# 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:** 435
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8691 "2024-01-20T03:35:52Z")
[dimittuntur tibi](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64726746/anna-pierce) @peccavi ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8692 "2024-01-20T05:09:30Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > President Franklin Pierce’s mother was named Anna Kendrick. > > (sometimes these facts are more random, less interesting) Well, at least 4 US Presidents chose not to use their proper first name Hiram U. Grant (a general HUG? probably not) Stephen G. Cleveland (that rolls off the tongue) Thomas W. Wilson John Calvin Coolidge (perhaps a little too religious) Then, David Dwight Eisenhower got his names switched around Leslie Lynch King Jr. will not be mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8693 "2024-01-20T11:18:12Z")
British prime minister [Gordon Brown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Brown)’s first name was James ! ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8694 "2024-01-20T13:15:14Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Leslie Lynch King Jr. will not be mentioned. Nor William Jefferson Blythe III ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8695 "2024-01-20T16:38:06Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > I don’t know about that. From my search, she’s apparently the subject of one of the earliest color photographs. (Google doesn’t lie!) > > [ ![ talk about victorian times and fainting when seeing a woman’s ankle … we can easily see it was a lie!!! > [@eschereal](#): > > Well, at least 4 US Presidents chose not to use their proper first name > > Hiram U. Grant (a general HUG? probably not) > Stephen G. Cleveland (that rolls off the tongue) > Thomas W. Wilson > John Calvin Coolidge (perhaps a little too religious) > Then, David Dwight Eisenhower got his names switched around > Leslie Lynch King Jr. will not be mentioned. **Andrés Manuel López Obrador** aka **AMLO** ,(current mexican president) was born: **Manuel Andrés López Obrador** and changed his names legally to avoid going by the abbrev. of MALO (= spanish for BAD, BROKEN, KAPUTT, FUBAR) - which is not so hot a name for a politician. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8696 "2024-01-20T17:02:55Z")
11 percent of all the gold ever mined is worn by or owned by women in India. That’s more than the gold reserves of any country in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8697 "2024-01-20T17:58:24Z")
I think this a wild mischaracterization of the ownership patterns. Gold jewelry is a family store of wealth, and not in any practical sense under the control of the women in those families. If the bride’s family gives her $10k worth of gold jewelry at marriage it’s just a gift to the groom’s family, not an asset of the bride. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8698 "2024-01-20T18:02:16Z")
The majority of men and women in most Indian families I know would disagree with you on this. But I acknowledge that there could be significant selection bias in my sample. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8699 "2024-01-20T19:18:47Z")
Today I learned that there was such a thing as **[Yarn Bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_bombing)**. This probably isn’t news to most dopers, as yarn bombing originated in the US. However, the practice has spread to the UK, where it has taken on a very specific form. Another TIL - this specific form has a name (and a wiki page): the **[Post Box Topper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box_topper)**. I imagine most (all?) dopers are aware that we post our letters in things called post boxes. Click the icon for an image: [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box#/media/File:VR_Pillar_box,_Hull.JPG) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box#/media/File:VR_Pillar_box,_Hull.JPG) A little over a decade ago, the practice of adorning them with little hats (for want of a better word) appeared in this country. The practice is now very widespread - we must be approaching a 50:50 split between plain and topped. The wiki page has a few nice examples. [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box_topper#/media/File:Postbox_Topper_in_Court_Road,_Goddington_(02).jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_box_topper#/media/File:Postbox_Topper_in_Court_Road,_Goddington_(02).jpg) It’s a fun google if you want to waste ten minutes. j ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8700 "2024-01-20T19:24:27Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > 11 percent of all the gold ever mined is worn by or owned by women in India. That’s more than the gold reserves of any country in the world. - The podcast _More or Less_, where economists examine claims like this for accuracy, concluded it was more or less correct. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8701 "2024-01-20T19:41:34Z")
One of those factoids I heard when little, that turned out to be unconfirmed or entirely false, was that Hindu brides could keep all the jewelry that they could carry to their wedding. Other such tales was that Chinese wives made the meals as hot as possible so that’s the food would still be warm when the menfolk were done and they were allowed to eat. Hence the higher prevalence of stomach cancer in Chinese men than women. Or the stories about Oriental potentates who’d fatten-up in anticipation of ceremonies where their subjects would set them on huge scales and reward them with an equal amount of gold. (This had some truth to it, on the case of the third Aga Kahn) ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8702 "2024-01-20T20:07:18Z")
This information sent me down a subreddit rabbit hole and I found a couple of Yarn Bombing subs to peruse. Thanks! ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8703 "2024-01-20T20:09:05Z")
Errrr… Happy to oblige; or Sorry 'bout that. Whichever applies. 😉 j ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8704 "2024-01-20T20:15:35Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Or the stories about Oriental potentates… I’m sure there was no offense intended, but nowadays the standard usage is to use the adjective “Oriental” only for objects, not for people. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8705 "2024-01-20T20:26:53Z")
That is an interesting and new fact for me. What word should be used instead? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8706 "2024-01-20T20:29:52Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Today I learned that there was such a thing as **[Yarn Bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_bombing)**. I had a friend who was involved in the Ojai valley yarn bombing, er, gangs (?). They did quite elaborate displays. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8707 "2024-01-20T20:35:12Z")
“Asian”, or ideally a more specific word if known. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8708 "2024-01-20T20:37:31Z")
Thanks, I’ll bear that in mind. But Occidental is still OK for “Western”? ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8709 "2024-01-20T20:40:02Z")
More American soldiers died in training for D-Day than on actual D-Day itself. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8710 "2024-01-20T21:10:20Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Today I learned that there was such a thing as **[Yarn Bombing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_bombing)** Ah, thank you, now I ken that one stop sign in Portland. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=434) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=436)