# 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:** 243
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4841 "2026-06-11T22:55:02Z")
Gumption! ---
**Author:** ![Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reindeer_flotilla/32/3024_2.png) [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reindeer_Flotilla)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4842 "2026-06-12T19:11:36Z")
Raiders of the Lost Ark was released on this date in 1981. It was set in the distant pre-WWII past of 1936. If it was released today with the same time gap, it would be set in… 1. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4843 "2026-06-12T20:26:27Z")
_proceeds to dissolve into dust_ ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2026, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4844 "2026-06-13T12:34:05Z")
> [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](#): > > it would be set in… > > 981 A movie about the intrigues of Charles of Lorraine and future King of the Franks Hugh Capet would be intriguing. Sort of like _The Tudors_, though a few centuries earlier and in France. ---
**Author:** ![Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reindeer_flotilla/32/3024_2.png) [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reindeer_Flotilla)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4845 "2026-06-14T01:14:38Z")
> [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](#): > > it would be set in… > > 1. > [@bordelond](#): > > > [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](#): > > > > it would be set in… > > > > 981 > > A movie about the intrigues of Charles of Lorraine and future King of the Franks Hugh Capet would be intriguing. Sort of like _The Tudors_, though a few centuries earlier and in France. Next we could do 81, but a movie on the death of Emperor Titus probably would be less than intriguing. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4846 "2026-06-14T13:07:28Z")
[Humans prefer to turn counterclockwise](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-accidentally-discover-that-humans-prefer-to-turn-counterclockwise-180988939/), and no one knows why. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4847 "2026-06-14T15:09:20Z")
> [@Reindeer\_Flotilla](#): > > a movie on the death of Emperor Titus probably would be less than intriguing. I don’t know, that would be all about the rise of Domitian which would be pretty interesting. He’s the one “bad emperor” where the revisionist take (that we only have the histories written by the senatorial class who hated him, and he was actually a pretty decent emperor as far as we can tell) has a lot going for it IMO Not that Hollywood movies are the best medium for portraying a nuanced view of someone who isn’t a complete monster or a perfect hero 😉 ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4848 "2026-06-14T15:41:26Z")
I wonder if that also holds for left-handed people? EDIT: I should have clicked the link first. It transcends handedness. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4849 "2026-06-14T15:52:53Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > [Humans prefer to turn counterclockwise](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-accidentally-discover-that-humans-prefer-to-turn-counterclockwise-180988939/), and no one knows why. That’s very interesting and astonishing. I love such trivia and scientific mysteries. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4850 "2026-06-14T17:30:07Z")
Here is a timely one: The first World Cup was in 1930 and the finals was between Uruguay and Argentina. There was a dispute between the sides on which type of ball to use. They ended up using Uruguay’s in the first half and Argentina’s in the second half. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4851 "2026-06-14T17:36:25Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > The first World Cup was in 1930 Interesting. Further Googling reveals that there were only 13 nations participating, and it was by invitation only. It was held in Montevideo, and the host country won the tournament. The countries that were in the inaugural Cup: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay., Belgium, France, Romania, Yugoslavia, Mexico and the United States. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4852 "2026-06-14T17:43:44Z")
There are all kinds of quirks. FIFA chose Uruguay largely because they won the gold medal in the 1928 Olympics. England wasn’t included. Egypt was included but they didn’t make it because they somehow missed the transport ship. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4853 "2026-06-14T18:00:08Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > The countries that were in the inaugural Cup: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay., Belgium, France, Romania, Yugoslavia, Mexico and the United States. The USA got their best result by far in a WC ever in that first tournament, making third place. Let’s see what’s in for them this time. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4854 "2026-06-14T19:57:22Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > [Humans prefer to turn counterclockwise](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-accidentally-discover-that-humans-prefer-to-turn-counterclockwise-180988939/), and no one knows why I have 17 challenging bike rides that I have to do every year (it’s the rules, right?) At some point I realized this: One is out-and-back; one is figure-of-8; one is clockwise. The remainder are counterclockwise. Have we stumbled across an explanation? j ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2026, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4855 "2026-06-14T20:18:06Z")
Michael Parks and Peter Fonda are two actors known for their iconic roles as motorcycle riders. Six years before Then Came Bronson and Easy Rider they appeared on screen[riding a sidecar motorcycle together](https://youtu.be/BRjbyu4vn88?si=BMtJlxt5d73OLofl&t=20) in the TV series “Channing”. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2026, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4856 "2026-06-14T22:45:09Z")
The release of the first Beatles album is closer to New Year’s Eve 1899 than it is to today. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4857 "2026-06-15T01:18:16Z")
It was the other way around, they used Argentina’s in the first half and Uruguay’s in the second. Argentina was winning at the end of the first half and Uruguay won it in the second with their ball. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4858 "2026-06-15T01:50:56Z")
Although there was no 3rd Place game. And IIRC, still the highest finish by any non-European or non-South American team. Korea and Morocco have since finished in 4th place. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2026, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4859 "2026-06-15T07:24:22Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Let’s see what’s in for them this time. Third of 13 would be like 11th of 48 today, right? Which, adjusting for inflation means it would be a big success for the USA if they make it to the last 16, and the last 32 would be OK-ish. Still rooting for them to be humiliated in the meanest spirit of schadenfreude, of course. ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2026, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/4860 "2026-06-15T07:53:21Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > There are all kinds of quirks. FIFA chose Uruguay largely because they won the gold medal in the 1928 Olympics. > > England wasn’t included. Egypt was included but they didn’t make it because they somehow missed the transport ship. England’s non-inclusion was hardly surprising. That was a period when the English football authorities avoided playing in foreign tournaments. The only international matches they played were either against other ‘Home’ nations (Scotland, Wales, Ireland) or friendlies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=242) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=244)