# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785 "2024-07-25T15:06:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 111
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2201 "2025-04-26T16:09:40Z")
I’m not sure how you could tell if a building were “laid out like a gridiron”, though. It seems to me that anything with rooms with hallways between them would resemble a grid. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2202 "2025-04-26T16:25:49Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I love the itsy bitsy tiny flames on his ass. _He seemed to be doing ok, but then he broke wind and the whole thing went up in a big fireball._ ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2203 "2025-04-26T16:58:14Z")
The basic idea is like this: [![](https://media.cdn.bauhaus/s/bahagcom/assets/40/23/402328_19519017.jpg) ](https://media.cdn.bauhaus/s/bahagcom/assets/40/23/402328_19519017.jpg) And as the wikiquote reads: “The _ **traditional belief** _ is that this design was chosen in honor of Saint Lawrence.” There is some of the typical catholic pious sadism in that statement. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2204 "2025-04-26T17:05:07Z")
The prevailing theory is that El Escorial’s floor plan was probably inspired by a classical description of Solomon’s Temple. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2205 "2025-04-26T18:34:36Z")
An easy way to find antique griditons is to type gridiron -football in Google Images. It came up with this page. > **[Antique Gridirons | Charles Nijman Fireplace Antiques](https://www.firebacks.net/cooking-utensils/baking-irons.html)** > > Collection of antique gridirons to further beautify your fireplace. Best collection and prices. Cheap worldwide shipping. > Grilling with a gridiron is an easy way to cook in the fireplace. You can grill various foods including vegetables, meat, or fish. A gridiron is a wrought iron grid on low legs with a handle, typically placed directly on glowing coals. It can also be set on andirons with a grate or a hanging trivet. From appearances, the basic gridirons were simple lines of iron in a frame with a handle. However, they also made rotating gridirons, with wavy or curved lines, turnable for more even cooking. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2206 "2025-04-26T18:49:51Z")
**Images of a Woman** by The Beatles. It’s weird I haven’t heard of this painting until today. There was so much right wing nationalist opposition to the Beatles’ appearances at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall in 1966, that the police mostly confined the group to their hotel suite when they weren’t on stage. Among other Japanese souvenirs brought to their hotel was a Japanese set or watercolor brushes and paints. The Beatles placed a 30x40 inch canvas on a table and placed a lamp in the center of it before each started in on a corner. Completed over two nights, the circle in the center that was covered by the lamp stand was used for their signatures adjacent to their respective corners. The canvas ended up in the hands of the Tokyo chapter of the Beatles fan club. For more than 50 years it would on occasion sell at auction in the low six figures, until last year when it sold for £1.4 million. [![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplePYxyDmera5Jx3zcHATjK_EWfvDbjxjDxtiXRrSs2IJdMcJUe_5c5a1rIkY2cByBZ37RA6wLIiLduakv6saoUci7nql_ebGjIoWU4PhuJV6M-7ajW_jQT1JDlzERnmXmlXH9xRvIbY/s1600/the-beatles-images-of-a-woman.jpg) ](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjplePYxyDmera5Jx3zcHATjK_EWfvDbjxjDxtiXRrSs2IJdMcJUe_5c5a1rIkY2cByBZ37RA6wLIiLduakv6saoUci7nql_ebGjIoWU4PhuJV6M-7ajW_jQT1JDlzERnmXmlXH9xRvIbY/s1600/the-beatles-images-of-a-woman.jpg) [![](https://www.artinacorner.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/RW-4-Images-of-a-Woman-1966-by-The-Beatles.jpg) ](https://www.artinacorner.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/RW-4-Images-of-a-Woman-1966-by-The-Beatles.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2207 "2025-04-26T20:20:09Z")
That’s a very cool factoid about the Beatles I knew nothing about. Thank you 👍 ETA: and I like the painting, I like that all four contributions differ, but harmonize. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2025, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2208 "2025-04-26T21:05:13Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > That’s a very cool factoid about the Beatles I knew nothing about. Despite being a huge Beatles fan since childhood, it was only recently I found out they have an Oscar for Best Music for _Let It Be_. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2209 "2025-04-26T21:08:02Z")
I didn’t know that either. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2210 "2025-04-26T21:19:19Z")
TIL: [The Studley Tool Chest](https://mymodernmet.com/studley-tool-chest/) “H.O. Studley managed to arrange – with perfection – more than 250 of his tools into a dovetailed mahogany cabinet that has captivated tens of thousands of woodworkers since it was first unveiled in 1988 on the back cover of Fine Woodworking with a single shocking photograph.” [https://images.finewoodworking.com/app/uploads/2016/09/05152524/Studley\_Animation.gif](https://images.finewoodworking.com/app/uploads/2016/09/05152524/Studley_Animation.gif) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2211 "2025-04-26T23:03:25Z")
I subscribe to _Fine Woodworking_, although I didn’t back in 1988, so I didn’t see the original publication. But I’ve seen many reproductions and references to it (and plans to build a copy) in more recent issues. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2212 "2025-04-27T23:20:49Z")
I just found out [Rick Steves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Steves) was born in Barstow, CA. I spent some Summers there, and in Daggett when my dad was stationed. Best cheeseburgers (and macaroni-and-cheese salad) I’ve ever had were in Lenwood. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2213 "2025-04-28T01:28:09Z")
I rad about this in a business magazine how illerate Mumbair residents delivered a Five 9s service every day. > **[Dabbawallas: Delivering Excellence by Meena Kadri (Works That Work magazine)](https://worksthatwork.com/1/dabbawallas)** > > Mumbai’s dabbawallas pick up and deliver more than 350,000 home-cooked lunches to office workers every working day. How did this amazingly efficient delivery system develop from its start with on... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2214 "2025-04-28T01:43:27Z")
I heard about Indian food deliverers a couple of decades ago (probably on NPR)… but for the life of me, I can’t remember what kid of ‘walla’ I heard back then. ‘Dabbawalla’ doesn’t sound familiar. I don’t know. Maybe that _is_ the word, but I misheard it. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2215 "2025-04-28T01:55:45Z")
The older term is tiffin wallah: > **[Dabbawala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabbawala)** > > A dabbawala (also spelled dabbawalla or dabbawallah, called tiffin wallah in older sources) is a worker who delivers hot lunches from homes and restaurants to people at work in India, especially in Mumbai. The dabbawalas constitute a lunchbox delivery and return system for workers in Mumbai. The lunchboxes are picked up in the late morning, delivered predominantly using bicycles and railway trains, and returned empty in the afternoon. > In the late 1800s, an increasing number of migrants were... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2216 "2025-04-28T02:24:12Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > The older term is tiffin wallah: Tiffin walla! _That_ was the term I heard! Thank you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2217 "2025-04-28T04:16:05Z")
Forbes is where I read about it. > _Forbes Magazine_ awarded it a Sigma Six rating in 2002, estimating that **less than one mistake is made in every six million deliveries—that’s 12 million dispatches if you count both directions**. So how is this accuracy ensured by a workforce which has traditionally possessed low literacy? Historically the dabbawallas developed their own code utilising numbers, letters, colours and symbols applied to the tiffins to enable them to be sorted systematically at key points of the journey. (It’s not dissimilar to the notion of packet-switching by which digital data is transmitted via shared networks like the Internet.) At larger hub points, a dabbawalla is stationed with the specific task of spotting potential mix-ups and redirecting misplaced lunchboxes back onto their correct trajectories. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2025, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2218 "2025-04-28T04:18:44Z")
I learned about it from _Top Gear_ of all places. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lNIDvr7NNwo/maxresdefault.jpg "Meals on Wheels through Bombay | Top Gear Christmas Special 2011 | Top Gear") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNIDvr7NNwo) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2219 "2025-04-28T16:40:22Z")
I learned that the African aardwolf’s closest relatives are hyenas, which by extension means that despite the name, they’re more closely related to cats than dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/2220 "2025-04-28T16:49:26Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > they’re more closely related to cats than dogs. I just found out that hyenas are more closely related to cats than to dogs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=110) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=112)