Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1)

San Bernadino County, CA, is the largest county by area in the U.S. at 20,052 sq. mi. (Five of Alaska’s mostly unpopulated boroughs are larger.)

For comparison, the states of New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut combined are almost exactly the same size, at 19,984 sq. mi. and they are made up of 43 counties.

Nitpick: San Bernardino.

Population: 2 million plus people, 40 million coyotes.

I think you jinxed it.

That narrows it down considerably. LOL

I think it is curious that the brown bear is known as Ursus arctos in Latin, the arctic bear, the grizzly is the subspecies known as Ursus arctos horribilis, that is the horrendous arctic bear, including another subspecies know as Kodiak bear (also really big: Ursus arctos middendorffi) while the polar bear, the one I would have called arctos, is called in Latin Ursus maritimus, the sea (faring) bear.

From the article it looks like someone blew up a picture and put it online and then someone else forwarded that to the tour director or other official.

And to say that this is a ticky-tack offence is an understatement. You can use a sharpie to make a mark on the clubface, but he used something thicker?

From Etymonline: “Latin arcticus, from Greek arktikos “of the north,” literally “of the (constellation) Bear,” from arktos “bear; Ursa Major; the region of the north,” the Bear being the best-known northern circumpolar constellation.”

So the arctos in Ursus arctos is just “bear,” therefore "Bear [Latin] bear [Greek], not “arctic bear.”

Oh! Interesting. :slight_smile:

I suppose it would seem to be the arctic bear but it’s ability to swim in arctic waters sets it apart. Polar bears are so well insulated they can overheat running across the arctic ice fields. They are much better suited for swimming to travel long distances. Their habitat is coastal. And then on top of that they are too adorable to be called horribilis.

Adorable? You ain’t seen a hungry one close up, have you? (Neither have I, thank Godott). But it’s OK, Dr.Drake has set the record straight. Bear bear vs Swimming bear.
BTW: Polar bears are black. You can see that on their noses and paws. And their hair is hollow, to lead the sun rays like in optic fibers to the black skin, that absorbs the heat.

The rule is about something that can affect the flight of the ball. So a Sharpie dot isn’t going to do that. Something with some depth (and that could potentially actually get on the ball (like a spitter in baseball)) might.

Of course they’re adorable. Here’s a picture of my pet baby polar bear that I picked up at the shelter. I had no idea polar bears shed so much.

Hm, something is not working with that Photobucket. And I registered and all, pity.

Sorry, I think I can’t share on this free plan. Got any ideas?

imgur (dot) com? That is what I use on the SDMB, works for free.

Ok, signed up for imgur, please try this one.

OK, convinced: adorable. First polar bear with blue eyes ever, must be albino or something :wink:

TIL that the names “Berkeley” (e.g. the town in California) and “Barclay” (e.g. the British bank) are the same name, spelled differently.

I am afraid I must have an adjective. Is the language now Türkiyish? Is there a Türkiyeish Air Force? Is someone now a Türk?

Queen Elizabeth II has ruled for 70 years. During that time, she has attended 67 annual Epson Derby races. (she will miss this year’s today)