# 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:** 138
**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:** [October 2, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2748 "2021-10-02T16:58:42Z")
> **[Oakland Athletics Alternate Logo | SPORTS LOGO HISTORY](https://sportslogohistory.com/oakland-athletics-alternate-logo/)** > > The Athletics alternate logo history is all about "the white elephant." ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2749 "2021-10-03T02:18:59Z")
Somehow it never occurred to me that the blind might be interested in athletic competition. Some quick Googling led me learn all sorts of things about blind sports. There’s blind soccer, blind basketball, blind hockey, blind golf, blind tennis, even blind baseball. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2750 "2021-10-03T02:48:57Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > ok, now i know how frasier crane feels ! > > (i haven’t got a clue what you are talking about !) In case the posts didn’t make it clear (I’m not sure of your nationality, gender, interest in sports, etc., so forgive if you already got it)… The baseball team known as the A’s (short for “Athletics”) started in Philadelphia, moved to Kansas City, ended up in Oakland. Mark\_Finn is making a joke about supporting the Athletics…an athletic supporter is also the term for a jock strap. > [@DCnDC](#): > > Somehow it never occurred to me that the blind might be interested in athletic competition. Daniel Kish rides his bike etc. using echolocation. Pretty cool! [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAtVOK04XvA) My contribution…I saw this really interesting doc about the MSC Seaside, a cruise ship. It can carry about 6500 people. They can go through 20,000 eggs per day. What happens when substandard pineapple arrives for the voyage? Worth a watch if you have time. > **[Watch The Secret Life of the Cruise | Prime Video](https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Cruise-Ben-Ryder/dp/B09DTYDMQK)** > > A floating city on the sea, the MSC Seaside is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. With privileged access to every part of the cruise's operation, this film uncovers the army of people and complex systems that keep this extraordinary ship... ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2751 "2021-10-03T03:00:14Z")
I just saw a picture of a male elephant fellating itself, and I cannot unsee it. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2752 "2021-10-03T03:16:37Z")
TIL that [Houdini flexed on Harry Blackstone Sr.](https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/potter-potter/harry-houdini-vs-the-great-blackstone-file-of-documents-regarding-houdini-s-charge-against-blackstone-s-use-of-the-o-906145) “Blackstone recalls his own performance of the box trick, at which he reminds Casey was himself present, that “ante-dated any box trick our dear Jewish friend ever attempted, other than what was generally termed ‘The Hindoo Box Mystery’, which was a purchasable commodity and in general use… In fact, it was not unusual to see an occasional one at a street carnival”. He comments that Houdini, “this chosen son of the great Patriarch, seems to be hankering for the limelight constantly, and not satisfied with being the ‘Handcuff King’, a motion picture idol, and a sometime headliner, will still stoop to the old time worn stunt of his kind to cry ‘Thief’, when he never had an original trick in his whole career…” Yes, “Jewish” is gratuitous there, but I’m not seeing a strong streak of antisemitism in Blackstone’s counterattack. My family remembers him as a kind and generous man, and my grandmother was one of his assistants when he [saved a theater full of kids from fire](https://www.magiccollectibles.com/a-few-of-my-favorite-things-blackstone-and-the-decatur-illinois-fire-its-ties-to-the-ccm/) ---
**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:** [October 3, 2021, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2753 "2021-10-03T11:52:26Z")
With all the divisions locked up, the Arizona Diamondbacks are **56** games back. That ought not to even be possible. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2021, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2754 "2021-10-03T13:00:41Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Somehow it never occurred to me that the blind might be interested in athletic competition. Some quick Googling led me learn all sorts of things about blind sports. There’s blind soccer, blind basketball, blind hockey, blind golf, blind tennis, even blind baseball. There’s a spectator’s competition on the German TV channel ARD’s sports program “Die Sportschau”, “Tor des Monats”, “Goal of the month”, where every month the TV audience votes for the best football (soccer) goal from a selection of five goals from the last month. This has been going on for over 50 years, and all the greatest and most famous footballers in history have won it some time. In August 2018, blind footballer Serdal Celebi from FC St. Pauli won with this goal: > **[Torschütze des Monats August Serdal Celebi](https://www.sportschau.de/tor-des-monats/video-serdal-celebi-schiesst-tor-des-monats-august-sp-100.html)** > > Serdal Celebi trifft für den FC St. Pauli im Finale der deutschen Blindenfussball-Bundesliga gegen den MTV Stuttgart zum 1:2. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2755 "2021-10-03T15:56:05Z")
So if they win every day for the next eight weeks, and SF loses every day past Thanksgiving, they’re in a dead heat. There’s a chance! ---
**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:** [October 3, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2756 "2021-10-03T15:59:14Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > With all the divisions locked up, the Arizona Diamondbacks are **56** games back. > > That ought not to even be possible. FRAUD! Demand a recount! Where are the Cyberninjas? ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2757 "2021-10-03T19:28:43Z")
Mick Jagger has a great grandchild who is older than one of his children. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2758 "2021-10-03T19:54:12Z")
Thanks, but i was talking about _all_ the baseball talk ! (nationality UK, gender M, interest in sports ~0 !) ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2759 "2021-10-03T22:03:17Z")
I saw that movie (on the Wonderful World of Disney) ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2760 "2021-10-03T22:59:03Z")
There’s a South American tree with fruits that, after they dry out, explode and launch the seeds within at up to 150 mph for up to 60 feet. It is covered in spikes, its fruit is poisonous, and the sap apparently causes rashes. > **[Sandbox Tree Facts - Where Does The Sandbox Tree Grow And Other Info](https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sandbox-tree/sandbox-tree-information.htm)** > > Considered one of the most dangerous plants in the world, the sandbox tree isn't suitable for home landscapes, or any landscape actually. That being said, it is an interesting plant and one that deserves understanding. Read here to find out more... ---
**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:** [October 3, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2761 "2021-10-03T23:11:04Z")
There’s also a type of grass with exploding seeds. They don’t explode with the same ferocity as the sandbox tree and they’re not poisonous, but interesting, none the less [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/MUaTOoVmg1Q/maxresdefault.jpg "Exploding Weed Seeds (28,546 fps Slow Motion)- Smarter Every Day 257") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUaTOoVmg1Q) ---
**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:** [October 4, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2762 "2021-10-04T00:54:18Z")
There’s a fly that lays its egg in an ant’s head. The maggot, develops, controls the ant’s behavior, eats the brain etc. > In only a few days the egg grows considerably inside the ant before hatching. The resulting maggot works its way through the ant into its head, where it will live for several weeks on the host’s bodily fluids, while maybe from time to time sarcastically asking what the ant is thinking about. > **[Absurd Creature of the Week: This Fly Hijacks an Ant's Brain — Then Pops Its...](https://www.wired.com/2013/12/absurd-creature-of-the-week-this-fly-burrows-into-an-ants-brain-then-pops-its-head-off/)** > > The ant-decapitating fly burrows into ants, mind-controls them, and eventually severs their heads from the inside. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2021, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2763 "2021-10-04T18:50:45Z")
Projectiles in biology are rare, and very interesting indeed! ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2764 "2021-10-04T23:10:46Z")
Reuben Klamer, who invented the modern version of the Game of Life, also made props for TV shows. He designed and built the “phaser rifle” for _Star Trek_. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2765 "2021-10-05T14:08:29Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > Reuben Klamer, who invented the modern version of the Game of Life, also made props for TV shows. Interesting. Following a few Wikipedia links, I now know that the Transformer character Megatron was based on a toy version of the gun Napoleon Solo used on “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2766 "2021-10-07T03:26:29Z")
Liquid smoke is, literally, [smoke from a fire that has been captured using condensation](https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/variety-is-the-spice-of-life/). ---
**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:** [October 7, 2021, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2767 "2021-10-07T10:57:06Z")
[The U.S. Navy owns a 50,000 acre white oak forest in Indiana](https://taskandpurpose.com/mandatory-fun/constitution-grove-indiana-navy/). It is called [Constitution Grove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Grove). The wood from the trees is used to replace rotting planks on the [USS _Constitution_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=137) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=139)