# 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:** 176
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3508 "2022-01-25T02:50:27Z")
Just do a good deed and you can be a Nebraska coxswain. Sounds cooler and just as many benefits. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2022, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3509 "2022-01-25T04:54:07Z")
How many ships does the Platte River Fleet have? ---
**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:** [January 25, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3510 "2022-01-25T14:17:30Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > > [@GreenWyvern](#): > > > > > [@hogarth](#): > > > > > > I thought it was interesting that both parts of “mailbag” mean “bag”. > > > > Surely a mailbag is simply a bag for carrying mail (letters)? > > It’s correct. The usage of “mail” meaning delivered letters and parcels is secondary to the original meaning of the bag used to carry the items being delivered. Maybe they both originally meant “scrotum”. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3511 "2022-01-25T16:24:20Z")
On a whim, I just did a quick search, and I find that there are, indeed, several holders of Ph.D.s with the surname “Doom”. I haven’t found any M.D.s, but I’m sure they exist. In the past I’ve verified that there are also MDs who have the last name “Godot”. I’d hate to see their waiting rooms. There are also several Ph.D. with the surname “Moreau”. Delightfully, Corrie Moreau is a professor at Harvard with a degree in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. I can’t help wondering if she’d be interested in an island to perform her research on. When I was in grad school, my office was down the hall from that of Gerard Mourou, who shared the physics Nobel Prize a few years ago with Donna Strickland. It’s not spelled the same, but whenever I passed his office door I’d think of an imagined H.G. wells sequel, “The Office of Dr. Mourou”. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3512 "2022-01-25T17:57:31Z")
Re the above, some years back I worked on a team led by a woman named Moriarty. Who had a PhD. Made for some interesting staff meetings (she had a good sense of humor about it). ---
**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:** [January 25, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3513 "2022-01-25T18:37:16Z")
Apparently, though, she was well aware of his existence during the writing of the book, writing to him six years before it was complete: " I am writing a novel about the career of an architect. . . . I should like to have the privilege of meeting you and discussing it with you.”" > **[Vision lives on paper](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-03-hm-rand3-story.html)** > > Frank Lloyd Wright sketch on exhibit ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3514 "2022-01-25T21:03:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > On a whim, I just did a quick search, and I find that there are, indeed, several holders of Ph.D.s with the surname “Doom”. I haven’t found any M.D.s, but I’m sure they exist. > > In the past I’ve verified that there are also MDs who have the last name “Godot”. I’d hate to see their waiting rooms. I was in court appearing in front of Judge Justice earlier this week! > [@OttoDaFe](#): > > some years back I worked on a team led by a woman named Moriarty. Who had a PhD. Made for some interesting staff meetings (she had a good sense of humor about it). I don’t see any reason to joke about such a name. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3515 "2022-01-26T12:22:02Z")
Hundreds of [Steinway](https://www.steinway.com/news/features/victory-verticals) pianos were parachuted to troops in the field during WW2 and the Korean conflict - as well as hundreds/thousands by land. They were called “Victory Verticals” - made in their factory in Queens, NY… ---
**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:** [January 26, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3516 "2022-01-26T12:53:06Z")
Well, that explains everything. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3517 "2022-01-26T13:38:24Z")
Billie Piper, Billie Eilish, Billie Whitelaw, Billie Jean King; lots more here, some of which are male. > **[Billie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Billie may refer to: ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3518 "2022-01-26T15:09:30Z")
My first girlfriend was named Billi. She was a real cutie. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3519 "2022-01-26T21:15:25Z")
Jonah Holmes amd Ross Moriarty are clubmates for the Dragons. Both are Welsh international rugby players. Anthony Watson currently plays for Bath Rugby but he’ll be looking for another club come the end of this season. I dare to hope. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3520 "2022-01-27T13:30:48Z")
Does anyone named “Moran” play rugby? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3521 "2022-01-27T14:13:05Z")
Philip Dick is rolling in his grave … chortling. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3522 "2022-01-27T15:44:11Z")
I’ve seen this listed a few places, but have yet to be able to officially confirm or deny, so maybe my fellow Dopers can assist: If two single people register for a hotel room and sign in as a married couple, a quirk in North Carolina law means that have officially gotten married. I assume this is one of those obscure, 1800s laws that were passed for reasons of morality, and to strengthen [blue laws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law?wprov=sfti1). I’ve seen it referenced in a few places, including [this](https://www.courier-tribune.com/story/news/2021/01/15/nc-laws-both-confusing-and-interesting/4160292001/) newspaper article. I’ve emailed the author to see if she can point me to a verification of this, but haven’t yet received a response. I emailed one of the North Carolina county courthouses, but was told that they were the wrong ones to ask. They offered no guidance as to how I might confirm or disconfirm this information. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3523 "2022-01-27T16:03:50Z")
I’m assuming this is about common-law marriage. Two problems: 1. North Carolina does not have common law marriage. A marriage must be solemnified by an officiate under NC law (Chapter 51 Section 1). If you want information, read Chapter 51 of NC laws. 2. For a common law marriage to take effect, you need to represent yourself as husband/wife at all time like when filing income taxes, insurance, etc. If you and your significant other call each other husband/wife in one particular event, does not make a common law marriage. > A common law marriage cannot be created under North Carolina law. However, a common law marriage validly established in another state will be recognized by North Carolina courts. Approximately twelve states recognize common law marriage. In those states the couple generally must do more than simply live together; generally, they must: > > - Have the intent to be married > - Cohabitate > - Hold themselves out to the public as if married > - Meet other state requirements [From here](https://www.ricefamilylaw.com/practice/cohabitant-rights-wilmington-nc/) ---
**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:** [January 27, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3524 "2022-01-27T16:34:39Z")
Nothing I’ve seen references common-law, but that’s not to say that you’re incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3525 "2022-01-27T17:42:20Z")
You gotta be careful about accepting apocryphal tales as fact, said no one in the GOP ever. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3526 "2022-01-27T17:45:53Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > If two single people register for a hotel room and sign in as a married couple, a quirk in North Carolina law means that have officially gotten married. I had heard the same thing about Texas, only this alleged law says it only requires a man to introduce a woman as his wife, in front of multiple people, for them to be considered married. No idea if the law exists outside of factually dubious “worlds craziest laws” lists. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3527 "2022-01-27T18:14:27Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I had heard the same thing about Texas, only this alleged law says it only requires a man to introduce a woman as his wife, in front of multiple people, for them to be considered married. Again, like NC, no. > Common law marriage, also known as marriage without formalities or informal marriage, is a valid and legal way for a couple to marry in Texas. Texas law states that a common law marriage may be proved by evidence that the couple: > > - “ agreed to be married ”; and > - “ after the agreement they lived together in this state as husband and wife”; and they > - “ represented to others that they were married” [Cite](https://guides.sll.texas.gov/common-law-marriage) So “ **only** requires” is incorrect. I would also question that if only the man did it and not the woman that it would satisfy “ represented to others that they were married”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=175) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=177)