# 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:** 355
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7091 "2023-07-31T13:23:42Z")
James Arness was recommended for the role of Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke by John Wayne. The producers wanted the ‘Duke’ in the starring role but he wasn’t interested in doing television so he told them about a big tall actor he thought would be perfect for the role. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7092 "2023-07-31T13:58:25Z")
Real obscure. Back in the mid 1800’s people looking for gold in Colorado mountains. They came to a town and where told to move on “The gold is ours” The gold seekers/settlers moved on further west and found a town called Fairplay. Fair Play. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7093 "2023-07-31T15:30:53Z")
Not far from Climax, MN is a twon named Fertile. There is a story (that may be an urban legend) about a tragic death, inspiring a local newspaper headline: "Fertile Woman Dies In Climax’ ---
**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 31, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7094 "2023-07-31T16:34:49Z")
The first hit I get on that is to the _Tampa Tribune_, June 1, 1979. However, it wasn’t a real story but part of a contest to write a compelling misleading headline, the print version of clickbait. Way back on March 22, 1912, the McKinney, TX, _Courier-Gazette_, did have a real headline of “Young Woman Dies at Climax.” Climax is still an unincorporated community in Collin County, Texas. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2023, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7095 "2023-08-01T12:39:47Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Not far from Climax, MN is a twon named Fertile. There is a story (that may be an urban legend) about a tragic death, inspiring a local newspaper headline: "Fertile Woman Dies In Climax’ I had previously heard it as “Fertile Woman Marries Man In Climax.” ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7096 "2023-08-01T16:14:35Z")
This may be old news to some, but I was unaware that there is [evidence of human/Neanderthal relations and offspring](https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0f8khzt/lapedo-child-a-neanderthal-modern-human-hybrid-). Was it a one-off or a regular thing? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7097 "2023-08-01T16:30:05Z")
I don’t have time now to watch it, but does the video present archaeological/anatomical evidence for Neanderthal/Homo Sapiens hybrids? Because that would be big news indeed, while the fact that such hybrids must have existed is in fact old news and was proven by genetical studies (about 10 years ago or so. The guy who led those studies, [Svante Pääbo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svante_P%C3%A4%C3%A4bo), got the Nobel for it). The fact that some Europeans carry up to 4% of Neanderthal genes shows that it was a rather frequent occurrence. ---
**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:** [August 1, 2023, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7098 "2023-08-01T16:42:40Z")
I believe that it was not that regular. Most Neanderthals were kind of awkward when it came to dating. Obviously sometimes they got lucky with a homo sapiens, down by the cave bar, but the homo sapiens was probably a bit drunk, and the walk of shame must have been quite tough. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7099 "2023-08-01T16:44:15Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I don’t have time now to watch it, but does the video present archaeological/anatomical evidence for Neanderthal/Homo Sapiens hybrids? The video mainly discusses the discovery of a child who appears to be a hybrid, so as you say it might just be a one-off. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7100 "2023-08-01T16:47:26Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > The video mainly discusses the discovery of a child who appears to be a hybrid, so as you say it might just be a one-off. If I understand you correctly and it’s about a possible hybrid _fossil_, then that fossil is the one-off find (and would be a sensation). The actual _mating_ of Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens, like I said, must have happened regularly according to the genetical data. ---
**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 1, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7101 "2023-08-01T17:03:00Z")
If there was one, there were probably very many. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7102 "2023-08-01T17:06:13Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > If I understand you correctly and it’s about a possible hybrid _fossil_, then that fossil is the one-off find (and would be a sensation). Yes, the video is about the fossil of what appears to be a hybrid child. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7103 "2023-08-01T17:07:43Z")
Interesting, I’ll watch it later. But I find it strange that I haven’t heard of the case until now, because I’m very interested in such subjects. But it’s the BBC, isn’t it? I still trust them…at least more than many other TV channels. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7104 "2023-08-01T17:29:36Z")
I’ve watched the video, and am now even more stunned that I hadn’t heard about that find, which was made in 1998 and thus about 15 years before the genetical studies proved the interbreeding of Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens. I can believe, like the video hinted at, that the involved researchers were not taken seriously at the time when they suggested that it was a fossil from a hybrid. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7105 "2023-08-01T19:16:41Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > a local newspaper headline: "Fertile Woman Dies In Climax’ That reminds me of the little settlement of Big Ugly, West Virginia. Local lore claims there was once a headline that ran “Big Ugly Girl Wins Beauty Contest.” I don’t know about that, but there really is a building called the “Big Ugly Community Center” which used to be the “Big Ugly School.” ---
**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:** [August 2, 2023, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7106 "2023-08-02T05:42:13Z")
What turns out to be an urban legend is that singer Barry Manilow wote all his dozens of songs - with the exception of one - “I Write the Songs”. ---
**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:** [August 2, 2023, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7107 "2023-08-02T07:41:31Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > That reminds me of the little settlement of Big Ugly, West Virginia. Local lore claims there was once a headline that ran “Big Ugly Girl Wins Beauty Contest.” I don’t know about that, but there really is a building called the “Big Ugly Community Center” which used to be the “Big Ugly School.” Reminds me of the village of Bath, Ontario, which has the Bath Water Filtration Plant. > **[Google Maps](https://maps.app.goo.gl/SEur6yBmTXeVDz7v8?g_st=ic)** > > Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. (They’ve reformatted the sign a bit. Now it says, “Village of Bath/Water Treatment Plant” on two lines.) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7108 "2023-08-02T13:39:17Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > This may be old news to some, but I was unaware that there is [evidence of human/Neanderthal relations and offspring](https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0f8khzt/lapedo-child-a-neanderthal-modern-human-hybrid-). Was it a one-off or a regular thing? It would seem to have been a regular thing. When I did the Nat-Geo genomics test, they reported that a tiny bit over 1% of my genome was Neanderthal and Denisovan (they were listed individually and it added up to more than 1%). I rather doubt that I am an outlier (at least as far as that goes). ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7109 "2023-08-02T14:12:55Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Reminds me of the village of Bath, Ontario, which has the Bath Water Filtration Plant. I always liked St. James-Bond United Church (on Bond Street in Toronto). ---
**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:** [August 2, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7110 "2023-08-02T14:34:14Z")
Well, as we’re going down this road (hah!) there’s this famous (real) road sign from deepest, darkest Kent in SE England. You’ll need to click for a decent sized image. > **[File:Ham Sandwich road sign, Kent.jpg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ham_Sandwich_road_sign,_Kent.jpg)** That is by no means something I have just stumbled across, but this is: If you google _Ham Sandwich sign_ and then select _Maps_, google maps will take you straight to the signpost. I did say it was famous. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sYYL3QCygz-f6IU2AK5atkQ%212m2%211d51.2382229%212d1.3341812%213f41.0%214f9.072%215f0.75 j [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=354) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=356)