# 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:** 141
**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:** [October 12, 2021, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2808 "2021-10-12T11:33:17Z")
On the subject of teams with musical nicknames, the [Macon Whoopee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macon_Whoopee_(CHL)) existed for several seasons as a Central Hockey League minor-league franchise. From 1928: [1928 George Olsen - Makin’ Whoopee! (Fran Frey, vocal) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClzLOOigbZ4) ---
**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:** [October 12, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2809 "2021-10-12T18:14:22Z")
If Nashville does get a team, I hope they at least get John Fogerty to approve making a bat guitar for their mascot. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1Iv2qG5IVaM/maxresdefault.jpg "John Fogerty Live Concert - Centerfield - Capitol Theater - Port Chester NY - 02/15/17") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Iv2qG5IVaM) > **[John Fogerty's Legendary Baseball Bat-Shaped Guitar Restored After Surviving...](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-fogertys-legendary-baseball-bat-shaped-guitar-restored-after-surviving-tennessee-floods-98130024.html)** > > /PRNewswire/ -- On July 25th, following the induction ceremonies for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, John Fogerty will have his... ---
**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:** [October 12, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2810 "2021-10-12T18:42:36Z")
Crocodile stepping stone fun! Not sure how well known this is, but… the Radio Times (BBC TV listings mag) suggests a _Movie of the day_ each day, and does a little **Did You Know?** to go with each of their suggestions. For **Live And Let Die** they had this: > **Did You Know?** > It took six attempts before Roger Moore’s stuntman successfully ran across the backs of the crocs - he was paid $60 000 for the scene Now come on, that has to be on YouTube, doesn’t it? Sure is. This is the version with a little background. Crock hopping starts at ~ 2.40. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bM_AN_gTMnA/hqdefault.jpg "LIVE AND LET DIE (1973) Crocodile Jump Attempts (Behind the Scenes)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM_AN_gTMnA) j (Yes, I know there is some disagreement about the exact number of attempts. Also, [Ross Kananga’s wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Kananga#Live_and_Let_Die) seems to claim that one of those resulted in 193 stitches. Dubious,) ---
**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 12, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2811 "2021-10-12T21:07:00Z")
The letter _x_ became the default character used to express unknown quantities in mathematics because the printer of Decartes’ _La géometrié_ had more spare _x_’s than _y_’s or _z_’s. > ---
**Author:** ![leswax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@leswax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leswax)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2812 "2021-10-13T02:25:51Z")
I’d heard this previously and had imagined this to be potatoes from some northerly portion of Idaho. The 42nd parallel makes up the Idaho/Nevada border, so all Idaho potatoes qualify. > **[42nd parallel north](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_parallel_north)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The 42nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 42 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean. > At this latitude the sun is visible for 15 hours, 15 minutes during the summer solstice and 9 hours, 6 minutes during the winter solstice. > The earth's rotational speed at this latitude is roughly equal to the speed of sound. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2813 "2021-10-13T02:33:07Z")
The ashes of Fredric J. Baur, the designer of the Pringles can, are buried in a Pringles can. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2814 "2021-10-13T03:14:39Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Crocodile stepping stone fun! > > For **Live And Let Die** they had this: > > > **Did You Know?** > > It took six attempts before Roger Moore’s stuntman successfully ran across the backs of the crocs - he was paid $60 000 for the scene Which reminded me of: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypNEag325SM&t=213) ---
**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:** [October 13, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2815 "2021-10-13T14:59:13Z")
Police stopped a random pedestrian while investigating a report of shots fired and found a man wanted for murder across the state line. > **[Kankakee Man arrested, wanted on 10 million bond while investigating shooting...](https://www.countryherald.com/community/kankakee-man-arrested-wanted-on-10-million-bond-while-investigating-shooting-monday/)** > > KANKAKEE – A Kankakee man wanted on a 10 million dollars bond was arrested Monday in connection with an active murder case while City Police were ---
**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:** [October 13, 2021, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2816 "2021-10-13T15:03:59Z")
That seems a ridiculously high bond for someone who doesn’t sound particularly wealthy. ---
**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 13, 2021, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2817 "2021-10-13T15:36:08Z")
~~I assume it’s because he was found in another state, and so is a high flight risk.~~ ETA: nvm, the bond was already in place. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2818 "2021-10-13T16:26:30Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Crocodile stepping stone fun! > > Not sure how well known this is, but… the Radio Times (BBC TV listings mag) suggests a _Movie of the day_ each day, and does a little **Did You Know?** to go with each of their suggestions. For **Live And Let Die** they had this: > > > **Did You Know?** > > It took six attempts before Roger Moore’s stuntman successfully ran across the backs of the crocs - he was paid $60 000 for the scene > > Now come on, that has to be on YouTube, doesn’t it? > > Sure is. This is the version with a little background. Crock hopping starts at ~ 2.40. > > [LIVE AND LET DIE (1973) Crocodile Jump Attempts (Behind the Scenes)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM_AN_gTMnA) > > j > > (Yes, I know there is some disagreement about the exact number of attempts. Also, [Ross Kananga’s wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Kananga#Live_and_Let_Die) seems to claim that one of those resulted in 193 stitches. Dubious,) This reminds me of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. They accidentally crashed a helicopter while filming one scene, then decided to go ahead and work it into the plot: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nQS_yo3jaWI/hqdefault.jpg "Helicopter Crash Scene - Attack of the Killer Tomatoes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQS_yo3jaWI) ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2819 "2021-10-13T17:43:39Z")
I wonder why The Twilight Zone didn’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![a6ka97](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@a6ka97](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a6ka97)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2820 "2021-10-13T17:47:15Z")
The Ford 4.6 V8 engine made in Romeo, Michigan USA had METRIC threads for the oil filter. The **same** 4.6 V8 engine made at the Windsor, Ontario Canada plant **at the same time** had STANDARD (USA) threads for the oil filter. Both engines were available in pickups at the same time in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2821 "2021-10-13T17:52:27Z")
Because children died? ---
**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:** [October 13, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2822 "2021-10-13T18:05:03Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > This reminds me of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. They accidentally crashed a helicopter while filming one scene, then decided to go ahead and work it into the plot: Yes. In the film, they blamed the crash on a Flying Killer Tomato. Low-budget moviemaking at its finest. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2823 "2021-10-13T23:39:47Z")
[WORLD OF MONSTERS: TIMOTHY LEARY'S HEAD](https://monstermagazineworld.blogspot.com/2021/10/timothy-learys-head.html?zx=d2e8591e60dd9aa4) - "…On the year of his death (1996), a documentary was released on his life and included a startling segment where his “dead head” was removed from his body and cryogenically preserved per his wishes so that he might once again be earthbound and proselytize his outre designs for the world. The sculpted head used during the decapitation scene was so realistic that appalled viewers thought it was real. Now this famous prop has come out of the freezer and put up at auction…" NOTE: This blog is SFW, though the fake head itself is a bit graphic. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2021, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2824 "2021-10-14T02:27:26Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > The sculpted head used during the decapitation scene was so realistic that appalled viewers thought it was real. I saw the Metropolitan Opera’s recent performance of _Salome,_ in which Salome makes love to the recently-decapitated head of John the Baptist. They did an amazingly detailed job on the head, and it was hard to believe it wasn’t real. Even in extreme close-ups. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2825 "2021-10-14T04:33:08Z")
And Jennifer Jason Leigh’s father. Vic Morrow was decapitated in that accident, as well. Regarding aircraft crashes being written into the script, wasn’t there a Roger Corman film where a dental chair was knocked over accidentally during filming, and rather than reshoot, they changed the script to say that the scene ends with the chair falling over? I may have some details wrong, or it’s apocryphal or something. ---
**Author:** ![leswax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@leswax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leswax)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2826 "2021-10-14T15:11:18Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Vic Morrow was decapitated in that accident, as well. Vic Morrow was killed during the filming of Twilight Zone: The Movie by a different crashing helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/2827 "2021-10-14T15:55:25Z")
True, but someone made a reference to the Twilight Zone, and someone else mentioned kids dying. It seemed a logical inference to make. If the poster wasn’t referring to _Twilight Zone: the Movie_, then I’ll withdraw my comment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=140) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=142)