# 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:** 484
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9673 "2024-06-10T21:31:50Z")
Monty Python’s “Flying Sheep” sketch was spawned from a thesaurus. > **[Monty Python’s John Cleese will take your absurd questions at ‘Holy Grail’...](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/06/05/arts/john-cleese-boston-appearance-monty-python-and-the-holy-grail/)** > > "When they say, 'Where do your ideas come from?' the honest answer is, 'From my unconscious.'" I can’t seem to find a non-paywalled source but there are relevant bits floating around: > “When they got stuck, Cleese would pick up a thesaurus and read words until something clicked. He remembers one session where the first bunch of words elicited no reaction. ‘And then I said, ‘plummet,’ and instantly Graham’s face lit up, and he said, ‘I like plummet.’ … And I said, ‘What would plummet?’ And he said, ‘A sheep.’ And I said, ‘Why would it plummet?’ And he said, ‘Well, if it tried to fly.’” ---
**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:** [June 10, 2024, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9674 "2024-06-10T22:02:46Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Since 2017, at least five people have been swallowed by pythons in Indonesia. Sometime around 2017, after a woman in Indonesia was swallowed, there were photos online of the snake and woman after it had been sliced open. Foolishly, I looked. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2024, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9675 "2024-06-10T22:08:38Z")
It happened to a man in Malaysia when I was there on business. I made several trips there between 1993 and 1998 so during that time frame. The man was only partially eaten and the pictures were in the paper. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9676 "2024-06-10T22:33:21Z")
The last one was swallowed last Thursday, it seems (link in Spanish, video is a matter of taste): > **[Una pitón de cinco metros mata y engulle a una mujer: «Decidieron abrirle el...](https://www.abc.es/sociedad/piton-cinco-metros-mata-engulle-mujer-decidieron-20240610102827-nt.html)** > > La madre de cuatro hijos había desaparecido este jueves en Indonesia. «Estaba completamente vestida dentro de la serpiente», explicó el jefe de la aldea Hasn’t this happened in Florida yet? I read Pythons there are getting quite big. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2024, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9677 "2024-06-11T01:53:58Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Hasn’t this happened in Florida yet? I read Pythons there are getting quite big. … but are being (volumetrically) outpaced by ever bigger Floridians ---
**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:** [June 11, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9678 "2024-06-11T04:26:43Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Hasn’t this happened in Florida yet? I read Pythons there are getting quite big. So, the Full Monty? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9679 "2024-06-11T14:44:35Z")
Is that what you call your python? ---
**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:** [June 11, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9680 "2024-06-11T21:38:23Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Hasn’t this happened in Florida yet? I read Pythons there are getting quite big. Som e things even a snake won’t eat… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9681 "2024-06-11T21:59:30Z")
Nowadays they try to avoid fatty foods… ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9682 "2024-06-12T00:23:01Z")
Twister was invented by Reyn Guyer and sold to Hasbro. One of the other games he invented and was testing had little foam rocks as pieces. He found that he and his playtesters really enjoyed throwing them at each other. So he went to Hasbro with this as a toy, but they didn’t want it. Parker Brothers was happy to produce the original Nerf ball. Hasbro eventually bought out Parker Brothers, so they ended up with Nerf after all. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9683 "2024-06-12T04:26:36Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > Hasbro eventually bought out Parker Brothers, so they ended up with Nerf after all. 'Til All Are One. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9684 "2024-06-12T04:52:07Z")
Augustin-Jean Fresnel (who the Fresnel lens is named after) was a cousin of Prosper Mérimée (author of the novella _Carmen_, which was later made into an opera by Bizet). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9685 "2024-06-12T12:08:08Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > Twister was invented by Reyn Guyer and sold to Hasbro. One of the other games he invented and was testing had little foam rocks as pieces. He found that he and his playtesters really enjoyed throwing them at each other. So he went to Hasbro with this as a toy, but they didn’t want it. Parker Brothers was happy to produce the original Nerf ball. A friend’s dad (John Spinello) invented Operation when he was in college. He sold the game for a pittance, and it turned out to be a big hit. Decades later, John was in a position where he needed, but couldn’t afford, surgery. John’s daughter (my friend) approached the people at Hasbro, and they kindly stepped up and paid for his surgery. I have a new-in-box Operation game signed by John. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2024, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9686 "2024-06-12T12:14:15Z")
So don’t keep us hanging… Did they successfully remove his Funny Bone? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9687 "2024-06-12T12:16:08Z")
John has a great sense of humor. At a party I attended to celebrate his successful surgical outcome, probably 80% of the attendees made a funny bone joke. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2024, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9688 "2024-06-12T23:05:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > John’s daughter (my friend) approached the people at Hasbro, and they kindly stepped up and paid for his surgery. How much can a pair of tweezers actually cost? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2024, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9689 "2024-06-13T13:15:10Z")
The last new car to offer an in-dash cassette player was the 2010 Lexus SC 430 convertible. So you could still rock that old Eddie Money tape. [![](https://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/10/2015/11/2010-lexus-sc-430-convertible-dashboard.png) ](https://st.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/10/2015/11/2010-lexus-sc-430-convertible-dashboard.png) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9690 "2024-06-13T13:21:35Z")
I’m pretty sure other 2010 Lexuses offered it, too. My 2010 ES350 doesn’t have one, but since I’m looking to [replace my radio](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-fix-or-replace-the-radio-in-my-2010-lexus/1002794), I’ve found listings that show the 2010 ES350 with a cassette player. See picture A below. [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jbEAAOSwLwRmFQ9y/s-l1600.webp) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jbEAAOSwLwRmFQ9y/s-l1600.webp) ---
**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:** [June 13, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9691 "2024-06-13T13:21:46Z")
Nah, everyone knows that any cassette left in a car long enough turns into Queen’s greatest hits. And 2010 is definitely long enough. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9692 "2024-06-13T22:32:53Z")
Today I stumbled across the fact that parrots are able to do a thing called [eye pinning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_pinning). From the link: > **Eye pinning** , also known as **eye flashing** or **eye blazing** , is a form of body language used by [parrots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot). The term that refers to the rapid and very conspicuous dilation and constriction of the [pupils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupil) of the bird’s eyes in response to an external stimulus. Unlike humans, parrots are able to control this reflex and use it as a form of [nonverbal communication](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonverbal_communication). It is a common behavior in [amazons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_parrot), [macaws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaw), _[Poicephalus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poicephalus)_ species and the [African grey parrots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psittacus). I have no idea how this is called in any other language that I speak, wikipedia does not link to any other language except Persian! ETA: [Chicken](https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/blog/chicken-eye-pinning) can do this too! I think I have found a rabbit hole here. Excuse me for a while. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=483) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=485)