# 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:** 175
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3481 "2025-11-04T21:27:36Z")
This year, supermodel Heidi Klum marked the 25th anniversary of hosting Heidiween, her annual blowout bash. Some of her own costumes over the years have been incredible (e.g., the fisherman’s worm) while others were merely extravagant. > **[Let's Relive Every Halloween Costume Heidi Klum Has Worn Since 2000, Shall We?](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/g6946068/heidi-klum-halloween-costumes/)** > > 2022’s was a commitment. Any guesses for Heidiween 2025?! ---
**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:** [November 4, 2025, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3482 "2025-11-04T21:52:31Z")
Joni Mitchell had affairs with Crosby _and_ Stills _and_ Nash. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3483 "2025-11-04T22:08:01Z")
But she was only good friends with Young, who wrote a song about her. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4beJqy5xG-4/maxresdefault.jpg "Sweet Joni") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4beJqy5xG-4) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3484 "2025-11-04T22:41:17Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Joni Mitchell had affairs with Crosby _and_ Stills _and_ Nash. She was young then. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3485 "2025-11-04T22:57:30Z")
Wow. Very few actual live women could pull off Betty Boop or Jessica Rabbit. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3486 "2025-11-04T23:11:04Z")
Some musicians and actors that Joni Mitchell had romantic relationships with were Chuck Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, David Crosby, Graham Nash, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Warren Beatty, Glenn Frey, Sam Shepard, J. D. Souther, Wayne Perkins, and Larry Klein. She had her only child with an artist named Brad MacMath, but that child was adopted by another couple at eight months. She did not have a romantic relationship with Stephen Stills. Stills had a relationship with Judy Collins. No, of course I am going by what the articles that I’ve found in a search. ---
**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:** [November 4, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3487 "2025-11-04T23:19:35Z")
My source is Barney Hoskyns’ _Hotel California: The True-Life Adventures of Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Mitchell, Taylor, Browne, Ronstadt, Geffen, the Eagles, and Their Many Friends_, which says she had the affair with Stills as part of a rebound after her breakup with Nash. I’ve read several rock books by Hoskyns, all very good. He’s incredibly knowledgeable about the era, and apparently has interviewed just about everybody from that time. I think I can cite him without sticking my neck out. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3488 "2025-11-05T04:33:54Z")
Reminds me of the [famous acacia](https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2025/11/04/meet-the-most-famous-tree-of-the-sahara-desert-hint-it-lived-until-1973-when-it-was-apparently-knocked-over-by-a-drunk-driver/) of Ténéré, in the northern Niger. It was the only tree, or plant for that matter, for over 200 miles in any direction. Then, one day, a truck driver (who is believed to have been drunk) ran into and uprooted it. Miles and miles of empty desert in every direction and one driver somehow managed to hit the only obstacle in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3489 "2025-11-05T20:10:24Z")
Today, I stumbled across the story of [the black governors of Connecticut](https://connecticuthistory.org/connecticuts-black-governors/). Basically, the rich white folk chose a guy to keep the population in line, though he didn’t have much actual power and wasn’t able to punish a white person who harmed an African-American person. There was also a minor kerfuffle when they feared that a certain governor might try to influence locals to go over to the British side during the Revolutionary War. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3490 "2025-11-05T22:24:18Z")
I’ve heard the expression “Land ho” all my life. I always thought that the word “ho” was an archaic expression that meant something like “over there” and the person who was yelling was saying “Look, there’s some land over there in that direction.” I just learned that this is not correct. The “ho” is actually an archaic expression that means “stop”. What a person who yells “Land ho” is saying is “There’s some land in our way. Stop the boat.” And, yes, I’m aware there’s another meaning for “ho”. So don’t bother. ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3491 "2025-11-05T22:39:21Z")
Hm, I didn’t know that, either. Related to “heave ho”, I’m guessing? ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3492 "2025-11-05T23:08:53Z")
I think so. It would be when pulling some thing up in a group as a rhythmic chant. Heave Ho = Pull Stop > **[The Nautical Roots of Heave-Ho](https://wordfoolery.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/the-nautical-roots-of-heave-ho/)** > > Hello, Are you ready for some nautical nonsense? Wonderful, welcome aboard! This week Wordfoolery’s desk is awash with “book jobs”, apologies for it spilling over here with anothe… ---
**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:** [November 5, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3493 "2025-11-05T23:30:34Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The “ho” is actually an archaic expression that means “stop”. What a person who yells “Land ho” is saying is “There’s some land in our way. Stop the boat.” Which begs the question: What does “Westward ho!” mean then? I suspect in both cases, “Ho!” just means “Hey!” ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3494 "2025-11-06T00:30:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ve heard the expression “Land ho” all my life. I always thought that the word “ho” was an archaic expression that meant something like “over there” and the person who was yelling was saying “Look, there’s some land over there in that direction.” > > I just learned that this is not correct. The “ho” is actually an archaic expression that means “stop”. What a person who yells “Land ho” is saying is “There’s some land in our way. Stop the boat.” If I’m remembering correctly, the “ho” is etymologically related to the word “whoa”. I read it recently. Unfortunately, short term memory is the first to go. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3495 "2025-11-06T00:38:05Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > If I’m remembering correctly, the “ho” is etymologically related to the word “whoa”. The thing I read said it’s a shortened version of the word “hold”. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3496 "2025-11-06T01:02:25Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > If I’m remembering correctly, the “ho” is etymologically related to the word “whoa”. That is correct. The process is similar to how the words “who”, “why”, “how”, “what”, etc have varied in their starting consonants. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3497 "2025-11-06T01:03:39Z")
“Westward ho!” originated as a cry of boatmen on the Thames in England. Something to do with maneuvering the boat. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3498 "2025-11-06T08:24:41Z")
“Stove” to mean what you cook on is a chiefly American usage; “cooker” is the usual word elsewhere. I already knew that people in the UK use the word “cooker” but wasn’t aware that “stove” is mostly not used there. The word stove brings up another thing that took me a long time to catch on to. Its cognate word in German is _Stube_, which means a cozy room, or a room where you would go to warm up. I didn’t realize they were cognates until I read The Fisherman And His Wife in Plattdeutsch (a lowland dialect of German). There, when the couple get their nice little cottage, it features a “Stuw”, (meaning the room) which would be pronounced something like “stoov”, making the relationship clearer. Another example is _Herbst_, the standard German word for fall (autumn). On first learning that word I saw no obvious relation with any English word, but once again the Plattdeutsch word, in this case _hervest_, made it obvious to me. (Note: To be clear, although I have been using phrases like “_the_ Plattdeutsch word”, as if there was a single Plattdeutsch language or dialect. I do realize that isn’t true, although in general Plattdeutsch dialects are considered to be closer to English generally. The two examples here both come from the Grimms, but I don’t remember if they were in the same story or came from the same region.) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3499 "2025-11-06T09:31:14Z")
On “ho” - it used to be a cliché that Victorian historical novels would have someone call up a servant with a fake-mediaeval -”Ho, varlet!” ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/3500 "2025-11-06T13:38:23Z")
Merriam-Webster (the dictionary people) posted about the whoa/ho stuff on Facebook yesterday. I suspect some people in this discussion already know that. > **[Log into Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1242710317903017&set=pcb.1242710384569677)** > > Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know. (For those who don’t want to log into Facebook to read it, it just confirms that it means to stop.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=174) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=176)