# 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:** 253
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5049 "2022-08-15T01:27:36Z")
If you stare across the ocean from NYC (and most of the northeast coast), the first country along the line you’re viewing is…. well, depending on the direction you’re staring, there can be many including. Morocco, South Africa, and even Brazil and Australia!. One country that couldn’t be along that path is Portugal, which most people know as being on the same latitude line. ETA: [Have you ever sat on a beach on wondered what’s across the ocean? | by Max Galka | Medium](https://medium.com/@galka_max/have-you-ever-sat-on-a-beach-on-wondered-whats-across-the-ocean-82c332b69ac5) ---
**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:** [August 15, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5050 "2022-08-15T20:59:02Z")
The link is from the perspective of Montauk, but from Chatham in Massachusetts Portugal is viewable in a straight line (as is Spain and, just about, France). Cool about Australia though 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2022, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5051 "2022-08-15T21:47:47Z")
Well, if I understood correctly, any point is “viewable” as long as the path is a great circle. But you can’t be facing the ocean to see Europe. I’m assuming that great circle would have you facing Canada. This is just based on my looking at the last map in that link. ---
**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:** [August 15, 2022, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5052 "2022-08-15T22:11:45Z")
I was wondering if, from Long Island, to look in Portugal’s direction, your view would be blocked. By Cape Cod, or Nantucket, or Nova Scotia, or, get this, **[Portugal Cove](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Portugal+Cove+South,+NL,+Canada/@46.7088573,-53.2650892,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x4b0ca3c27d2ff00f:0x64ec9db3d57639a8!2sNewfoundland+and+Labrador,+Canada!3b1!8m2!3d53.1355091!4d-57.6604364!3m4!1s0x4b0d760e269c841f:0x45b26d115c6a28ad!8m2!3d46.7141498!4d-53.2546806)**, Newfoundland. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2022, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5053 "2022-08-16T13:35:00Z")
_Sports Illustrated_ premiered on the 6th anniversary Babe Ruth’s death [but evidently makes no mention of Babe.](https://vault.si.com/vault/1954/08/16/45795-toc) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5054 "2022-08-16T15:27:00Z")
Not so much a fact as an interesting real world observation I stumbled across. You can scan zebras (AKA ‘Barcode Ponies’) with a barcode scanner and occasionally, it will read as a valid UPC-E barcode. I went to the zoo today and discovered exactly this with the barcode scanner app on my phone. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5055 "2022-08-16T16:10:54Z")
Victims of a storage war? > **[Bodies Found In Suitcases Sold At Auction In New Zealand, Say Police](https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bodies-found-in-suitcases-sold-at-auction-in-new-zealand-say-police-3258764)** > > New Zealand police have begun a homicide investigation after human remains were allegedly found stashed in suitcases that were bought at an auction in the country's largest city Auckland. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5056 "2022-08-16T16:50:25Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > You can scan zebras (AKA ‘Barcode Ponies’) with a barcode scanner and occasionally, it will read as a valid UPC-E barcode. Does the code say, “zebra”? ---
**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:** [August 16, 2022, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5057 "2022-08-16T17:41:39Z")
Maybe they could nickname the zebras; e.g. “Hunts Tomato Sauce”. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5058 "2022-08-16T18:00:55Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > You can scan zebras… Wow! Just tried this, and scanned the hind end of what I thought was a zebra. The readout just said “I’m an [**okapi**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi), not a bloody zebra, ya wanker!” ---
**Author:** ![superwombat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superwombat/32/16616_2.png) [@superwombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/superwombat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5059 "2022-08-17T04:24:50Z")
If they don’t scan properly, they’re free!!! _Cashier dies inside just a little more…_ ---
**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:** [August 17, 2022, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5060 "2022-08-17T07:25:57Z")
[One can dream, though](http://retailcomics.com/comic/july-6-2014) (Discourse won’t embed the image — something about a missing header). ---
**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:** [August 17, 2022, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5061 "2022-08-17T14:02:49Z")
[![](https://secureservercdn.net/192.169.220.85/rmw.839.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2014-07-06-July-6-2014.jpg) ](https://secureservercdn.net/192.169.220.85/rmw.839.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2014-07-06-July-6-2014.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5062 "2022-08-19T04:46:04Z")
TIL learned that the conveyor belt at the far end of the grocery cashier station can be controlled by the customer to move their items along, by pressing a button tucked under the end of the cash station. This is particularly useful in these times, when the middle of the cashier station is still blocked off by the anti-COVID plexiglass shields. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5063 "2022-08-19T14:54:57Z")
Striped fitted sheets are the best. With stripes you can quickly determine which is the long side. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5064 "2022-08-19T17:10:09Z")
That’s a clever hack. The last couple of set of sheets that I have bought have tags that say “end” or “sides” though. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5065 "2022-08-19T17:17:11Z")
Some are powered by foot pedals, so that the cashier can keep scanning while the belt is moving. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5066 "2022-08-19T17:34:38Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Striped fitted sheets are the best. With stripes you can quickly determine which is the long side. Assuming you remember which way the stripes run (and that all of sets of striped sheets run the same way (or you can remember which is which)). ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2022, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5067 "2022-08-19T18:09:26Z")
Doesn’t it depend on whether the stripes are meant tk be horizontal or vertical? In any case, I have a king bed and, with my favorite soft sheets it’s impossible to tell the correct end without trial and error. I eventually just drew a red X on one side in permanent marker. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2022, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/5068 "2022-08-19T21:27:28Z")
I have only encountered stripes that run from head to foot. But I have led a pampered life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=252) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=254)