# 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:** 362
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7231 "2023-08-15T23:02:54Z")
I’d be okay with it (and blood donation is how my friend deals with his condition), but I might need to get a metallurgist on standby to extract the iron, and I’d really hate to deprive a donor recipient. Can they use your blood once donated? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7232 "2023-08-16T00:15:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Huh, I have hemochromatosis, and I’m part Irish. And it’s not known for sure, but my family suspects that the gene (on that side) came from my mostly-Irish grandfather. The gene exists throughout Northern Europe, and is thought to be of Celtic origin. But the Irish Great Hunger strongly selected for families that had it. So IIRC 1 in 5 Irish people is a carrier, and 1 in 83 has two copies of the genes. > [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Can they use your blood once donated? If levels are abnormal then they ask you to get clinical phlebotomy instead. (Good luck getting an American doctor to order it.) If you are successfully keeping your levels within the normal range then there is no reason not to donate for use in patients. Obviously, doctors treating vulnerable patients need to be able to count on the blood they prescribe falling within normal parameters. Surprisingly, iron overload is also a problem for people who need regular blood donations, even for anemia. While a low iron reading is indicative of anemia, the real problem is a lack of cells. The iron reading is just a side effect, and donations can end up pushing them into overload. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7233 "2023-08-16T00:58:36Z")
[reddit comment] _A murder a day for a longsword in May. (I know it would be June, but it doesn’t rhyme.)_ [/reddit] ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7234 "2023-08-16T01:08:07Z")
A murder a day for a longsword in May. A murder each noon for a longsword in June. A murder a day _pour l’épée de juillet_. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7235 "2023-08-16T01:41:17Z")
When I was first diagnosed, I needed a prescription to be allowed to donate more often than the usual every 8 weeks, but my PCP wrote it out for me (she was also the one who diagnosed me, because she included an iron test in the standard set of routine blood tests), and the blood center said there was no problem in using the blood. Once I got down to normal levels, though, every 8 weeks seems to be enough to keep it under control for me. Though technically, that still wasn’t “an American doctor”, as she was an NP. ---
**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 16, 2023, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7236 "2023-08-16T01:44:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > With Irish enemies you don’t cut the number of dead-you upgrade to a broadsword. Claymore, you mean. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7237 "2023-08-16T01:50:47Z")
_Do_ try to leave enough Irish so as they don’t die out entirely. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7238 "2023-08-16T02:00:40Z")
I have problems with anemia, and have to have periodic iron infusions. I mentioned this once to the woman who delivered my produce, and it turned out that her husband has hemochromatosis. We joked that it’s a shame we can’t solve both our problems by having him do direct blood transfers to me. ---
**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, 2023, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7239 "2023-08-16T02:48:28Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Climax Saskatchewan. I was just in Google Maps looking around for interesting cities to play in [Delivery INC](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1793260/Delivery_INC/) and noticed that Newfoundland has odd names all over the place. Dildo, Heart’s Content, Heart’s Desire, Spread Eagle, Cupids, Conception Harbour, Tickle Harbour Station, Come By Chance, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7240 "2023-08-16T02:49:46Z")
Not really new for me, but the mystique of the [fine-structure constant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-structure_constant) has always intrigued me. Physicists scratch their heads over it because they don’t know what it “means,” what it implies, or where it comes from. It’s a mystery. _ **Why** _ does it have a value of 0.0072973525693? What at weird, random-looking number. No one knows. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2023, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7241 "2023-08-16T08:48:10Z")
Rumors have persisted for years that the children’s movie _The Adventures of Milo and Otis_ had around 30 kittens killed during filming, most deliberately. During filming of one scene, kittens were allegedly put in a box and filmed being thrown over a waterfall. It’s also alleged that a pug died during filming a scene involving a bear. None of the scenes were included in the American release. None of the allegations have ever been proven, but they’ve never been disproven, either. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7242 "2023-08-16T10:11:24Z")
Dude, I don’t mean to be all like in your face, but it sounds like yet another unsubstantiated rumor. Neither interesting nor fact. I had a look online before posting and saw something in the film’s [Wikipedia entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Milo_and_Otis#Animal_cruelty_allegations) that you might have included: > The film was reported to have the approval of the American Humane Society, despite not having their officers present during filming. The American Humane Association attempted to investigate cruelty rumors through “contacts in Europe who normally have information on movies throughout the world.” While noting that the contacts had also heard the allegations, they were unable to verify them. The organization also reported, “We have tried through humane people in Japan, and through another Japanese producer to determine if these rumors are true, but everything has led to a dead end.” The same report noted that several Japanese Humane Societies allowed their names to be used in connection with the film and that the film “shows no animals being injured or harmed.” It’s just Wikipedia, but IMO it’s a whole lot better than: > [@Superdude](#): > > None of the allegations have ever been proven, but they’ve never been disproven, either. That sounds awfully typical of conspiracy theorists, don’t you think? I hope this doesn’t offend you. I’m reacting to your post, not attacking you. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2023, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7243 "2023-08-16T10:51:47Z")
I don’t see that as conspiracy theorist so much as water-cooler talk. I may have been a little sparse on details, but the major point was made. And, in my defense, I _did_ say in the first sentence that rumors have persisted, without my taking any particular side a so far as belief is concerned. And no worries about attacking me. I understand what you were saying. I suppose my brevity while typing on my phone created the impression that I was potentially attempting to muddy the waters between fact and fiction. ETA: And the bit that you quoted about Japan doesn’t really add anything. They say that no cruelty that they were aware of _made it to the screen_. As I mentioned above, none of the alleged cruelty made it into the American cut of the film. Of course, if it didn’t make it to the screen, then it wasn’t in the final cut. ---
**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 16, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7244 "2023-08-16T12:42:18Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > And, in my defense, I _did_ say in the first sentence that rumors have persisted, without my taking any particular side a so far as belief is concerned. If you don’t feel comfortable asserting something as a fact, you probably shouldn’t be adding it to a thread about facts. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2023, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7245 "2023-08-16T13:04:55Z")
This all seems unnecessarily hostile. There are several posts upthread on various topics that don’t have conclusive facts, and involve suppositions. If you’re going to bitch at me, then I expect to see follow-up posts where you take them to task, as well. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2023, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7246 "2023-08-16T13:36:34Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > And, in my defense, I _did_ say in the first sentence that rumors have persisted, without my taking any particular side a so far as belief is concerned. You didn’t make clear that the fact you were reporting was the rumor’s existence. Reading your post it seemed like you were presenting the demise of the animals as fact. So now you’ve cleared it up, not that big of a deal. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7247 "2023-08-16T14:04:25Z")
TIL that ‘hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia’ is the fear of long words. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7248 "2023-08-16T14:09:34Z")
The first words in my post were “rumors have persisted,” followed by several uses of the word “allegedly.” I don’t know how that could have been unclear. But whatever. I’ll drop it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7249 "2023-08-16T15:15:16Z")
That may have been copy-and-pasted correctly, but I don’t think it’s spelled correctly. hipp- = horse -o- potAm- = river -o- monst- = monster -o- sesqui- = 1½ ped- = foot (one P) -al = adjectival suffix -i- = probably an orphan from the word “sesquipedalian” -o- -phobia = fear of something ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2023, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7250 "2023-08-16T15:19:18Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > That may have been copy-and-pasted correctly, but I don’t think it’s spelled correctly. You’re probably right. I didn’t run it through spellcheck before I posted. Wordnik spells it thusly: hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia Which also fails spellcheck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=361) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=363)