# 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:** 47
**Author:** ![jimmyjoeraybubbabob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eada6e/32.png) [@jimmyjoeraybubbabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmyjoeraybubbabob)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/921 "2020-11-18T02:43:55Z")
-40 Fahrenheit and -40 Celsius are the exact same temperature. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/922 "2020-11-18T23:19:23Z")
In 1964, the Beatles released “The Beatles Second Album” in the US. It was their third (US) album. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/923 "2020-11-19T18:33:22Z")
The Beatles releases, especially in the first few years, is somewhat tangled. There are several labels in several countries picking and choosing tracks somewhat randomly. The “canon” releases are the 13 British Parlophone releases, which starting from the CD era have become very familiar. “The Beatles Second Album” was the second release by the U.S. Capitol label: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The\_Beatles\_discography#Studio\_albums](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_discography#Studio_albums) ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/924 "2020-11-19T22:25:20Z")
The word ‘nun’, is just the letter ‘n’ doing a forward roll! ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/925 "2020-11-19T22:47:31Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > In 1964, the Beatles released “The Beatles Second Album” in the US. It was their third (US) album. It was their second release on Capitol Records, which was all Capitol Records cared about. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/926 "2020-11-19T22:49:47Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > The word ‘nun’, is just the letter ‘n’ doing a forward roll! I love this. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/927 "2020-11-20T17:57:06Z")
there are 574 official native american tribes in the US Most people like me can probably name around 10. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/928 "2020-11-21T16:45:14Z")
… and I guarantee “Cherokee” is gonna be in the top three, and probably the most common #1 name. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/929 "2020-11-21T19:21:03Z")
Musical pitch used to suffer from inflation. It was largely due to musicians and instrument craftsmen competing with each other to produce notes that were “brighter”. Antique tuning forks show an increase over time (although not consistently - there were frequent corrections). Nowadays pitch is set to an international standard although Baroque musicians tend to play to a flatter pitch standard. ---
**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 23, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/930 "2020-11-23T19:52:35Z")
After its debut made the Ford Edsel the laughing stock of the century, it was redesigned for its last model years, and it was a stunner! [See for yourself.](https://www.flickr.com/gp/78538399@N00/0137C9). ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/931 "2020-11-23T19:59:46Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > there are 574 official native american tribes in the US Most people like me can probably name around 10. Well, my state (Washington) has 26 or 27, so that makes it a little easier to get past 10. Nitpick. “Official” in this context means “federally recognized.” Some of the tribes that have not been recognized (and are fighting about it) would chafe at the term “official.” ---
**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:** [November 23, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/932 "2020-11-23T23:59:03Z")
No reigning monarch has entered the (British/UK) House of Commons since 1642, when Charles I stormed the House of Commons, an event that eventually led to civil war. When the Queen officially oversees the State Opening of Parliament every year, her speech has to be read from the nearby House of Lords. ---
**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 24, 2020, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/933 "2020-11-24T06:40:32Z")
And to call the Commons for the opening of Parliament, they are summoned by the Gentleman/Lady Usher of the Black Rod. The ritual involves the House of Commons [slamming the door in Black Rod’s face](https://youtu.be/QZlbVvTC6Jw?t=213) and her/him rapping 3 times for them to answer. ---
**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:** [November 24, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/934 "2020-11-24T13:03:38Z")
When a new Speaker of the House of Commons is elected, the successful candidate is physically dragged to the Chair by other MPs. This tradition has its roots in the Speaker’s function to communicate the Commons’ opinions to the monarch. Historically, if the monarch didn’t agree with the message being communicated then the early death of the Speaker could follow. Therefore, as you can imagine, previous Speakers required some gentle persuasion to accept the post. ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/935 "2020-11-24T14:14:41Z")
George VI toured the House of Commons the day before it re-opened following repairs of war damage. It wasn’t technically the House of Commons at the time as it hadn’t been re-dedicated and the House was still sitting elsewhere. But he is the only Monarch to have set foot in the place since 1642. ---
**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 25, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/936 "2020-11-25T14:05:08Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > The Christmas song “Jingle Bells” was part of a wave of minstrel songs based on the supposedly hilarious proposition of black people having fun in the white snow. > > [“The story I must tell”: “Jingle Bells” in the Minstrel Repertoire](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/theatre-survey/article/story-i-must-tell-jingle-bells-in-the-minstrel-repertoire/D42C78950A58BDB88290954F73B195B2/core-reader) The linked article is especially interesting to me because I lived for a time on the very block where the Massachusetts plaque was located. I had heard of the competing theory of its origin, but the idea that the song could have originated in Georgia – where there’s no snow – seemed ludicrous. The background of the song seems much more complex than I was aware of. I’ve recently learned the history of another song associated with race relations, and it, too has a surprising back story. For years I didn’t even know the name of the song. It’s one that you would probably know instantly if you heard it. It’s probably what you think of as “Civil War Music” (that isn’t _Dixie_ or _Battle Hymn of the Republic_), and Ken Burns did indeed use it as background music for his PBS series _The Civil War_. It’s used as a “Civil War” or at least Southern “signature” melody in a lot of cartoons, most notably Tex Avery’s MGM cartoons involving Droopy and a Wolf. It was while researching those that I learned the song’s name. It’s _Kingdom Coming_, but is better known as _The Year of Jubilo_ (Avery’s cartoon wolf, voiced by Daws Butler with a voice he’d later use for Huckleberry Hound, whistled the tune. He was never named, but he’s known as “Jubilo Wolf” for that reason). Unlike other songs written at the time involving the South, it’s not a minstrel song and doesn’t idealize the plantation system and involve happy black people working there. Far from it. From Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > " **Kingdom Coming**", also known as " **The Year of Jubilo**", is an [American Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War) song, written and composed by [Henry C. Work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Clay_Work) in 1862, prior to the issuing of the [Emancipation Proclamation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation) by U.S. President [Abraham Lincoln](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln). > > The song is pro-[Unionist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_(American_Civil_War)), and the lyrics are sung from the point of view of slaves in Confederate territory, who celebrate their impending freedom after their master flees the approach of [Union military](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Army) forces. They speculate on the future fate of the owner, whom they suspect will pretend to be a runaway slave in order to avoid capture. With their owner absent, the slaves revolt, locking their [overseer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery_in_the_United_States#Efficiency_of_slaves) in a cellar as retribution for his harsh treatment toward them. The slaves then celebrate their impending emancipation by Union soldiers by drinking their absent owner’s cider and wine in his kitchen.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Coming#cite_note-1) I never heard the lyrics. In the movie **Meet Me in St. Louis** Judy Garland sings the song, but with completely different lyrics. Despite being anti-slavery and pro-Union, the lyrics are still written in a white guy’s version of Southern Black dialect, but the message is anything but Southern Idyllic: > [@](#): > > Say, [darkies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs#D), hab you seen de massa, wid de muffstash on his face, > Go long de road some time dis mornin’, like he gwine to leab de place? > He seen a smoke way up de ribber, whar de [Linkum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln) [gunboats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Navy) lay; > He took his hat, and lef’ berry sudden, and I spec’ he’s run away! > > CHORUS: > De massa run, ha, ha! De darkey stay, ho, ho! > It mus’ be now de [kingdom coming](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/kingdom_come), an’ de [year ob Jubilo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilee_(Christianity))! > **[Kingdom Coming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Coming)** > > "Kingdom Coming", also known as "The Year of Jubilo", is an American Civil War song, written and composed by Henry C. Work in 1862, prior to the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. > The song is pro-Unionist, and the lyrics are sung from the point of view of slaves in Confederate territory, who celebrate their impending freedom after their master flees the approach of Union military forces. They speculate on the future fate of the owner, whom they suspect wi... ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/937 "2020-11-25T14:29:00Z")
Israel has both a baseball league and an amateur American football league. ---
**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:** [November 25, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/938 "2020-11-25T16:36:52Z")
How about a _professional_ [American football league in India and surrounding nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Football_League_of_India)? > [@](#): > > The Elite Football League of India (EFLI) is a professional American football league based in India. It was founded with eight franchises in 2011, and now has 23 franchises throughout South Asia, among whom 20 located in India, two in Sri Lanka and one in Pakistan. Not sure it made it past it’s inaugural season. I think I may have posted about this here before, simply to boast about beating an American friend in a make-up-a-team-name contest. The winning name? Bengal Cincinnatis j ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/939 "2020-11-25T16:44:19Z")
It is quite astounding how some of the oldest people who ever lived had such unhealthy lifestyles. The oldest person who ever lived (Jeanne Calment age 122) was a cigarette smoker for over 100 years. [https://life.spectator.co.uk/articles/centenarians-smoke-drink-eat-badly-get-away/](https://life.spectator.co.uk/articles/centenarians-smoke-drink-eat-badly-get-away/) ---
**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 25, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/940 "2020-11-25T18:56:19Z")
I came across this quite a long time ago, but I’ve been reminded of it because I’ve been listening to the recording of the Broadway show **Wicked** , and recently caught part of the classic film **The Wizard of Oz** on TV this week. **The Emerald City ISN’T GREEN!** Not in L. Frank Baum’s book, it isn’t, even though everyone depicts it that way in every color film that’s been made, and in all the stage shows. And I can see why. It’s striking and attractive. It’s showy. You don’t get that many chances to dress an entire stage in green. And it looks good from far away, a complete city made of porcelain (or whatever), all the same shade of green. But in Baum’s book, the city is White. It _appears_ to be green to everyone going through, because you’re required to have green spectacles locked onto your head the whole time you’re there. This even appears in the illustrations, where Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion are all shown wearing glasses when they’re in the City (as are all the inhabitants) > **[W. W. Denslow’s Illustrations for the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)](https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/w-w-denslow-illustrations-wonderful-wizard-of-oz-1900)** > > The strange, unhappy life of W. W. Denslow, the illustrator of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. > **[Chap 10, Wizard of Oz - Storynory](https://www.storynory.com/chap-10-wizard-of-oz/)** > > Dorothy and her friends arrive at the Emerald City - so brilliant that they have to put on green spectacles before they enter. [https://www.google.com/search?q=the+wizard+of+oz+book+illustrations+green+spectacles&rlz=1C1EJFC\_enUS908US908&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=QSC8-WpIbx35jM%252CR9IyN1JSvwaZsM%252C\_&vet=1&usg=AI4\_-kQ8unWZ6DKo9PKbdbiXKB9aTFsXHQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirnIa2q57tAhW2QjABHaDaCOgQ9QF6BAgGEDM#imgrc=GzWxQ9qXmsDrIM](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+wizard+of+oz+book+illustrations+green+spectacles&rlz=1C1EJFC_enUS908US908&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=QSC8-WpIbx35jM%252CR9IyN1JSvwaZsM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQ8unWZ6DKo9PKbdbiXKB9aTFsXHQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirnIa2q57tAhW2QjABHaDaCOgQ9QF6BAgGEDM#imgrc=GzWxQ9qXmsDrIM) Baum appears to have taken the idea of a White City from the Chicago 1893 Columbian Exposition and imagined having people view it through green glasses. Baum lived in Chicago from 1891 on for several years, and was there at the time (although it was, of course, familiar to people across the country). Green spectacles, as I pointed out in a recent article, were a fad in the 19th century. Having to have visitors wear them for the duration of their visit would fit into the sense of whimsey in the book. The first Oz book came out in 1900, and Baum continued the series through his death in 1919 (and beyond – one volume was published posthumously). An amusement park called White City opened in Chicago in 1905 (followed by copycats all over the country), so he’d be reminded of it after that date. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=46) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=48)