# 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:** 278
**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:** [October 13, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5542 "2026-10-13T14:09:25Z")
OK, this is a little off-the-wall, but. . . I watch end credits for most movies and television programs. I spotted the name “George George” as one of the writers of an ep of “The Real McCoys.” I thought that was an \*odd name,so I looked him up. And as was often the case back in the day, many in the entertainment industry de-Semitized their name. His original name was “George Goldberg,” son of. . . [Rube Goldberg.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg) Side note: This ep also featured “Great Gildersleeve” actor Willard Waterman. He and Frank Nelson (“YeEEEEEEEssss”) could have been the same person. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5543 "2026-10-13T14:27:38Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > …but more horrific is the result of the rope snapping while at full tension. There may be many tons of force stored in the rope, and the elastic rebound when it snaps can easily be enough to kill anyone it hits. I got lots of training on the dangers of synthetic line snapback while in the U.S. Navy (with respect to line handling when tying up ships and submarines to the pier). Here’s a famous Navy training video about the danger: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xRDbbEIE8R4/maxresdefault.jpg "US Navy - Synthetic Line Snapback") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRDbbEIE8R4) ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5544 "2026-10-14T22:36:29Z")
Current (and soon to be former) US ambassador to Greece and MAGA personality Kimberly Guilfoyle was married to Gavin Newsom from 2001 to 2006. Yes, that Gavin Newsom. Part of that time she was First Lady of San Francisco. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5545 "2026-10-16T00:27:52Z")
There is a crime called “false personation” and the local library system has 82 books listed under that subject. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5546 "2026-10-17T01:21:01Z")
In Louisiana, it is illegal to carry a firearm and over 14 grams of Marijuana simultaneously. Cite: tonight’s episode of “On Patrol: Live”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5547 "2026-10-17T04:17:58Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > In Louisiana, it is illegal to carry a firearm and over 14 grams of Marijuana simultaneously. Under 14 grams, and you are legal! ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5548 "2026-10-17T16:01:45Z")
while Ohio was admitted to the Union in 1803, it didn’t become official till 1953 due to legislate errors - **February 19, 1803:** Congress passed an act recognizing Ohio’s statehood and its adoption of a constitution. - **March 1, 1803:** The first Ohio General Assembly met, which is officially celebrated as the state’s official date of admission. - **August 7, 1953:** President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a congressional resolution retroactively ratifying Ohio’s 1802 constitution to fix a long-standing clerical oversight. [[1](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESaAHrOzAVjjqqLZ-pkkIuPiJqdeoUBzWXnAPd_sc8eqT2S2EeJHG8eOeuqMy3LZqTg0p6T96_d2hqeYDt0BBuNxgUtaL2sZA_A2IBZD-QN2ZIA6JL3G0yT8ZvhFgyFdceORYuZOwgOa1Y), [2](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESZwHrOzAVVI_owBaJDm3EZpPtIX2X4iRjOESvVahhGdS32c3Wzh7AqhuUVAnDgS0PW2W5sL2WJSyNzAirsqCpB2m10kDEtLbgljmFN8oyYb4rGdymJHsWdA7BYQcCtjQVbIewNn3XEqg), [3](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESqwEB6zswFdSV3YYQYVHonDHyOW_oBPlXTXlX-WhDMr9VrZ2LqpCrkLs2te-Cx3zH4LG0u44C0u2vDcewL1ql17XphJmczQehuvRM8cchIfEbwZ5j1owe4akX7tlRoz_AdCL-6io6bVZ1kTt5Jj_KM5xEbTBGwrbTXWZg1WQcV7oC2JXk2AVw8ZLlCoBINyQrBICwf7zlhLSnvvJEtXidRTK5BDsUwhc7BHACjEg), [4](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESfAHrOzAV7EcehsiUBnNKHJiJSbgJozrDDB6POD915P1yFC-4SJRfHMw4u7PE9XwRBecvFuYr5vOUuI0vQtl34DyMZa63WonBZ-F9QQva2s4MIu1a0je4FG8UI3-wDG2UW79yrsV5lHXGze1EEKZTv4MXa7mbxdVbGhG4L9Y), [5](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESkwEB6zswFb9p8AU5Ax9fMGVqBf6pN-c0syp-ASqXVzw1im63L5YVU063B33RuWHVAYyiVUfaaTS21OrCNWy09aRxm79hK-7SnysJ-zej8bFb_7CoOEFmxGwb5gBYniOalqbUH0hNXZIGzV6PqgMDRIb43QsMxQEcwRsZD2vb1-YBjVXkU5FKu0l3mXy13CTD05kIHaY), [6](https://www.google.com/goto?url=CAESdAHrOzAVcf8ogl4GL5H8GFa7HHJs6jymcJ_eoabQC29ZtyyIag10SKkKQjQK5HVxW9SD_oAWUS7SB5ceGggoyUYhuiCOkIuuiDwZN6gWEgDQ9YNtqu1w5COOS0c1YD2BkcdHOspH8rJS0k8ZuBUM80ZhD5rK)] In November 1802, the Ohio State Convention, located in Chillicothe, petitioned for admittance in the United States by approving the Ohio Constitution. Thomas Worthington, a delegate of the convention, personally delivered the document to Washington, D.C. and presented it to Congress in December. Congress proceeded to approve the action in accordance with President Jefferson’s newly signed 1802 Enabling Act, but forgot one critical thing, they neglected to ratify the Ohio Constitution. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5549 "2026-10-17T18:43:38Z")
From one of your links: > So if I ask you now when Ohio was admitted into the United States, will your answer still be 1803? Well I guess legally it would but the point is you should always look further into that deeper story. The 1953 resolution was purely symbolic. If the 1953 action hadn’t been taken, Ohio would have remained a state just as it legally had been from 1903 to 1953. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5550 "2026-10-17T18:57:01Z")
Definitely symbolic. They were de facto a real State. This kind of fun thing happens from time to time like when a historian realizes that two cities are still technically at war since 1476. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5551 "2026-10-17T20:14:53Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The 1953 resolution was purely symbolic. If the 1953 action hadn’t been taken, Ohio would have remained a state just as it legally had been from 1903 to 1953. Correct. That factoid is often brought out by Illegal Tax Protestors. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5552 "2026-10-17T20:15:06Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > In Louisiana, it is illegal to carry a firearm and over 14 grams of Marijuana simultaneously. Hence why juggling is so popular during Mardi Gras. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5553 "2026-10-17T21:05:42Z")
Yeah, all Congress needed to do was to admit the state (which they did). Ratifying the state constitution was on the state, not the feds (which they also did). ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5554 "2026-10-18T16:25:50Z")
Movile Cave on the Romanian Black Sea coast hosts a unique ecosystem with many species found nowhere else on Earth. It was discovered in in 1986 while workers were drilling during operations to build a power plant. The cave had been completely sealed for 5.5 million years. There was no natural light and the air was toxic. The ecosystem is based on chemosynthetic microorganisms that obtain energy from hydrogen sulfide, methane, and ammonia. The invertebrate species found here (many of which can’t be found anywhere else) are spiders, crustaceans, millipedes, centipedes, water scorpions, pseudoscorpions, leeches, isopods (woodlice relatives), worms, snails, and some others. [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/FRKqp1t.png "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/FRKqp1t) Chemosynthetic bacteria form microbial mats on the cave walls and on the water surface or bottom. Microscopic worms, snails, and small crustaceans feed on these bacterial mats. Spiders, water scorpions, leeches, and centipedes are the top predators, feeding on the smaller animals. I stumbled across this fact here: [Workers drilling in Romania broke into a cave sealed for 5.5 million years — and found an entire living world that has never seen the sun](https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/general/workers-drilling-in-romania-broke-into-a-cave-sealed-for-5-5-million-years-and-found-an-entire-living-world-that-has-never-seen-the-sun/ar-AA29kMEH?ocid=winp2fpclassic&cvid=83fc36c7911d46fa81bc6afc000ffd0b&ei=17) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5555 "2026-10-18T18:51:43Z")
Wow. If they let the surface atmosphere in, that probably really messed with the ecology of the cave. And I can’t see how they could have avoided doing that since they weren’t trying to avoid it when they first unwitting drilled through the cave roof into the void space. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5556 "2026-10-18T19:24:51Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > that probably really messed with the ecology of the cave The workers carrying out this operation were in fact skillful engineers and educated people. They realized they might have come across with something unique and were highly careful. They sealed everything and waited for the authorities. This is how they were able to preserve the site intact. The cave lacks natural vertical shafts. The manmade shaft is completely sealed. The entry point is secured by a series of airlocks and heavy airtight hatches. The presence of researchers doesn’t really affect the ecosystem. The cave’s native bacterial populations are really dense and highly specialized. Thus, they can naturally outcompete any external microbes that researchers might introduce. However, access is tightly regulated. Fewer than 100 people have been inside the cave since its discovery. Researchers can enter only in small groups wearing special gear. The air composition in Movile Cave remains rich in local toxic gases and low in oxygen. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5557 "2026-10-18T19:45:34Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > Chemosynthetic bacteria form microbial mats on the cave walls and on the water surface or bottom. Microscopic worms, snails, and small crustaceans feed on these bacterial mats. Spiders, water scorpions, leeches, and centipedes are the top predators, feeding on the smaller animals. Wow, sounds like Ren can eat like a king! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5558 "2026-10-18T20:52:37Z")
Thank you for a great response. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5559 "2026-10-18T21:39:39Z")
The ecosystem described for the cave includes several animals, all of which are aerobes, so there must be some oxygen in there. Where does it come from? Does one of the chemotrophs release oxygen? ---
**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:** [October 19, 2026, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5560 "2026-10-19T02:13:53Z")
> [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > Movile Cave on the Romanian Black Sea coast hosts a unique ecosystem with many species found nowhere else on Earth. It was discovered in in 1986 while workers were drilling during operations to build a power plant. The cave had been completely sealed for 5.5 million years. There was no natural light and the air was toxic Okay, that was pretty damn interesting. I occasionally explore what alternatives to carbon/iron/oxygen could life be based on (I’m aware of horseshoe crabs and other well known variants). That there’s a whole ecosystem is going to be a rabbit hole I’ll soon be scampering down. Oh great. Another time sink. Thanks, asshole.. 😃 Now for what I came to post.. TIL there’s a fungus called Chicken of the Forest, famous for it’s meaty texture and flavor that resembles chicken. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2026, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/5561 "2026-10-19T02:20:38Z")
Don’t forget that all those critters are descendants of conventional surface critters that got isolated down there. Not sure about the micro-scale life. So not a totally separate system of life. Real interesting nonetheless. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=277) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=279)