# 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:** 4
**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:** [August 4, 2024, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/61 "2024-08-04T13:37:57Z")
[We are running out of sand.](https://theweek.com/news/science-health/960931/why-is-the-world-running-out-of-sand) Specifically, the sand that’s used for construction (concrete, etc.). The sand in the Sahara Desert can’t be used for construction, because the grains are too “round” and “smooth.” The best sand comes from river beds; it’s rough and jagged, and in short supply. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/62 "2024-08-04T14:30:52Z")
Sand piracy was a plot point in the HBO show _Barry_ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XboeI_lRW48/maxresdefault.jpg "Lets go see the Sand | Barry 04x04") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XboeI_lRW48) ---
**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:** [August 4, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/63 "2024-08-04T17:53:09Z")
Apologies if this is big news in the US. (I’ll assume not - but it’s pretty big news over here.) Henry Fieldman has just become the first person to win an Olympic medal in both men’s and women’s events. > He coxed the British men’s eight that won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Summer Olympics…. > > ….He won a bronze medal as coxswain for the Great Britain women’s eight at the 2024 Summer Olympics, making him the first person to win an Olympic medal in both men’s and women’s events (Since a rule change in 2017, the coxswain can compete in the boat with either gender) > **[Henry Fieldman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fieldman)** > > Henry Fieldman (born 25 November 1988) is a British rowing coxswain. He has been twice a world champion and is a two-time Olympic medalist. > Fieldman competed at the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Bosbaan, Amsterdam, where he won a silver medal steering the coxed pair of Alan Sinclair and Scott Durant. The following year he was part of the British team that topped the medal table at the 2015 World Rowing Championships at Lac d'Aiguebelette in France, where he won a gold medal in the coxed p... j ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/64 "2024-08-04T20:51:03Z")
There cannot be more than 37 dogs registered with the same breed and name with the American Kennel Club. The reason is because their database uses Roman numerals… > **[An Old Dog Who Can't Count Past 37 - Sogeti Labs](https://labs.sogeti.com/an-old-dog-who-cant-count-past-37/)** > > I’m officially an old dog. I’ve been in the tech business since punched cards were the only way to provide input to a mainframe–whether that was a program or the data for a program. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/65 "2024-08-04T21:43:19Z")
They just need to write 38 as IIXL. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/66 "2024-08-04T23:41:07Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I could fill this tread with just the stuff I learn from [Andrew Hickey’s podcast.](https://500songs.com/) This one is from a Patreon bonus episode. > > This obscure B-side from an obscure band may well be the most sampled record in History. The drum break around 1:25 turns up in: > > “I Desire” by Salt n Pepa > “Straight Outta Compton” by NWA > “Do You Know What I Mean?” by Oasis > “Little Wonder” by David Bowie > The themes for _Futurama_ and _Powerpuff Girls_ > and hundreds of other places. > > One YouTube commentator notes that the drummer on the record, Gregory Coleman “died homeless and destitute in 2006.” > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxZuq57\_bYM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxZuq57_bYM) That photo is interesting. 45s had large holes, while 78s and 33 1/3 disks had small ones. That looks like it could be played on a small hole record player, but the center could be punched out to play on a 45rpm machine. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2024, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/67 "2024-08-05T09:57:27Z")
I may have already mentioned this somewhere on here, so apologies in advance if required. In the days of old timey manually operated telephone switchboards, when you took your handset off the hook it caused a light to go on above the jack for your line. This signaled the operator that you wanted to make a call. By repeatedly closing and releasing the hook, you could make the light rapidly blink or flicker. This is why you see characters in old movies frantically pressing the hook button again and again as they cry out “Operator!..Hello!.. Hello!!..Operator!..” ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/68 "2024-08-05T12:35:08Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > That photo is interesting. 45s had large holes, while 78s and 33 1/3 disks had small ones. That looks like it could be played on a small hole record player, but the center could be punched out to play on a 45rpm machine. I remember there were plastic inserts that could be inserted in the 45 hole, since standard record players also had a 45 rpm setting. The cheaper 45 rpm players were square boxes about 1 ft to each side. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2024, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/69 "2024-08-05T13:03:30Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > In the days of old timey manually operated telephone switchboards, when you took your handset off the hook it caused a light to go on above the jack for your line. This signaled the operator that you wanted to make a call. By repeatedly closing and releasing the hook, you could make the light rapidly blink or flicker. This is why you see characters in old movies frantically pressing the hook button again and again as they cry out “Operator!..Hello!.. Hello!!..Operator!..” Depends on the era. In later days, with direct dialing, you could still call the operator by frantically pressing the hook button repeatedly. Dial phones worked by sending pulses down the line, one pulse to dial a 1, two pulses to dial a 2, up to ten pulses to dial a 0 (and of course, dialing a zero got you the operator). And what you got from tapping the hook button was the same thing as one of those pulses. In principle, you could dial any number this way, but it was easiest to do with the operator, since you could just keep on tapping until someone answered. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/70 "2024-08-05T16:18:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Dial phones worked by sending pulses down the line, one pulse to dial a 1, two pulses to dial a 2, up to ten pulses to dial a 0 (and of course, dialing a zero got you the operator). And what you got from tapping the hook button was the same thing as one of those pulses. In principle, you could dial any number this way, but it was easiest to do with the operator, since you could just keep on tapping until someone answered. Hence the scene in “Red Dragon” where Hannibal Lecter invokes his right to confidentially call his lawyer. He’s allowed to do so in a private room with a telephone with no dial and his lawyer’s number pre-dialed by the prison switchboard. Lector then hangs up and pulse-dials the number he really wants to call. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/71 "2024-08-05T20:52:04Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > > [@RealityChuck](#): > > > > That photo is interesting. 45s had large holes, while 78s and 33 1/3 disks had small ones. That looks like it could be played on a small hole record player, but the center could be punched out to play on a 45rpm machine. > > I remember there were plastic inserts that could be inserted in the 45 hole, since standard record players also had a 45 rpm setting. The cheaper 45 rpm players were square boxes about 1 ft to each side. The reason 45s had large (or punch outable) holes was so they could be put into jukeboxes. The inserts were so that disks made or adapted for jukeboxes could be played on standard record players. ---
**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:** [August 5, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/72 "2024-08-05T21:30:46Z")
The Surrey town of Dorking is graced - if that’s the right word - with 10 foot tall statue of a cockerel. You can read about it here: [Dorking - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorking#Statues_and_sculptures) As you’ll see from the picture (dating from the 2012 olympics), the cockerel is wearing a gold medal; we drove past on Sunday, and it once again has a gold medal around it’s neck. Here’s the thing: I hadn’t realized that decorating - and particularly yarn-bombing - the statue is quite the tradition. Here are some examples to enjoy. > **[The many costumes of the Dorking Cockerel](https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/gallery/many-costumes-dorking-cockerel-12344449)** j ---
**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:** [August 5, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/73 "2024-08-05T21:47:08Z")
Has a whiff of the [manneken pis](https://www.mannekenpis.brussels/en/), who also is regularly dressed up: > **[GardeRobe MannekenPis | Brussels Museums](https://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/museums/garderobe-mannekenpis)** > > This museum houses the dressing room of the country's most famous little statue: a wardrobe to be proud of! The Manneken is of course nowhere 10 feet high, so it is much easier to fit the costume. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2024, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/74 "2024-08-06T08:09:52Z")
Interesting. But I guess the Manneken Pis wardrobe is “Official”? So far as I am aware, what happens to the Dorking Cockrel is strictly, uh, guerrilla adornment. By people who knit. j Edit: I see there is a process: [Manneken Pis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis#Costumes_and_wardrobe) ---
**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:** [August 6, 2024, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/75 "2024-08-06T08:17:50Z")
I am not sure, but I vaguely remember that they made a virtue out of necessity and went along with a running joke and declared it “official”. Oh! [Wikipedia knows](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manneken_Pis#Costumes_and_wardrobe) something about it. It’s complicated and goes back several centuries. But yes, that could be called official. A very, very long standing tradition. ETA: cross posting, never mind. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2024, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/76 "2024-08-06T08:23:12Z")
And I just noticed the Cockrel has it’s own wiki page, from which (gloriously): > A local group, based out of knitting shop **The Fluff-a-Torium** , are responsible. The cockerel is dressed with knitted decorations to mark holidays and festivals, including a heart for Valentine’s Day, a bonnet and egg for Easter and a red coat and Santa hat for Christmas… My bold. More: [Dorking Cockerel - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorking_Cockerel#Decoration) j ---
**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:** [August 6, 2024, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/77 "2024-08-06T13:30:18Z")
Here in Pismo Beach we have an 8 foot clam that is decorated (dressed or painted) several times a year. There are actually a total of three, but the one that gets the attention is on the south end of town near the 101/Price St. on-ramp. > **[World’s Largest Clam Statues: world record set in Pismo Beach, California](http://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2022/08/worlds-largest-clam-statues-world-record-set-in-pismo-beach-california-422358)** > > Pismo Beach, California, United States--Pismo Beach, California, just south of San Luis Obispo has three giant clams greeting visitors; made out of reinforced concrete, they are approximately 8 feet tall, 2.5 feet wide, molded in the ‘shut’ position... ---
**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:** [August 6, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/78 "2024-08-06T13:34:12Z")
Another Olympic related fact, but otherwise completely different: this year’s Women’s Tour de France (starts on Monday 12 August) will have more stages based _ **outside** _ France than in it\*. (“Stage” = one of the individual day-races that make up the Tour). Stages One to Four take place in the Netherlands and Belgium; Stage Five starts in Belgium and ends in France (by eye, slightly more of the race distance is in Belgium). Six, Seven and Eight are in France, giving a 4.5 to 3.5 split (though most of the total race distance covered is in France). Ordinarily, the Eight stages of the race would run Sunday to Sunday. But this year’s race runs Monday to Sunday (thus avoiding avoiding starting on the last day of the Olympics). The eight stages are accommodated by running both stages Two and Three on the Tuesday. This will be the first time this has been done (“split stages”) in a Tour de France in four decades ([cite](https://cyclehistory.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/le-tour-de-france-stage-19-jean-demaurienne-la-toussuireles-sybelles-2015/)). > **[Official route of Tour de France Femmes 2024](https://www.letourfemmes.fr/en/overall-route)** > > The route of the Tour de France Femmes, stages, cities, dates j \* - I presume this is because the race start occurs _immediately_ after the Olympics (next day) and so putting security in place to allow the early stages to take place in France isn’t possible. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/79 "2024-08-06T14:51:35Z")
The biggest hit record in 1955 according to Billboard was Perez Prado’s instrumental version of the song “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” with 10 weeks at #1. However, as the band leader, I don’t know that he actually played on the song, but the signature trumpet solo that makes it so distinctive and recognizable was by the uncredited Billy Regis. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785/80 "2024-08-06T15:21:42Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Here in Pismo Beach we have an 8 foot clam that is decorated (dressed or painted) several times a year. There are actually a total of three, but the one that gets the attention is on the south end of town near the 101/Price St. on-ramp. As a regular visitor, I’ve been taking pictures of those seasonally-painted clams since the 80s. The designs used to be fairly basic, but the local artists have upped their game over the years. Pismo is also home to three community whales: [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53906374304_4255d73383_c.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53906374304_4255d73383_c.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-2/1004785.md?page=5)