# 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:** 409
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8171 "2023-11-17T12:42:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > That was a deliberate reference to Sir Henry Merrivale, the character invented by John Dickson Carr writing as Carter Dickson. Carr was the gold standard of devising impossible crimes and locked-room murders, which the play was parodying. To be fair, the play wasn’t just parodying Carr, but the entire genre of circa 1920-1940 mysteries. It explicitly mentions several of them, including Anthony Berkeley’s _The Poisoned Chocolates Mystery_ (“A spectacular _tour-de-force_ with no fewer than six separate solutions”) and name-checks other mystery writers, like S.S. Van Dine. When Harold Pinter wrote the screenplay for the 2007 version of **Sleuth** he included no mention of such mysteries, thereby pretty much erasing Wyke’s _raison d’etre_ and sucking all the fun out of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8172 "2023-11-17T14:02:18Z")
One of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewes is _The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus_, a name that is utterly inspired. It’s science fiction-based, of course. Peter Mayhew, who first played Chewbacca, was Emperior for Life (and, for all I know, still is now that he’s dead). He rode the float in the Mardi Gras parade a few times, with his wife. > **[Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergalactic_Krewe_of_Chewbacchus)** > > The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus is a science fiction–themed Mardi Gras krewe, religious and parade organization, that also features fantasy and horror groups, among other fandoms. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, as of the 2019 parade, the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus has over 2500 dues-paying members who call themselves "ChewbacchanALIENs" or "Chewbs."\[citation needed\] > It describes its mission as "to save the galaxy by bringing the magical revelry of Mardi Gras to the poor, disenf... [https://chewbacchus.org/](https://chewbacchus.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8173 "2023-11-17T14:42:00Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Didn’t that end up as, the monarch uses the _highest_ ordinal number they may have? IIRC no. Elizabeth could have used Elizabeth IV if she wanted. I don’t know if this was used as precedence but for example Louis XVIII skipped 17 out of deference to Louis XVI’s son and Pope John XXIII used his ordinal to settle how many Pope John’s there really were. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8174 "2023-11-17T15:34:00Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Today I learned that the modern name Jennifer is a derivative of Guinevere, an old timey name I associate with King Arthur. Which itself is a anglicized version of the original Welsh name _Gwenhwyfar_ meaning white (gwen) magical being, phantom. The original Arthurian legends were Welsh. There are many variants, including Genevieve (French) and Ginevra (Italian). Jennifer is the Breton version. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8175 "2023-11-17T16:05:09Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Today I learned that the modern name Jennifer is a derivative of Guinevere, an old timey name I associate with King Arthur. I learned several years ago that Tiffany is a planed-down version of the name _Theophane_. One of the nuns that taught me in Catholic school was Sister Theophane. She was no Tiffany. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8176 "2023-11-17T16:15:04Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I learned several years ago that Tiffany is a planed-down version of the name _Theophane_. > > One of the nuns that taught me in Catholic school was Sister Theophane. She was no Tiffany. Theophane means “manifestion of God” in Greek. It’s a male name – many Catholic nuns choose male religious names when they take Holy Orders. There’s no differentiation between male and female saints in that practice. But I’ve never heard of a monk taking the name of a female saint. Unsurprising. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2023, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8177 "2023-11-17T16:50:08Z")
-And Sister Nymphadora was no … ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8178 "2023-11-17T16:51:19Z")
The fantasic CGP Gray Tiffany video: > **[💖 The Tale of Tiffany 💖](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LMr5XTgeyI%2F)** > > ‣ Thank you, Bonnie Bees, for making this video possible: https://www.patreon.com/cgpgrey‣ The Director's Commentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AJErTj... And the even better follow-up/making of video: > **[Someone Dead Ruined My Life… Again.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEV9qoup2mQ%2F)** > > Videos like this are only possible with your help, consider becoming a bonnie bee today! https://www.patreon.com/cgpgrey‣ Discuss this video: https://www.red... ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8179 "2023-11-17T16:54:15Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > One of the nuns that taught me in Catholic school was Sister Theophane. She was no Tiffany. Never had people over for breakfast, did she? ---
**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:** [November 17, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8180 "2023-11-17T19:03:24Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > To be fair, the play wasn’t just parodying Carr, but the entire genre of circa 1920-1940 mysteries. My wording might have been unclear, but I thought I had said exactly that. That Lord Merridew was a direct reference to Sir Henry Merrivale, though, is indisputable. Shaffer was a Carr fan and used surrogates of his two famous characters - Merrivale and Dr. Gideon Fell - in others of his mysteries. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8181 "2023-11-17T19:43:55Z")
When we went to the New York World’s Fair, shallow me saw the Midway from the monorail and wanted to be there. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8182 "2023-11-17T20:23:33Z")
Sorry, nm ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8183 "2023-11-17T22:19:52Z")
A discussion here of how well the next supercontinent “Pangea” will really really suck, and that puts an ever shorter fuze on us needing to be able to get our civilization off this rock or die trying. > **[Future Supercontinent Will Be Inhospitable for Mammals - Eos](https://eos.org/articles/future-supercontinent-will-be-inhospitable-for-mammals)** > > Pangea returns in 250 million years, and it’s not looking good for us. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2023, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8184 "2023-11-17T22:38:24Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > When we went to the New York World’s Fair, shallow me saw the Midway from the monorail and wanted to be there. Back in 1893, the Midway was aimed most at adults. [Pictures show very few children in the crowds](https://chicagology.com/columbiaexpo/fair002/). Most of the exhibits were supposedly educational anthropological examples of foreign cultures. In reality, entrepreneurs made them eye-catchers. “A Street in Cairo” featured (fully-dressed) belly dancers, who scandalized the nation and created the “hootchie cootchie.” Money poured in. But outside of animals and the Ferris wheel, there wasn’t much for kids. Attractions kiddified over the course of the 20th century. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > A discussion here of how well the next supercontinent “Pangea” will really really suck, and that puts an ever shorter fuze on us needing to be able to get our civilization off this rock or die trying. Eh. 250,000,000 years ago mammals didn’t exist. A few things have happened since then. Forecasts of the position of continents in the future have scientific meaning. Forecasts of animal life don’t. ---
**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:** [November 17, 2023, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8185 "2023-11-17T22:57:06Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Which itself is a anglicized version of the original Welsh name _Gwenhwyfar_ meaning white (gwen) magical being, phantom. Which name is familiar to a certain set of nerds as being Drzz’t’s animal companion/figurine. > [@CalMeacham](#): > > I learned several years ago that Tiffany is a planed-down version of the name _Theophane_. I thought that it meant “land-under-wave”? Surely Sir Terry wouldn’t have lied to us? ---
**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:** [November 18, 2023, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8186 "2023-11-18T00:08:13Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Which itself is a anglicized version of the original Welsh name _Gwenhwyfar_ meaning white (gwen) magical being, phantom. The original Arthurian legends were Welsh. > > There are many variants, including Genevieve (French) and Ginevra (Italian). Jennifer is the Breton version. Not correct. It’s ultimately Cornish, but via English; the Breton is Gwenivar, but I’m not sure whether the name is still in use. Edit re: Carolus—Charles has also chosen to be “Charles” in the Welsh language. Charles I was Siarl I, and Charles II was Siarl II, but he’s decided on being Charles III in Welsh. Looking him up on Welsh wikipedia, though, he’s listed as Siarl III, and it’s noted that he’s sometimes called Carlo. BBC article in Welsh explaining his title choice: ['Y Brenin Charles, nid Siarl, yn swyddogol yn Gymraeg' - BBC Cymru Fyw](https://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/63475889) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8187 "2023-11-18T00:15:15Z")
Left bank of a river - the reference point is the _flow_ of the river. The military considers left / right as you go _downstream_. I’ve wondered about this for years and stumbled on this answer. Youtube short [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uMzjuEy5nvs/maxresdefault.jpg "Ukrainian Marines crossed the “Left Bank” of the Dnipro River. What does that mean?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMzjuEy5nvs) ---
**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:** [November 18, 2023, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8188 "2023-11-18T00:24:43Z")
Right, because for a twisty, turny river, it might be ambiguous which side is the “east bank” or “west bank”. Even for a river as relatively straight as the Mississippi, I’m sure that there are places where you can cross from “west” to “east” by going west. But any given river always has a clear “left bank” and “right bank”. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8189 "2023-11-18T02:16:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Even for a river as relatively straight as the Mississippi, I’m sure that there are places where you can cross from “west” to “east” by going west. I have done exactly that. The headwaters of the Mississippi River are at Lake Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota. There are stepping stones so you can walk across the Mississippi. On the walk back to the parking lot, you cross the river flowing north. > **[Lake Itasca · South Clearwater, MN](https://maps.app.goo.gl/PyUYe2whRireKcLJ8)** > > ★★★★★ · Lake ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8190 "2023-11-18T04:26:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Even for a river as relatively straight as the Mississippi, I’m sure that there are places where you can cross from “west” to “east” by going west. The Crescent City Connection bridge over the Mississippi River, which connects the East Bank portion of New Orleans with the city’s Algiers section on the West Bank, runs almost exactly east-west. And indeed, you drive on the east-bound span to get to the West Bank, and the west-bound span to get to the East Bank. > **[Crescent City Connection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_City_Connection)** > > The Crescent City Connection (CCC), formerly the Greater New Orleans (GNO) Bridge, is a pair of cantilever bridges that carry U.S. Highway 90 Business (US 90 Bus.) over the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. They are tied as the fifth-longest cantilever bridges in the world. Each span carries four general-use automobile lanes; additionally the westbound span has two reversible HOV lanes across the river. > It is the farthest downstream bridge on the Mississippi River. It... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=408) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=410)