# 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:** 55
**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:** [December 15, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1082 "2020-12-15T20:03:24Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Left turn on red is legal in New York – under certain circumstances. It’s allowed when two one-way streets meet. Doesn’t happen often, but I have used it. Is a sign required? ---
**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:** [December 15, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1083 "2020-12-15T22:42:47Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > We’ve had Left Turn on Red here in Massachusetts for years. > > Thing is, it’s not legal. > > I’m not completely joking. You know the corner of River St. and whatever that side street is parallel to the Charles, in Cambridge? It is legal there. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2020, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1084 "2020-12-15T22:45:32Z")
There was only ONE recorded homicide in New York City on 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1085 "2020-12-15T23:01:09Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > There was only ONE recorded homicide in New York City on 9/11 What, the WTC deaths were manslaughter? ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1086 "2020-12-15T23:07:25Z")
From the wiki of the victim, [Henryk Siwiak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Henryk_Siwiak), > [@](#): > > Siwiak’s homicide is the only one recorded in New York City on September 11, 2001, since the city does not include the deaths from the attacks in the official crime statistics.[…] The FBI also did not record the 2,977 deaths from the attacks in their annual violent crime index for 2001, citing the fact that these deaths were statistical outliers, and would erroneously skew FBI analyses. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1087 "2020-12-15T23:13:26Z")
In Melbourne, Australia, we have a few remaining intersections where “hook turns” are mandated. You pull over to the side of the intersection, wait for the lights to change, then proceed with the traffic. Those few intersections are so that you don’t block the trolley cars while stopped in the middle of the intersection, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. It’s only a few places, more places just have turn lights and separate traffic cycles for turning cars and trams. Anyway, I was told, dunno if it’s true, that originally all intersections in Victoria were like that. Or perhaps all intersections with trams? There was no legal cross-traffic turn at all. You had to pull over, stop, wait, then proceed across the intersection. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1088 "2020-12-15T23:36:54Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > Left turn on red is legal in New York – under certain circumstances. It’s allowed when two one-way streets meet. Doesn’t happen often, but I have used it. > > Is a sign required? Just the opposite. It’s just like right turn on right: it’s allowed by default unless a sign forbids it. But there are only a limited number locations where it’s possible, and it doesn’t apply to New York City. ---
**Author:** ![chasole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aca169/32.png) [@chasole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chasole)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1089 "2020-12-16T00:15:20Z")
It seems that the US Army is now issuing robotic dogs to security forces. I think they call them droids, but the article picture showed a thing with what appeared to be four legs. ---
**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:** [December 16, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1090 "2020-12-16T00:31:26Z")
Jack the Ripper was in the midst of his notorious crime spree when Ninetendo - the maker of the Mario Brothers games - was first incorporated. ---
**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 16, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1091 "2020-12-16T16:52:34Z")
In the James Bond movie “Dr. No” (1962) - a Francisco de Goya painting of the Duke of Wellington, stolen in August 1961 from London’s National Gallery, is found on an easel next to the stairs in Dr. No’s dining area, which is why Bond stops to notice it as he passes it while going up the stairs. It was recovered in 1965. The thief was found guilty of theft - not of the painting, but the frame. (thank you, IMDB). ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1092 "2020-12-18T02:56:26Z")
A “speedy” escape from wartime death: > **[Aimo Koivunen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aimo_Koivunen)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > Aimo Allan Koivunen (IPA: \[ɑi̯mo ɑlːɑn koi̯ʋunen\]), (17 October 1917 – 12 August 1989) was a Finnish soldier in the Continuation War and the first documented case of a soldier overdosing on methamphetamine during combat. > Aimo Allan Koivunen was born in Alastaro, Grand Duchy of Finland on 17 October 1917 to Frans Vihtori Koivunen and Aune Sofia Koivunen, they had six children, Aimo was the eldest. ---
**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 18, 2020, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1093 "2020-12-18T12:00:24Z")
> He studied [tap dance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_dance) and became a drummer, despite being born with [brachydactyly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachydactyly) caused by [Poland syndrome](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland_syndrome), which made three fingers on his left hand significantly smaller than those on his right hand. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary\_Burghoff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Burghoff) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tozobpsxn8s) ---
**Author:** ![EnolaStraight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@EnolaStraight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnolaStraight)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1094 "2020-12-18T15:57:03Z")
The amount of blood shed on Alderaan could paint The Death Star. [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e4/a4/b7/e4a4b7c560e53766571dd7df790c62c3.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e4/a4/b7/e4a4b7c560e53766571dd7df790c62c3.jpg) ---
**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:** [December 18, 2020, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1095 "2020-12-18T16:54:54Z")
The Empire – We Cover the World > **[r/funny - Every time I see the Sherwin Williams paint logo](https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/1if1zi/every_time_i_see_the_sherwin_williams_paint_logo/)** > > 255 votes and 15 comments so far on Reddit [Sherwin Williams | Logopedia | Fandom](https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Sherwin_Williams#:~:text=This%20is%20the%20original%20logo,the%20Chameleon%20logo%20until%201905). I’m sure they had this in mind when they made that visual.It even has the same number of “splashes” Reminds me of a 1970s issue of National Lampoon, wherte they had a comic book scene in a Communist cell, and they had a poster with that logo up on the wall. Only instead of “SWP”, it had a Hammer and Sickle. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1096 "2020-12-18T16:58:51Z")
> [@EnolaStraight](#): > > The amount of blood shed on Alderaan could paint The Death Star. I want to know how it occurred to anyone to make this weird comparison. ---
**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 21, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1097 "2020-12-21T16:26:28Z")
Wow! There’s some major tech here and they recover (most of?) them, get video footage, spray thieves with fart/skunk smell… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/h4T_LlK1VE4/maxresdefault.jpg "Glitterbomb 3.0 vs. Porch Pirates") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4T_LlK1VE4) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1098 "2020-12-21T16:31:31Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > they recover (most of?) the Yeah… the kit they have in there looks a lot more interesting and valuable than most things a thief might hope to find in a stolen package. ---
**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:** [December 21, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1099 "2020-12-21T17:08:32Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I want to know how it occurred to anyone to make this weird comparison. I did something similar in LJ once. There had been an ad circulating for _300:Rise of an Empire,_ and the voiceover said “The Greeks will fall. Only stout wooden ships can save them… and a tidal wave of heroes’ blood.” So, I looked up how many gallons were in a tidal wave. The best I could find was a site for a water park that featured a tidal wave, and it claimed the volume was something like 300,000 gallons. I converted gallons to pints, found how many pints of blood are in a typical human body, divided the number of tidal wave pints by typical human pints, and looked up the casualties of the Battle of Salamis. I remember the figures were actually pretty close. ---
**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:** [December 21, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1100 "2020-12-21T18:26:13Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > Wow! There’s some major tech here and they recover (most of?) them, get video footage, spray thieves with fart/skunk smell… I thought the guy admitted to faking his videos, but I guess it was only some pieces that were admittedly fake. > **[Some of that viral glitter bomb video was fake, says the former NASA engineer...](https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/21/glitter-bomb-video-was-partially-faked-former-nasa-engineer-confirms.html)** > > Former NASA engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober confirmed that some of the reactions in his viral glitter bomb video were faked without his knowledge. The video claimed to surprise people who stole packages from doorsteps with a glitter explosion once... ---
**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 21, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/1101 "2020-12-21T18:39:47Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I thought the guy admitted to faking his videos, but I guess it was only some pieces that were admittedly fake. Thanks for posting that. I had heard of the glitter bomb but never saw the original. Quoting from CNBC: > Rober said he removed a minute and a half of the footage from the original video after learning that some of the “thieves” were actually acquaintances of the person he asked to help plant the packages on doorsteps. Rober said he agreed to compensate the person, who was a friend of a friend, based on the number of packages that were successfully recovered. The YouTuber later learned his helper recruited two people to collect the packages on tape. Three apparently real reactions remain in the video, Rober said. Hopefully version 3.0 has weeded out the fakes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=54) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=56)