# 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:** 381
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7611 "2023-09-27T02:25:27Z")
I prefer _[Things Have Changed](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L9EKqQWPjyo&pp=ygUZRHlsYW4gdGhpbmdzIGhhdmUgY2hhbmdlZA%3D%3D)_, which was written for a different 2002 film, **Wonder Boys** , and won an Oscar for best original song. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7612 "2023-09-27T03:44:30Z")
Today I learned that food-grade stainless steel is actually a particular hard alloy comparable to the steel used for camping knives. I have an old cheap barbeque spatula whose tang wouldn’t stay in the wooden handle anymore, and tried to drill a hole through tang and handle to secure it with a bolt. A supposedly dual-purpose drill bit barely scratched the metal and a dedicated metal drilling bit produced a small dent after several minutes of drilling. I took the drill bit back to the hardware store I’d just bought it from along with the metal piece and asked what was I doing wrong. They explained that contrary to my expectations the spatula head was not cheap pot metal but a notably hard alloy. With some special drilling oil and bearing down pressure on the drill they were finally able to get a hole through the 3/32" thick tang. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7613 "2023-09-27T10:46:37Z")
Yesterday I learned about the Swatches panel in InDesign. You can use it to change text and fill colors in tables, instead of having to highlight one cell at a time. It also saves you a couple of steps from using the Fill panel, which requires closing before you can move on to something else. Saved me a ton of work. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7614 "2023-09-27T13:47:51Z")
Today I learned that the brunette that causes Jack Tripper to fall of his bike in the opening credits of “Three’s Company” was actually. . . Suzanne Somers in a wig! And the bike belonged to the script supervisor. (They were on a pretty tight with time and the budget, so they made the most of what they already had. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2023, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7615 "2023-09-28T05:10:36Z")
“It has been estimated that some 7,000 people are held in German prisons for not having paid their fare on a train, tram or bus.” (Sentenced to a fine and sent to prison for being unable to pay) > **[The German group buying ticket dodgers out of prison](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66664823)** > > A Nazi-era law in Germany jails those who can't pay public transport fares. Arne buys their freedom. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7616 "2023-09-28T10:00:30Z")
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is Mr Tiny Kox > **[Tiny Kox](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Kox)** > > Martinus Josephus Maria "Tiny" Kox (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Dutch: \[ˈtini ˈkɔks\]; born 6 May 1953) is a Dutch politician who has been serving as President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 2022. As a member of the Socialist Party (SP), he has been serving as Senator since 10 June 2003, as well as bei On... ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7617 "2023-09-28T17:02:48Z")
The world’s largest scale model of the solar system is in Sweden and stretches almost from one end of the country to the other. > **[Sweden Solar System](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_Solar_System)** > > The Sweden Solar System is the world's largest permanent scale model of the Solar System. The Sun is represented by the Avicii Arena in Stockholm, the second-largest hemispherical building in the world. The inner planets can also be found in Stockholm but the outer planets are situated northward in other cities along the Baltic Sea. The system was started by Nils Brenning, professor at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and Gösta Gahm, professor at the Stockholm University. The The b... The sun is represented by a hemispheric building in Stockholm, which is pretty cool on its own: > **[Avicii Arena](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicii_Arena)** > > Avicii Arena, originally known as Stockholm Globe Arena and previously as Ericsson Globe, but commonly referred to in Swedish simply as Globen (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}pronounced \[ˈɡlǔːbɛn\] ⓘ; "the Globe"), is an indoor arena located in Stockholm Globe City, Johanneshov district of Stockholm, Sweden. > The arena represents t... All of the planets, as well as various asteroids and trans Neptunian objects are presented, except Saturn. The coolest looking planet is just a picture on a mat?! Come on Uppsala city council, we need a Saturn! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7618 "2023-09-28T17:03:42Z")
I confess that my inner 12 year old found that quite amusing ---
**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:** [September 28, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7619 "2023-09-28T17:51:37Z")
TIL: Jennifer Lawrence has a dog, who she named “Pippi Lawren-stocking.” I love that so much, especially knowing that she must have loved Pippi as much as I did. ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7620 "2023-09-28T20:20:02Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I knew this from the Genesis song “The Fountain of Salmacis”. Sometimes being a prog rock geek pays off. 😉 ^^^This! ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7621 "2023-09-28T21:59:42Z")
The Undertaker (pro wrestler) first performed under the name Texas Red. Texas Red is the common name for Texas Chilli. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7622 "2023-09-28T22:21:20Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > The world’s largest scale model of the solar system is in Sweden and stretches almost from one end of the country to the other. Second-largest. Though the largest one is also, in part, in Sweden (and in lots of other places). ---
**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:** [September 28, 2023, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7623 "2023-09-28T22:54:16Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > The Undertaker (pro wrestler) first performed under the name Texas Red. Texas Red is the common name for Texas Chilli Also, the antagonist in the ballad “Big Iron”. ---
**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:** [September 29, 2023, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7624 "2023-09-29T05:21:11Z")
A couple of nights ago, I discovered that the legendary ‘80s and ‘99s vocalist Sheila Chandra—one of the greats, up there with Kate Bush and Ofra Haza—is now effectively mute, suffering from Burning Mouth Syndrome, which renders her unable to speak or sing without great pain. 😢 I had the privilege of seeing her live at the Power Plant in Toronto. Unforgettable. > **[Sheila Chandra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Chandra)** > > Sheila Savithri Elizabeth Chandra (born 14 March 1965) is a retired English pop singer of Indian descent. She is no longer able to perform, as the result of burning mouth syndrome which she has had since 2010. > Sheila Chandra was born in Waterloo, London, England. She first came to public attention as an actress, playing Sudhamani Patel in the BBC school drama Grange Hill from 1979 to 1981. > As a teenager she formed the band Monsoon with Steve Coe (who became the band's producer) and bassist ... ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7625 "2023-09-30T02:57:29Z")
Oxford used to be the murder capital of England–and students were the cause: > **[Students made Oxford the murder capital of late medieval England, research...](https://phys.org/news/2023-09-students-oxford-capital-late-medieval.html)** > > A project mapping medieval England's known murder cases has now added Oxford and York to its street plan of London's 14th century slayings, and found that Oxford's student population was by far the most lethally violent of all social or professional... ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7626 "2023-09-30T05:57:49Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > had the song Stone Soul Picnic (The 5th Dimension) stuck in my head yesterday. I love the song, but was tiring of it after it was playing in a loop for hours. Anyway I started wondering what the word “surry” meant. I always pictured in my cartoon bubble horse drawn surreys arriving at a picnic. I looked up the lyrics and it is spelled “surry” not “surrey”. According to Wikipedia the writer said, “Oh, it’s just a nice word”. Well fuck me, I thought it was horse draw thing as well. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7627 "2023-09-30T17:59:14Z")
In 2017, A Japanese senior citizen was arrested for over 250 break-ins over an eight year period while dresses as a ninja. [Ninja of Heisei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja_of_Heisei) ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7628 "2023-09-30T22:17:10Z")
[Camel “apples” in WW2 Africa](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/23998/7-creative-uses-poop) > Camel “apples” became a good luck charm for the German military. The Allies discovered their habit of intentionally running tanks over piles of the droppings for good luck. So the Allies developed and planted [land mines that looked like camel dung!](http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~nmiller0/dung.html#ww2) When the Germans caught on to the trick, they began to avoid fresh piles of camel manure. In turn, the Allies caught on and began to make mines that looked like camel dung _that had already been run over by a tank_ and therefore seemed safe enough to a Nazi driver. Genius. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2023, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7629 "2023-10-01T02:40:15Z")
The rectangle pizza slices that fit perfectly onto the lunch tray were made by Heinz and came in boxes labeled “the educated pizza”. I know this because my mom was a lunch lady and occasionally bought a carton of them from the supplier to bring home. They were even better baked at home since you could get the crust crisp. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2023, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/7630 "2023-10-01T09:57:41Z")
[They’ve recently began using robot wolves to scare away bears in Japan.](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66737051) I can’t see this going horribly wrong at all. Robowolf vs. Godzilla? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=380) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=382)