# 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:** 439
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8771 "2024-01-25T03:44:53Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Probably worth mentioning that the Latin word for “mouse” is the source of our word “muscle”. The rather delightful reason for this, is that the Greeks thought rippling muscles looked like mice running around under the skin. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2024, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8772 "2024-01-25T07:10:18Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > “Dream a Little Dream of Me”. Those of us who remember the most famous version I go straight to Louis Armstrong on that one. I had no idea Cass ever sang it. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8773 "2024-01-25T12:30:41Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > > [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > > > “Dream a Little Dream of Me”. Those of us who remember the most famous version > > I go straight to Louis Armstrong on that one. I had no idea Cass ever sang it. The Doris Day version is my favorite. I thought it was the original, but I see it’s been widely covered, including that one. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8774 "2024-01-25T14:27:06Z")
I live in Schenectady NY. I discovered that during WWII, a ship by that name was built to carry cargo. It broke in half and sunk as soon as it was launched. It was later discovered it had been built with substandard streel. The factory was faking the test data. The Senate investigated. Harry Truman led the committee and this (and other investigations) was how he came to be known to the general public and eventually was tapped to run as vice president. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8775 "2024-01-25T14:37:16Z")
Note that the Wikipedia entry for the song says that Cass Elliot had the highest charting version: > **[Dream a Little Dream of Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_a_Little_Dream_of_Me)** > > "Dream a Little Dream of Me" is a 1931 song with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was first recorded in February 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, soon followed by Wayne King and His Orchestra with vocals by Ernie Birchill. A popular standard, it has seen well over 400 recorded versions. > The song enjoyed its highest-charting success when it was covered in 1968 by Cass Elliot with The Mamas & the Papas, and followed the same year with a recording by Anita... ---
**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 26, 2024, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8776 "2024-01-26T00:52:06Z")
taking a deep dive into Cass Elliot on wiki … turns out that she and The Who’s Keith Moon have two things in common: They both died at age 32 in the **very same** bedroom (years apart) from wiki: _Elliot retired to an apartment in [Mayfair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfair) at Flat 12, 9 [Curzon Place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curzon_Place) (later Curzon Square), [Shepherd Market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shepherd_Market), Mayfair, London, owned by singer-songwriter [Harry Nilsson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilsson) who allowed her to stay there. Several hours after Elliot left Jack Martin’s cocktail party, she died in her sleep at age 32. According to [Keith Simpson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Simpson_(pathologist)), who conducted her autopsy,[[35]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot#cite_note-FLASH-35) she died of a heart attack, and there were no drugs in her system.[[38]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot#cite_note-38)[[39]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot#cite_note-nyt-report-39)[[40]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot#cite_note-nyt-heart-40) Four years later, [the Who](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Who)’s drummer [Keith Moon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Moon) died in the same bedroom, also aged 32 years.[[41]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot#cite_note-41)[[42]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot#cite_note-42)[[43]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_Elliot#cite_note-43)_ note to self: turn down any offer from Harry for a sleepover … ---
**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:** [January 26, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8777 "2024-01-26T00:55:55Z")
I’m pretty sure that any death cooties will have abated by now. ---
**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 26, 2024, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8778 "2024-01-26T06:17:18Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > turn down any offer from Harry for a sleepover … _To sleep – perchance to dream_ ---
**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 26, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8779 "2024-01-26T13:54:51Z")
In another thread, there was discussion about the MGM lion, whose roar is/was heard at the start of MGM movies. Two things which weren’t clear, and evidence wasn’t provided… 1. The lion is actually yawning. A lion’s mouth doesn’t open that wide when it’s roaring. 2. The roar is actually a recording of a tiger’s roar. It’s louder than a lion’s. Any evidence to the above? Comparing YouTube videos of lions and tigers - I think the tiger roar is more accurate. [Metro Goldwyn Mayer lion (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVEflECtfBM) ---
**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:** [January 26, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8780 "2024-01-26T15:06:49Z")
Living in Southern Africa, I have seen and heard lions roar. The MGM one seems completely plausible to me. They are big cats. They need to display authority, or at least identify as a “top cat”. Lions live in packs, so there is some need to say “this is my pack, fuck off” Tigers, to the best of my knowledge, do not roar. They live very solitary lives until mating time, which is a extremely quick (pity the lady tigers!) ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8781 "2024-01-26T15:23:15Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > They need to display authority, or at least identify as a “top cat” You just check if his friends get to call him TC. ---
**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 26, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8782 "2024-01-26T16:21:57Z")
Here’s 8 minutes of lions and tigers roaring, growling, and snarling. The sounds can vary a lot. [Tiger Roar VS Lion Roar - Tiger Roar VS Lion Roar Which is The Best (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb3xE00w4tQ) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8783 "2024-01-26T21:29:35Z")
Speaking of nicknames that are based on appearance, I once read a short biography of Charles P Steinmetz, the pioneering electrical engineer. He was born in Germany as Karl August Rudolph Steinmetz but Anglicized his name when he became an American citizen. The P in his name was for Proteus, the college nickname that he, as a freshman, had recieved from the seniors. Proteus was a character out of Greek mythology that could take any shape, but he always returned to the shape of a hunchback, which Karl was. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2024, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8784 "2024-01-28T15:34:00Z")
TIL that sticks of butter are different shapes on the east and west coasts. [![](https://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/538352_252_57838_sY0gAfb_o.jpg) ](https://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/538352_252_57838_sY0gAfb_o.jpg) ---
**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:** [January 28, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8785 "2024-01-28T15:50:13Z")
Are they the same weight and/or volume? It is interesting, there must be a story behind the difference. ---
**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:** [January 28, 2024, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8786 "2024-01-28T16:03:57Z")
Different equipment, mainly. [East vs West Coast Butter: What's the difference? – Butterie](https://www.butteriedish.com/blogs/butterie-blog/east-coast-vs-west-butter-whats-the-difference#:~:text=The%20difference%20in%20shape%20really,when%20using%20them%20while%20cooking). ---
**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 28, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8787 "2024-01-28T16:12:13Z")
Butter is the first food I see sold in smaller unit packages in the USA. 4 oz or 113 g is tiny cute. Normal packs in Europe are 250 g. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2024, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8788 "2024-01-28T16:37:17Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > that sticks of butter are different shapes on the east and west coasts. You want to know something else that has different sizes in east and west? Graves. And coffins. My family transported my grandmother’s body to be buried in her home town, next to her husband (who had died years before). After a funeral ceremony in the mid-west, the coffin was flown to the east coast. Nope. The coffin was too wide to fit in the gravesite. Had to buy a new coffin first. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8789 "2024-01-28T17:00:00Z")
Another important difference is the same mayonnaise is called Hellmann’s east of the Rockies and Best Foods west of the Rockies. It even says so on the jar. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV857rqbzminKXGQi3VmiQYysSjXEQuzhd8QOUP1q4lUJag6JQRd7BbpsrAqjBgrYEWsVWopT_MWSudH-by7NxN-qKE353FhpOfpOxKb2gBMlIducj0qV=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Mark Nudelman") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/bLFnEL7PMx57WPzXA) ---
**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:** [January 28, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/8790 "2024-01-28T17:42:07Z")
I’m in Santa Barbara and I see both types equally here. If anything, “East Coast” butter is more likely [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=438) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=440)