# 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:** 236
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4709 "2022-06-23T14:37:25Z")
According to the band’s producer, Jack Douglas, the triple platinum live album **Cheap Trick at Budokan** was actually recorded 250 miles away from that venue in Osaka. The volume of the much larger audience at Budokan made that audio unusable. ---
**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:** [June 26, 2022, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4710 "2022-06-26T02:57:56Z")
Here’s a whole list of things that are interesting (and hopefully factual). - There were dinosaur fossils when there were still dinosaurs alive. - Voyager has been traveling at more than 30,000 miles per hour for 43 years, and it’s still only 20 light hours away from Earth. > **[Science Facts That Show The Terrifying Scope Of The Universe](https://cheezburger.com/16450053/science-facts-that-show-the-terrifying-scope-of-the-universe)** > > Reality is freaky. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4711 "2022-06-29T22:26:43Z")
I don’t want this thread to die, and it’s slowly slipping down the list of ‘Latest’ topics in this forum, so I’ll add another. And it’s a border one which always gets a lot of interest. Tasmania is an island state about 240kms (150 miles) from the Australian mainland, yet it shares a land border with the nearest state, Victoria. Basically, there are a few islands in Bass Strait (the dividing stretch of the Southern Ocean between the two states), so in order to work out which island belongs to which state, early surveyors drew a line across Bass Strait that did not pass through any island - the line being 39°12′ S (yes, I looked it up). Unfortunately, early surveyors, inaccurate 1800s equipment, etc, etc - they got it wrong. Result - there is a land border between Victoria and Tasmania. The border is less than 300m in length. You can go and walk across it, but it’s basically a rock completely covered in seabird shit. [Boundary Islet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boundary_Islet) ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4712 "2022-06-29T22:46:20Z")
This story makes me think of my own state’s [Northwest Angle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Angle). It’s a great story that has interesting reverberations for the residents on all sides of the Minnesota/Manitoba/Ontario border. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4713 "2022-06-29T23:33:20Z")
Pfft, stupid Northwest Angle… makes every map of the US _of_ A look like it’s got a glitch in it. (meanwhile, nearly everyone in the Vatican and Wyoming are laughing, saying “Why can’t you draw a straight line?”). At least [Point](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Point+Roberts,+WA+98281/@48.9927509,-123.0759837,13z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x5485e5ffff02c5fd:0x2b6ed49177b716a!8m2!3d48.9883827!4d-123.0568693) [Roberts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Roberts,_Washington) isn’t noticeable (and doesn’t look like a dumb mistake…) ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4714 "2022-06-29T23:45:36Z")
> [@digs](#): > > stupid Northwest Angle… Well, it wasn’t performed by the class valedictorian. Remember, those people were working without modern conveniences, and they certainly knew how to ask and follow instructions. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4715 "2022-06-30T01:11:28Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > The border is less than 300m in length. _Much_ less - 85m according to the article. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4716 "2022-06-30T19:24:20Z")
> **[Newly classified carnivorous plant goes underground to catch prey](https://newatlas.com/biology/underground-carnivorous-pitcher-plant/?utm_source=New%20Atlas%20Subscribers&utm_campaign=1165c41f86-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_06_30_01_54&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-1165c41f86-90116597&fbclid=IwAR0sEEzGtYSbMxdEIOPpFT8NtB6hRgwlzLweEvJt_n_ua7ojPyYt5p48GVw)** > > Carnivorous plants are already quite fascinating, but a newly discovered one ratchets up the weirdness factor even further. It's a type of pitcher plant, and it captures prey that lives underground. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4717 "2022-06-30T21:54:05Z")
@Dropo, that’s wicked cool! ---
**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 1, 2022, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4718 "2022-07-01T02:14:16Z")
Having just moved, I discovered “Informed Delivery” from USPS. When you fill out your change of address form, you can opt in. It’s free for six months, I think. They email me photo scans (digital pictures) of mail that they’ll be delivering to this new address. _Ah, there’s a letter for the lady we bought from. Oh, there’s the insurance renewal, forwarded from the old address._ It isn’t necessarily accurate down to the day you’ll receive it, but you know what to expect in a day or two. I think it’s pretty cool. I guess they’re already scanning the stuff, so it’s really a matter of adding some code to redirect the information? [https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Informed-Delivery-Dashboard](https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Informed-Delivery-Dashboard) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4719 "2022-07-01T07:50:17Z")
TIL that there is a Canadian dialect of Ukrainian. > **[Canadian Ukrainian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Ukrainian)** > > Canadian Ukrainian (Ukrainian: канадський діалект української мови, romanized: kanadśkyj dialekt ukrainśkoji movy, IPA: \[kɐˈnɑdzʲsʲkɪj d⁽ʲ⁾iɐˈlɛkt ʊkrɐˈjinʲsʲkoji ˈmɔwɪ\]) is a dialect of the Ukrainian language specific to the Ukrainian Canadian community descended from the first three waves of historical Ukrainian emigration to Western Canada. Canadian Ukrainian was widely spoken from the beginning of Ukrainian settlement in Canada in 1892 until the mid-20th century, when the number of its speake... ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4720 "2022-07-01T10:06:38Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > It’s free for six months, I think. I’ve had informed delivery for over six months now and it’s still free. Never heard anything about a fee. There aren’t any ads, either. ---
**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 1, 2022, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4721 "2022-07-01T11:29:12Z")
**Florida Man strikes again!** > [@](#): > > # Florida Man Pretended To Be Disney World Staffer To Steal A Famous Character, Police Say > > The man wore a Disney name tag and wanted to “show weaknesses” in the theme park’s security, according to police. > > avid Emerson Proudfoot was arrested and is facing third-degree grand theft charges and obstruction by false information after he allegedly donned a Disney name tag and attempted to steal a “Star Wars” R2-D2 statue worth up to $10,000, [Law & Crime reported](https://lawandcrime.com/crime/florida-man-impersonated-disney-employee-to-steal-10000-r2d2-droid-claimed-he-was-hoping-to-land-a-security-job-sheriff/). > > … > > The man said he applied for a Disney World security job, the affidavit said, and wanted to move the items to point out security lapses in hopes of getting a better paying position. > > He allegedly told police it wasn’t his goal to take the items from Disney World, although a search warrant at his home “revealed thousands of dollars worth of items” from the theme park, Law & Crime reported. > **[Florida Man Pretended To Be Disney World Staffer To Steal A Famous Character,...](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/florida-man-disney-world-statue-theft_n_62be54ade4b014f50a2feb6c)** > > The man wore a Disney name tag and wanted to "show weaknesses" in the theme park's security, according to police. ---
**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 1, 2022, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4722 "2022-07-01T12:54:25Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve had informed delivery for over six months now and it’s still free. Never heard anything about a fee. There aren’t any ads, either Cool! I meant to add that they also notify you about packages that are on the way. Today’s tidbit: > The largest ZIP Code in the contiguous U.S. is 89049, Tonopah, NV, at 10,821 square miles. [https://facts.usps.com/one-day/](https://facts.usps.com/one-day/) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4723 "2022-07-01T14:32:16Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Having just moved, I discovered “Informed Delivery” from USPS. When you fill out your change of address form, you can opt in. It’s free for six months, I think. They email me photo scans (digital pictures) of mail that they’ll be delivering to this new address. _Ah, there’s a letter for the lady we bought from. Oh, there’s the insurance renewal, forwarded from the old address._ It isn’t necessarily accurate down to the day you’ll receive it, but you know what to expect in a day or two. > > I think it’s pretty cool. I guess they’re already scanning the stuff, so it’s really a matter of adding some code to redirect the information? > > [https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Informed-Delivery-Dashboard](https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Informed-Delivery-Dashboard) I’ve used informed delivered for several years. It’s free. You just create an account on the USPS web page and opt in. You get photos of all your letters. No magazines or flyers, but no one cares if they don’t get that. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4724 "2022-07-01T14:57:12Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’ve used informed delivered for several years. It’s free. While I’m happy with the service, I don’t see why the USPS is offering it. There doesn’t seem to be a profit involved. Is the USPS suddenly flush with $$? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4725 "2022-07-01T15:12:06Z")
Here is a random fact: I grew a crappy mustache recently, and when I release my hair from whatever configuration it’s in, and try to knock the spiders out of it, I really look like an old geezer. [This Geezer, specifically…](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=uFFTC73I&id=6D49CC6C29BD06350B50DF25692B151EE34E08F5&thid=OIP.uFFTC73IPv0prVGtE2J_tgHaKU&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fd5%2F8b%2F86%2Fd58b86797cef0ecfebf14eb9700f36b3.png&cdnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fth.bing.com%2Fth%2Fid%2FR.b851530bbdc83efd29ad51ad13627fb6%3Frik%3D9QhO4x4VK2kl3w%26pid%3DImgRaw%26r%3D0&exph=741&expw=532&q=geezer+butler&simid=607990421135431933&form=IRPRST&ck=1141D07E0485F119BCD7BFD4EDA7364D&selectedindex=1&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0&pivotparams=insightsToken%3Dccid_SpmZQPpd*cp_F624C689ADE9DDD78FB75CF87A572233*mid_748BFD8CA4ED519CDAF487D372C129BF8EE68E64*simid_608023672773150712*thid_OIP.SpmZQPpdxuVNMNP7QDNx1wHaE5&vt=0&sim=11&iss=VSI&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4726 "2022-07-01T15:29:51Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I’ve used informed delivered for several years. It’s free. You just create an account on the USPS web page and opt in. I don’t ask UPS or any delivery service to come to my house. Well, I could get UPS to deliver, but that would just be mean. Don’t get USPS delivery either. I have a UPS box in town. Works great. They email me when something arrives and I just pop in and pick it up when I’m in town. Easy peasy. The UPS store is right by the grocery store and a liquor store. ---
**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 1, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4727 "2022-07-01T16:04:46Z")
The marginal cost of adding another customer to informed delivery is effectively $0.00 because they’re already doing the scans. And for most people, the value is very low. So for a fairly low fixed cost they can provide an extra service to all their customers that gives them an edge over other shippers. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4728 "2022-07-01T20:59:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > I’ve used informed delivered for several years. It’s free. > > While I’m happy with the service, I don’t see why the USPS is offering it. There doesn’t seem to be a profit involved. Is the USPS suddenly flush with $$? Because the cost is minimal. And their name is the US Postal _ **Service** _. It’s a service to their users. Finally, yes, the USPS is suddenly flush with money. They eliminated the requirement that the prefund employees’ retirement for 75 years, which was the main reason they were not making money. This cost them over $5 billion a year. (Though that just went into effect). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=235) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=237)