# 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:** 244
**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:** [July 25, 2022, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4869 "2022-07-25T14:11:59Z")
> [@Moonrise](#): > > Being confronted with grammatical structures and metaphors not found in your mother tongue forces you to think about the latter in a new way. But it _was_ found in my mother tongue, once I noticed it! That’s the part that floored me. I’d learned tenses _en français,_ and much later noticed authors and educated people using phrases like “Well, if I _were_ going to the beach…” The first time, I almost blurted out “Conditional Tense! It does exist!” ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4870 "2022-07-25T18:51:42Z")
> [@digs](#): > > The first time, I almost blurted out “Conditional Tense! It does exist!” The same thing happened to me when I first heard of [performative utterances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performative_utterance). I couldn’t help but notice them everywhere. My then-partner thought it got old quickly. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4871 "2022-07-25T22:20:57Z")
> [@digs](#): > > The first time, I almost blurted out “Conditional Tense! It does exist!” I learned some German while being lectured in English class about grammar and punctuation so some of it stuck in with me. But German classes ended and I stopped thinking about grammar. But I was receiving better grades for my papers than many of my fellow students. This caused me to think about becoming some sort of writer. Therefore, I pursued writing in college, which is when I took French classes. It all came together with college having higher standards for writing while I was decoding French sentence structure. Aha! Miss Cruikshank was right! I sent her belated thanks but she had already retired. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4872 "2022-07-25T23:52:58Z")
The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago had an exhibit consisting of all the known bacteria in the world. I can’t find an image for that. Anybody who can please, please, please post it. Please. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4873 "2022-07-26T01:39:57Z")
Yes, it’s true: > **[RIP, Choco Taco](https://thetakeout.com/choco-taco-discontinued-1849327038)** > > Rumblings of the Klondike product's demise has spread across social media. The horror, the horror! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4874 "2022-07-26T14:51:58Z")
The flag of Jamaica is the only national flag that does not have any red, white, or blue: [Flag of Jamaica - Flag of Jamaica - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Jamaica#/media/File:Flag_of_Jamaica.svg) ---
**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:** [July 26, 2022, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4875 "2022-07-26T17:39:32Z")
TIL about Indian stepwells. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBH0zmLpKuI) is one example. They’re basically deep wells with steps so you can walk down to the water. Amazing engineering. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4876 "2022-07-26T21:09:37Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > Yes, it’s true: Frustrated by their individual sale only, a friend who lives near the plant goes there to buy them by the case. Last night, he was musing about investing in a freezer today and stocking up. If I were in his place, I might consider it too. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2022, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4877 "2022-07-26T21:54:00Z")
A certain relative of mine bought ten of them today - leaving a few behind for others - and somehow managed to get them all into the freezer. In recent years, they’ve been dissed for inferior quality and diminished size, but I liked them well enough… though I’ve always thought they’d be even better with chocolate ice cream rather than vanilla. ---
**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:** [July 26, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4878 "2022-07-26T21:58:19Z")
> [@Dropo](#): > > though I’ve always thought they’d be even better with chocolate ice cream rather than vanilla. Agreed, but dark chocolate preferred here. Or maybe cherry chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4879 "2022-07-27T03:57:09Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > TIL about Indian stepwells I have been to a number of them in India. Different areas have different designs, the ones in Gujurat, for example, are more a long, long single flight of stairs with a roof supported by intricately carved pillars. Unfortunately for me, I missed the step well that you linked to when I was in Jaipur, but there is another incredible site worth visiting in that city: The 1700s [Jantar Mantar Observatory](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jantar_Mantar,_Jaipur) And because this is interesting random facts… the observatory has the largest sundial in the world. Also (from wikipedia) > [@](#): > > The observatory consists of nineteen instruments for measuring time, predicting [eclipses](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse), tracking location of major stars as the earth orbits around the sun, ascertaining the declinations of planets, and determining the celestial altitudes and related ephemerides. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4880 "2022-07-27T17:06:21Z")
Rachel Robinson, widow of famed baseball player Jackie Robinson, turned 100 last week. She was there for the [opening](https://www.bet.com/article/kqo0pu/jackie-robinson-museum-opens-new-york-city#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Associated%20Press,David%20were%20also%20in%20attendance.) of the Jackie Robinson Museum yesterday in New York. Cool. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2022, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4881 "2022-07-28T02:58:58Z")
[Ganna Walska](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganna_Walska), not Marian Davies, was the inspiration for Susan Alexander in **Citizen Kane.** What’s more: at one time she was married to [Harry Grindell Matthews,](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Grindell_Matthews) inventor of the **1920’s-Style Death Ray.** ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4882 "2022-07-28T03:54:34Z")
Mammoths were not named after the adjective, rather, the adjective comes from the animal. Which leads to the fact that there is an extinct species called the [Pygmy Mammoth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygmy_mammoth) ---
**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:** [July 28, 2022, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4883 "2022-07-28T04:34:15Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > Mammoths were not named after the adjective, rather, the adjective comes from the animal. Likewise, the adjective “jumbo” comes from the name of an elephant. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2022, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4884 "2022-07-28T04:43:24Z")
The word **blizzard** originally meant a violent blow, and only later got transferred to a fierce snowstorm; the idea being that the storm was a knockout blow to a town or city. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2022, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4885 "2022-07-28T12:05:13Z")
So, a sockdolager. ---
**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 28, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4886 "2022-07-28T12:40:27Z")
Today’s _Forward_ has a neat article on [Faux Hebrew](https://forward.com/culture/507668/faux-hebrew-font-jewish-antisemitic-soy-vey-origins-fake-yiddish-letters/) fonts. If you are into graphic design, it is worth your time. ---
**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:** [July 28, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4887 "2022-07-28T13:02:18Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Likewise, the adjective “jumbo” comes from the name of an elephant. And was later appropriated by Lyndon Baines Johnson as a moniker for his penis. > **[An Exceedingly Historical Account of ‘Jumbo,’ LBJ’s Very Large Penis](https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/lyndon-b-johnson-penis)** > > He pulled it out so often that he pretty much reduced much of his presidency to a literal dick-measuring contest ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/4888 "2022-07-28T13:53:03Z")
Sock it to me! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=243) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=245)