# 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:** 256
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5101 "2026-07-19T17:01:21Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I always stored it in the “urban myth” (or perhaps rather rural prehistorical myth) category On a purely pedantic note, “urban myth” is not the term of art, but a popularization of “urban legend,” a term that was in vogue for about 20 years. Generally, I’d just call that a “folk belief” (if I was referring to its existence in the community) or a “false belief” (if I was commenting on its truth or falsehood). **Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus** ’s post is a short narrative about the past, so it’s a legend, specifically a “historical legend.” The tag “urban,” now replaced with “contemporary,” is specifically for those legends that are circulating as happing in the current world, so wouldn’t apply unless that narrative was also circulating in the ancient world. Because this is a story about the past circulated informally as a true, it meets all the criteria for historical legend. It could also be 100% true, of course; that’s a separate issue. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5102 "2026-07-19T17:32:38Z")
Short version: Richard Tatro and April Tatro, who did bit parts in ST:TS are not related (or if they are, it’s very remote), despite the uncommonness of the name. Richard Tatro had a bit role in “I, Mudd” (1967). He was, uh, [28 at the time.](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156989262/richard-joseph-tatro#view-photo=134279741). This was the high watermark, and last, of his nine known acting roles. In 1968 he was dating (almost 20 years older) Shelley Winters, but apparently that didn’t work out. April Tatro was the mystery human form of Isis the Cat in “Assignment Earth.” She remained unidentified for almost half a century. Her specialty was being a contortionist, and it’s easy to see that someone with some good contortion skills might be useful doing cat-like movements. This was her first known acting role. According to IMDB, she was on Carson’s “Tonight Show” three months later. We can only wonder if she mentioned the ST episode? Side note: “Tatro” appears to be French-Canadian in origin, and apparently via some changes in spelling has its origins in an older word meaning ‘weaver.’ ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5103 "2026-07-19T18:57:35Z")
Not an uncommon last name in the US but usually spelled Tetrault or Tetreault. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5104 "2026-07-19T20:15:09Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Do you have a source for that? I always find there are far too many people who think humans have no imaginations, and that everything weird in mythology somehow comes from real-world examples (e.g. the Cyclops from elephant skulls). This interpretation of the Golden Fleece goes back to antiquity. Strabo (63 BCE-24CE) wrote about it: > It is said that in their country gold is carried down by the mountain torrents, and that the barbarians obtain it by means of perforated [troughs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watering_trough "Watering trough") and fleecy skins, and that this is the origin of the myth of the golden fleece—unless they call them [Iberians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasian_Iberians "Caucasian Iberians"), by the same name as the [western Iberians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberians "Iberians"), from the gold mines in both countries. > **[Golden Fleece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Fleece)** > > In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece (Ancient Greek: Χρυσόμαλλον δέρας, romanized: Khrysómallon déras, lit. 'Golden-haired pelt') is the fleece of the golden-woolled,\[a\] winged ram, Chrysomallos, which rescued Phrixus and brought him to Colchis, where Phrixus then sacrificed it to Zeus. Phrixus gave the fleece to King Aeëtes, who kept it in a sacred grove, whence Jason and the Argonauts stole it with the help of Medea, Aeëtes' daughter. The fleece is a symbol of authority and kingship. In the h... I’ve heard or read it cited unquestioningly plenty of times (by James Burke in _Connections_, for instance) ---
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5105 "2026-07-19T20:25:31Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > SF could be incredibly sexist in those days, but you are ignoring the elephant in the room: Susan Calvin. Susan Calvin was a robopsychologist. In the original stories she did not invent, create, build, or do anything mechanical with the robots. She examined and explained their behaviors after they were put to work and then apparently malfunctioned. I’d say Calvin is the premiere example of inventing being man’s work and feelings being woman’s work. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5106 "2026-07-19T22:39:23Z")
Every US President from Andrew Johnson until Donald Trump was alive at the same time as Herbert Hoover. Kamala Harris was born on the same day that Hoover died which would have continued the streak. President Hayes was alive at the same time as even more Presidents from John Adams to Eisenhower. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5107 "2026-07-19T22:51:54Z")
Thanks. Herodotus has a number of absurd rationalisations. ---
**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:** [July 19, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5108 "2026-07-19T23:06:02Z")
A good take, I always thought Susan Calvin also worked on the robot’s design and “programming” but now that you mention I’m not sure there’s textual evidence of that. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5109 "2026-07-20T00:14:10Z")
She did at least once critique a robot’s physical design, but her critiques weren’t heeded. Still, the part she did was the more important part. It’s easy to make hydraulic arms and the like: What makes it special is the brain controlling it. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5110 "2026-07-20T13:33:51Z")
So she _did_ work on robot creation, not just post-problem analysis and solutions? It has been too long since I read the books. (I refuse to believe I read something 40 years ago, I **cannot** be _that_ old) ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5111 "2026-07-20T13:49:09Z")
She’s never directly stated to have worked directly on robot creation. But I think that it’s safe to say that, without her work, there’d be a lot less, and less advanced, robot creation. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5112 "2026-07-20T16:28:02Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > I refuse to believe I read something 40 years ago You mean ten World Cups ago? That would have been México, where someone scored a famous goal or two for Argentina. You are right, it does not feel soooo long ago. ---
**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:** [July 20, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5113 "2026-07-20T16:46:01Z")
I don’t know what this “World Cup” thing you are speaking of is, doesn’t ring a bell 😛 (I think I read _I Robot_ one or two years after God made Himself visible on Earth, so it was 38/39 years ago not 40, I read _Foundation_ in 1986 for sure, since I remember drawing Terminus and Anacreonte stellar maps in 3rd grade in my school notebook) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5114 "2026-07-20T23:46:07Z")
_Le Ho Fooks_, from Werewolves of London is a real London Chinese restaurant. It has changed locations since the song. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5115 "2026-07-21T01:00:33Z")
MIT awards a playful “Pirate Certificate” to students who finish four specific physical education classes. To get the certificate, students must take archery, sailing, fencing, and pistol or rifle shooting. The school issues these certificates on faux parchment as a fun way to complete fitness requirements. ---
**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:** [July 21, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5116 "2026-07-21T04:53:03Z")
No Parrot Husbandry required? ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5117 "2026-07-21T10:44:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > _Le Ho Fooks_, from Werewolves of London is a real London Chinese restaurant. It has changed locations since the song. One of the earlier locations later became the Wong Kei. A legendary restaurant that claimed to have the rudest waiters in London. One of my faves. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5118 "2026-07-21T18:26:42Z")
Children’s entertainer [Stevin John’s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevin_John) death greatly exaggerated; reportedly triggered by Google glitch. > **[What happened to Stevin John of Blippi? Death hoax hits show's OG face; know...](https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/what-happened-to-stevin-john-of-blippi-death-hoax-hits-shows-og-face-know-truth-behind-viral-claims-101784579084568.html)** > > Blippi creator Stevin John is alive despite a viral death hoax sparked by a Google search glitch. No family or official statement supports claims of his death. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5119 "2026-07-22T14:15:08Z")
Allegedly - JFK was the first US President to be born in a hospital. ---
**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:** [July 22, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5120 "2026-07-22T14:53:37Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > JFK was the first US President to be born in a hospital. Not so, according to the less-than-reliable sources of CoPilot and ChatGPT. They both say that Carter was the first to be born in a hospital, and JFK was born in a bedroom in his family home in Massachusetts. Perhaps you have a cite for your statement? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=255) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=257)