox-jew/) But diamondbacks aren’t kosher. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2275 "2021-07-13T19:15:53Z")
> [@mikecurtis](#): > > In FY 2006, the DoD used almost 30,000 gigawatt hours (GWH) of electricity, at a cost of almost $2.2 billion. […] In electricity consumption, if it were a country, the DoD would rank 58th in the world, using slightly less than Denmark and slightly more than Syria (CIA World Factbook, 2006). If the DoD was a U.S. state it would rank 36th out of 51, based on [2006 numbers](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/archive/062906.pdf#page=266). 30,000 GWH is more than Nevada’s 2006 electricity sales (consumption; 27,276 GWH), but less than Connecticut’s (31,677 GWH). ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2276 "2021-07-13T19:28:47Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > TIL that if you are lost in Central Park, [you can use the numbers on the base of the lampposts to get an idea of where you are located](https://worksthatwork.com/artefacts/location-code-in-central-park). I’ve never been to Central Park, but I hope I remember this in case I ever get to visit. Does this strike anyone as an incredibly convoluted way of conveying information? Seems to me that if they gave each lamppost a designation in the form of an (approximate) address, you would know exactly where you were. For example, if a lampost read “109 W. 78th street” you would know you’re standing at the latitude of W. 78th street and a little bit west of Sixth Avenue.–no need for this arcane system of decoding required at all. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2277 "2021-07-13T19:37:28Z")
I’ve never been in the habit of looking for deep meaning - or indeed any meaning, really - in **Abba** songs. So it came as a shock to me that a line that I always took as pretty meaningless actually has a very specific meaning. From **Super Trouper** : > Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me > But I won’t feel blue > Like I always do > 'Cause somewhere in the crowd there’s you… Well, here’s the piece of information I had been missing: > **[Super Trouper (spotlight)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Trouper_(spotlight))** > > Super Trouper is a registered trademark for a series of follow spotlights used in stadium, concert, and special-event lighting. The lights are manufactured by Strong Lighting of Omaha, Nebraska, which acquired the Super Trouper and its larger cousin, the Gladiator, from its former manufacturer Syncrolite who had acquired them from Ballantyne Strong of Omaha, Nebraska (originally Strong Electric Corporation of Toledo, Ohio) in November 2016. > The lights were first manufactured in 1956. Initially, ... Who knew? (If you did know, there’s no need to answer that, thanks. BTW, the only reason I know is that cycling commentator Carlton Kirby used the phrase and explained that it was “a theatrical light”.) j ---
**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:** [July 13, 2021, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2278 "2021-07-13T19:44:12Z")
Thanks, **Treppenwitz** , for this piece of info. I’ve always wondered what “Super Trouper” meant. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2279 "2021-07-13T20:19:17Z")
> [@Roger\_That](#): > > Does this strike anyone as an incredibly convoluted way of conveying information? Seems to me that if they gave each lamppost a designation in the form of an (approximate) address, you would know exactly where you were. These numbers were not intended for public consumption, but for the use of park employees who might need to replace a specific lamp, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Roger\_That](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roger_that/32/8505_2.png) [@Roger\_That](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roger_That)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2280 "2021-07-13T20:59:07Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > These numbers were not intended for public consumption, but for the use of park employees who might need to replace a specific lamp, etc. And they would be completely baffled, of course, by “109 W. 78th St.”? “What the hell is this–I have no idea where to go!! Help me!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2281 "2021-07-13T21:01:57Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > These numbers were not intended for public consumption, but for the use of park employees who might need to replace a specific lamp, etc. I’ve lived in places where the utility poles and streetlight poles are numbered, so if I needed to report a non-working streetlight, I just had to provide the number. Seems simpler. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2282 "2021-07-13T21:05:20Z")
I used Super Troupers in high school, in Band Lighting Crew. The very bright light comes from an electric arc between a pair of copper-coated carbon electrodes, each about the size of a pencil. The arc, with a chimney above it, sits in front of a curved mirror, and the light is focused by a series of lenses. The whole thing is about 6 feet long. ---
**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 13, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2283 "2021-07-13T21:33:37Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > TIL that if you are lost in Central Park, [you can use the numbers on the base of the lampposts to get an idea of where you are located](https://worksthatwork.com/artefacts/location-code-in-central-park). I’ve never been to Central Park, but I hope I remember this in case I ever get to visit. > > - The first 2 digits indicate the closest cross street on the East or West side of the Park > - If the number comprised of the last two digits is even, you are on the East side of the Park > - If the number comprised of the last two digits is odd, you are on the West side of the Park > - The larger the number comprised of the last two digits is, the closer you are to the center of the Park Chicago has a [similar system](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/oem/provdrs/pole-marking-location-identifiers.html) in wide use in the city. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2284 "2021-07-13T21:43:48Z")
It’s just a parks thing, not the whole city… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2285 "2021-07-13T23:17:59Z")
Just ask your cousin Jeffrey. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=113) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=115)