# 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:** 49
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/961 "2020-11-27T20:45:06Z")
The capital of Montserrat, a British island in the Caribbean, is a ghost town. In 1997, about 80 percent of it was buried under one-and-a-half meters of volcanic lava and ash. > **[Plymouth, Montserrat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth,_Montserrat)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > Plymouth is a ghost town and the de jure capital of the island of Montserrat, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom located in the Leeward Island chain of the Lesser Antilles, West Indies. > Constructed on historical lava deposits near the then long-inactive Soufrière Hills volcano, the town was evacuated in 1995 when the volcano resumed erupting. Plymouth was eventually abandoned permanently in 1997 after it was substantially buried by a ... ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/962 "2020-11-27T22:15:02Z")
More than half of the population of Canada lives south of Seattle, Washington. mmm ---
**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 27, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/963 "2020-11-27T23:26:00Z")
On N.P.R. tonight, I learned about the African crested rat, _Lophiomys imhausi,_ sometimes called the African maned rat. They chew the toxic bark of the local _Acokanthera schimperi_ tree, which is also known as the “poison arrow tree.” Then they apply the mixture to their own fur … thus making them the only known poisonous (not venomous) rodent. > **[For Rats That Coat Themselves In Poison, These Rodents Are Surprisingly Cuddly](https://www.npr.org/2020/11/27/938878618/for-rats-that-coat-themselves-in-poison-these-rodents-are-surprisingly-cuddly)** > > The African crested rat's fuzzy fur has hairs loaded with a poison that can purportedly fell an elephant. But these rats turn out to be social, affectionate creatures. > **[Maned rat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maned_rat)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The maned rat or (African) crested rat (Lophiomys imhausi) is a nocturnal, long-haired and bushy-tailed East African rodent that superficially resembles a porcupine. The world's only poisonous rodent, the maned rat borrows toxins from plants to fend off predators. > The maned rat's body can grow up to 14 inches (360 mm) long, or 21 inches (530 mm) from head to tail. The coat consists of long, silver and black-tipped guard hairs over a dense, woo... As someone who breeds another exotic African rodent (the African soft-furred rat, or ASF, or multimammate) this absolutely FASCINATED me. ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/964 "2020-11-28T00:19:06Z")
Civil war general and later president, Ulysses Grant was also an artist. More info here: > **[ULYSSES S. GRANT HOMEPAGE - Grant The Artist](https://www.granthomepage.com/grantartist.htm)** > > General Grant's little-known abilities as an artist are explored. [![](https://www.granthomepage.com/images/Generalgrantpainting.jpg) ](https://www.granthomepage.com/images/Generalgrantpainting.jpg) ---
**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:** [November 28, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/965 "2020-11-28T02:29:25Z")
Speaking of Grant, the house in Wilton, NY, where he died has been kept in the same condition it was at that time, including with all the furniture and fixtures (it’s also just outside the fence of a former prison; when the prison was operating, you couldn’t see the Grant site without being checked out by prison security). This led to an issue: at the time of his death, Grant was taking cocaine as a way to help manage his pain. There a big bottle of it on the mantle of the living room. Agents from the DEA periodically test it to make sure it’s all there. ---
**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 28, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/966 "2020-11-28T13:03:14Z")
More than 9% of Canadian citizens live outside of Canada - making Los Angeles and New York rank among the 10 largest “Canadian” cities. (about 2% of USA citizens live outside the country). ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/967 "2020-11-28T14:53:26Z")
Chicago is nicknamed the “Windy City,” but not because of the weather. Nineteenth-century journalists first gave Chicago this designation when criticizing the city’s elite as “full of hot air.” They said that the city was full of “windbags,” people with inflated egos who cared about nothing but profit. More and more journalists—from Cincinnati in particular—began using the “Windy City” jab, and it stuck. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/968 "2020-11-29T06:09:27Z")
Humans actually have four nostrils! Gotta say, that completely boggled my mind. [![](https://www.getbodysmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Test-yourself-Introduction-to-the-Nose-and-Nasal-Cavity-answers-shown-504x550.png) ](https://www.getbodysmart.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Test-yourself-Introduction-to-the-Nose-and-Nasal-Cavity-answers-shown-504x550.png) ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/969 "2020-11-29T18:19:27Z")
More boggl-age here? > The nose is more closely connected to our genitals than any other organ. It is covered in that same tissue. So when one area gets stimulated, the nose will become stimulated as well. Some people have too close of a connection where they get stimulated in the southerly regions, they will start uncontrollably sneezing. And this condition is common enough that it was given a name called [honeymoon rhinitis.](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11284809/) > **[How The 'Lost Art' Of Breathing Can Impact Sleep And Resilience](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/27/862963172/how-the-lost-art-of-breathing-can-impact-sleep-and-resilience)** > > While researching his book, Breath, James Nestor participated in a study in which his nose was completely plugged for 10 days, forcing him to breathe solely through his mouth. "I felt awful," he says. It continues (and bewildered me) > …it will close one nostril and allow breath in through the other nostril, then that other nostril will close and allow breath in. Our bodies do this on their own. Internal nostrils…now it makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/970 "2020-11-30T12:10:39Z")
Very interesting. On a related note, in a quiz the other week, the question “What is the windiest city in the world?” came up, and several of us incorrectly guessed Chicago. The correct answer is Wellington, New Zealand - which is also the world’s most southerly capital city. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/971 "2020-11-30T15:32:55Z")
France and the Netherlands share a land border on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin > **[Saint Martin (island)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Martin_(island))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Saint Martin (French: Saint-Martin; Dutch: Sint Maarten) is an island in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 300 km (190 mi) east of Puerto Rico. The 87 square kilometres (34 sq mi) island is divided roughly 60:40 between the French Republic (53 square kilometres (20 sq mi)) and the Kingdom of the Netherlands (34 square kilometres (13 sq mi)), but the Dutch part is more populated than the French part. The division dates to 1648. The norther... ---
**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 30, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/972 "2020-11-30T17:37:12Z")
SMU plays FB at Gerald J Ford stadium but it’s not named for the former US president. He was Gerald R Ford but he played college FB at Michigan . He played on 2 undefeated teams that won national titles. He played linebacker , center and long snapper. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/973 "2020-11-30T22:57:04Z")
Speaking of SMU… Peruna was a patent medicine that had 18% alcohol. When SMU took a small horse for its mascot in 1932, they named it Peruna because (some say) it was full of kick. The current horse is Peruna IX. Here’s your multiple choice about this mascot. Did Peruna… A) Kick and kill the Fordham Ram mascot when he got too close B) Spend the night in every sorority house on SMU campus C) Get his own cab, his own elevator, and his own hotel suite while traveling with the band D) Defecate at midfield during a TCU - SMU game, the week that TCU unveiled the school’s brand new Field Turf E) Attend both the commencement of incoming freshmen, and the graduation of seniors ??? The answer is… All of the above. And more. When Cully Culwell was having difficulty locating a black stallion to replace Peruna VI, he shared, “stallions are hard to obtain now because most young male horses are castrated to make them tamer….a stallion which is more aggressive, better represents the spirit of the SMU Mustangs.” [[4]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruna#cite_note-recsports-4)" [Peruna - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peruna) ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/974 "2020-12-01T00:11:57Z")
Mexico City has a larger population than New York. I had no idea it was so large. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/975 "2020-12-01T00:42:47Z")
Well, NYC is not even in the Top 20 is the world. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/976 "2020-12-01T00:54:41Z")
I think one issue has traditionally been what you consider a city. Do suburbs, exurbs, etc. count? If you draw your boundaries far out you have bigger populations but how about densities? Manhattan made this list at #8; so did Neza at #54. > **[List of cities proper by population density](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_proper_by_population_density)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > This is a list of cities worldwide by population density. The population, population density and land area for the cities listed are based on the entire city proper, the defined boundary or border of a city or the city limits of the city. The population density of the cities listed is based on the average number of people living per square kilometer or per square mile. This list does not refer to the population, population density or land area... ---
**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:** [December 1, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/977 "2020-12-01T01:20:14Z")
That link is for population density. But you’re right that the stats change when you include entire metro areas (and where you draw the lines). I was talking about just the population of the city proper; i.e. people who live within the city itself, which is what I believe **Dark Sponge** was referring to. ---
**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:** [December 1, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/978 "2020-12-01T13:01:25Z")
And here is population density by district within cities: > **[List of city districts by population density](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_districts_by_population_density)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > This is a list of the most densely populated city subdivisions with over 30,000 inhabitants per square kilometre (78,000/sq mi) in the world with an area of at least 1 km2. Most are districts of large cities and may vary significantly in regional importance. Note this list is not exhaustive as data is hard to come by for many places on earth. > At least a dozen barangays have population densities over 200,000 people per square km, which are very ... ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/979 "2020-12-01T15:35:00Z")
Arizona’s Yuma Union High School Mascot is “the Criminal.” After the original school was burned in a fire in 1910, classes were held in a nearby prison space until a new school was built. A rival high school dubbed their football team “the Criminals”, and the name stuck. It was officially adopted as the new school mascot name in 1917. Over 700 criminals graduate and enter the adult world every year. > **[Yuma High School (Arizona)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuma_Union_High_School)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Yuma High School (often referred to simply as Yuma High) is the oldest high school in Yuma, Arizona. > The school was established in 1909. Yuma High's mascot came when the original school building was destroyed by fire in 1910. The school then used the Yuma Territorial Prison, which had been closed, for the next three years. Classes were held in the cell blocks, and assemblies took place in the prison hospital. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/980 "2020-12-02T15:13:49Z")
On occasion, I’ll catch an episode of Judge Judy which has been on for 25 years. My husband used to watch it all the time so I thought I was very familiar with the show. I always thought she was calling her bailiff Bert. I just found out today that she’s saying Byrd not Bert! His name is Petri Hawkins Byrd. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=48) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=50)