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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: trenzafeeds on Mon, 02 November 2015, 07:55:27

Title: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Mon, 02 November 2015, 07:55:27
One of the only things I like on Reddit is /r/TIL, I love all the interesting little factoids that people have to share.
I didn't actually learn this today, but I'll start:
The stereotype that pimps where lots of jewelry is actually based in fact. Criminals of various type used to do this (and still sometimes do) because cash is confiscated upon arrest, but jewelry is not, so it can be pawned from inside jail (using their criminal connections) in order to raise bail.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 02 November 2015, 07:57:16
For my own convience, I made a thread to organize my mechanical keyboard "knowledge" (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0). They are all weird facts and opinions.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Mon, 02 November 2015, 08:14:50
Yoda and Miss Piggy were both voiced by the same person.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: hudson0804 on Mon, 02 November 2015, 09:30:12
12+1 = 11+2, and "twelve plus one" is an anagram of "eleven plus two."
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Mon, 02 November 2015, 10:30:12
Yoda and Miss Piggy were both voiced by the same person.
I can kind of hear that now that you say it... it's weird though
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 02 November 2015, 13:38:33
Yoda and Miss Piggy were both voiced by the same person.
He is also a film direction, who has directed Nicole Kidman, Eddie Murphy, Robert de Niro and Peter Dinklage, among others (all for different movies).
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 02 November 2015, 17:16:06
111,111,111 * 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: noisyturtle on Mon, 02 November 2015, 17:58:12
I know a lot of random facts about sea creatures because throughout college at the end of every semester they give you a teacher review form. The final question is always "Is there anything you would like to add?" to which I would invariably write something like:

Did you know dolphins never actually sleep? they are capable of resting each hemisphere of their brain separately, therefore never requiring actual sleep like most mammals.

Did you know there are two main types of nudibranchs (sea slugs.) Not all nudibranches are sea slugs, but all sea slugs are nudibranches. Dorid nudibranchs breathe through gills that sprout from their butts. And aeolid nudibranchs have cerata which are finger-like appendages that cover their entire back. The cerata can be a variety of shapes - thread-like, club-shaped, clustered, or branched. They have multiple functions, including breathing, digestion and defense.

Did you know sharks are covered with tiny little teeth called dermal denticles. Even though denticles are similar to scales, they are really modified teeth and are covered with a hard enamel. These structures are packed tightly together and grow with their tips facing backwards. That’s why their skin feels like sandpaper.

Did you know that when the Parrot Fish sleeps it encases itself in a bubble of it's own mucus to avoid being smelled by close-by predators.


I could go on and on, my brain is filled with 5 years of this useless ****.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: njbair on Mon, 02 November 2015, 21:16:11
It is generally believed that George Lucas' wife saved Star Wars by re-editing the film following George Lucas' awful original cut. She won an Academy Award for Best Editing that year.

I've heard that the New York City subway system was constructed with poor safety standards, and 16 people died during construction of the original underground system. I've also heard that even with modern technology, it would be nearly impossible to build the NYC subway system today without significant loss of life.

Here's one for the fall season: a tree's leaves are not actually green, but they are red, orange and yellow like we see in the fall. Only the chlorophyll covering the surface makes them appear green. When the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the leaves' true colors are exposed.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: grav3serker on Tue, 03 November 2015, 00:34:42
You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping. Definitely going to invest in a better bed after learning this!  :p
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: katushkin on Tue, 03 November 2015, 04:12:35
The original German version of 99 Red Balloons (99 Luftballons) is an anti-war song inspired by watching balloons floating over the Berolin Wall during a Rolling Stones concert in West Berlin in 1982
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Tue, 03 November 2015, 04:49:35
It is generally believed that George Lucas' wife saved Star Wars by re-editing the film following George Lucas' awful original cut. She won an Academy Award for Best Editing that year.
Huh, that's funny. That's why they shouldn't have let him mess with the extended editions I guess.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 03 November 2015, 06:43:13
Here's one for the fall season: a tree's leaves are not actually green, but they are red, orange and yellow like we see in the fall. Only the chlorophyll covering the surface makes them appear green. When the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the leaves' true colors are exposed.

But...chlorophyll is part of the leaf, so leaves are green. That's like if I said "if we pretend that the parts of the leaf that make it red, orange, and yellow weren't there, it would have no color at all."  It's true, but does it really tell you anything?
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: FranklinScudder on Tue, 03 November 2015, 07:04:21
Birthdays are good for you - the more you have the longer you live. ;)
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: njbair on Tue, 03 November 2015, 07:22:44
Here's one for the fall season: a tree's leaves are not actually green, but they are red, orange and yellow like we see in the fall. Only the chlorophyll covering the surface makes them appear green. When the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the leaves' true colors are exposed.

But...chlorophyll is part of the leaf, so leaves are green. That's like if I said "if we pretend that the parts of the leaf that make it red, orange, and yellow weren't there, it would have no color at all."  It's true, but does it really tell you anything?
Except that the chlorophyll is just a pigment, produced by the tree and used up to turn sunlight and CO2 into plant food. When the tree stops replenishing the chlorophyll, the leaf shows its true self.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: Incredigasmic on Tue, 03 November 2015, 08:16:40
Optimus Prime and Eeyore are voiced by the same guy
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: absyrd on Tue, 03 November 2015, 08:21:27
I'm going to post all these on facebook and pretend I knew it all before. Thx.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 03 November 2015, 08:26:04
Here's one for the fall season: a tree's leaves are not actually green, but they are red, orange and yellow like we see in the fall. Only the chlorophyll covering the surface makes them appear green. When the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the leaves' true colors are exposed.

But...chlorophyll is part of the leaf, so leaves are green. That's like if I said "if we pretend that the parts of the leaf that make it red, orange, and yellow weren't there, it would have no color at all."  It's true, but does it really tell you anything?
Except that the chlorophyll is just a pigment, produced by the tree and used up to turn sunlight and CO2 into plant food. When the tree stops replenishing the chlorophyll, the leaf shows its true self.

But you've made the logical jump that the 'leaf' ends where the chlorophyll begins.  Isn't that sort of like saying our blood isn't part of our bodies?  And when we stop replenishing blood (we die), we show our true selves (no blood, pale complexion, etc)?  Chlorophyll is a critical part of a plant's survival (it's a huge part of what makes a plant a plant), so I have a hard time agreeing that it's not part of the plant.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 03 November 2015, 08:32:14
Here's one for the fall season: a tree's leaves are not actually green, but they are red, orange and yellow like we see in the fall. Only the chlorophyll covering the surface makes them appear green. When the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the leaves' true colors are exposed.

But...chlorophyll is part of the leaf, so leaves are green. That's like if I said "if we pretend that the parts of the leaf that make it red, orange, and yellow weren't there, it would have no color at all."  It's true, but does it really tell you anything?
Except that the chlorophyll is just a pigment, produced by the tree and used up to turn sunlight and CO2 into plant food. When the tree stops replenishing the chlorophyll, the leaf shows its true self.

But you've made the logical jump that the 'leaf' ends where the chlorophyll begins.  Isn't that sort of like saying our blood isn't part of our bodies?  And when we stop replenishing blood (we die), we show our true selves (no blood, pale complexion, etc)?  Chlorophyll is a critical part of a plant's survival (it's a huge part of what makes a plant a plant), so I have a hard time agreeing that it's not part of the plant.
So what I get from this is that humans are actually blue and the blue man group knew this all along.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: keshley on Tue, 03 November 2015, 08:35:42
Led Zeppelin is so named because when they told Pete Townshend their band name was "The New Yardbirds" he told them they were going down like a lead zeppelin.

Not sure if that's weird.

Speaking of Pete Townshend, the name Pink Floyd is the joining of two artists, Pink Anderson, and Floyd Council.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: keshley on Tue, 03 November 2015, 08:38:53
Also also speaking of Pink Floyd, the sound in the beginning of Echoes is plucking the string between the tuning nob and the top nut.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Tue, 03 November 2015, 08:44:39
Following the music theme:

Sting got his name because he used to run around in a black and yellow striped shirt when he was a kid.  Bumble bee, sting, etc.

The Police were originally called Strontium 90, which is a radioactive isotope of Strontium.

Sting's son wanted nothing to do with music* when he was growing up, and studied environmental science in school.  He ended up being the bassist and lead singer for the band Fiction Plane.

*"Nothing to do with music" may be an exaggeration - he certainly didn't aspire to be a musician like his dad, though he likely did learn music in his youth
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: njbair on Tue, 03 November 2015, 09:08:13
Here's one for the fall season: a tree's leaves are not actually green, but they are red, orange and yellow like we see in the fall. Only the chlorophyll covering the surface makes them appear green. When the tree stops producing chlorophyll, the leaves' true colors are exposed.

But...chlorophyll is part of the leaf, so leaves are green. That's like if I said "if we pretend that the parts of the leaf that make it red, orange, and yellow weren't there, it would have no color at all."  It's true, but does it really tell you anything?
Except that the chlorophyll is just a pigment, produced by the tree and used up to turn sunlight and CO2 into plant food. When the tree stops replenishing the chlorophyll, the leaf shows its true self.

But you've made the logical jump that the 'leaf' ends where the chlorophyll begins.  Isn't that sort of like saying our blood isn't part of our bodies?  And when we stop replenishing blood (we die), we show our true selves (no blood, pale complexion, etc)?  Chlorophyll is a critical part of a plant's survival (it's a huge part of what makes a plant a plant), so I have a hard time agreeing that it's not part of the plant.

I would say a better comparison would be the melanin which makes us tan in the sun. We all have different amounts of melanin in our skin, which is why we all have different skin tones. Our real color is not tan, which is why maintaining a tan is harder than losing one. And before anyone points it out, dark-skinned people can get a tan. I've asked my brother-in-law. He looked at me funny before patronizingly confirming that yes, black people tan, too. I told him I knew it was a stupid question but I figured it was better than asking to see him naked.

Blood gives our flesh its reddish hue, but as you mentioned, when we die that goes away and we become pasty white. Likewise, a live leaf has a colorful hue even after the chlorophyll goes away. Then once it falls to the ground and dies, that color goes away and it becomes brown.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Tue, 03 November 2015, 09:39:31
Also also speaking of Pink Floyd, the sound in the beginning of Echoes is plucking the string between the tuning nob and the top nut.
That doesn't really surprise me, but it sure is interesting. I'm quite the music nerd myself.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 03 November 2015, 09:53:47
The octopus is more closely related to Vulcans and Romulans than humans.


Not really, but like those two fictional races, it has copper based blood.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: katushkin on Tue, 03 November 2015, 09:55:44
I ****ing love The Police.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: njbair on Tue, 03 November 2015, 10:16:26
The octopus is more closely related to Vulcans and Romulans than humans.


Not really, but like those two fictional races, it has copper based blood.

Does that have anything to do with its crazy camouflage ability?
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: SunPanda on Tue, 03 November 2015, 20:53:43
Russia has a larger surface area than Pluto
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: njbair on Tue, 03 November 2015, 22:46:21
Russia has a larger surface area than Pluto

It's also colder and harder to get into than Pluto.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: ANightOnCloudNine on Wed, 04 November 2015, 01:20:09
Echidnas have 4 headed penises.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: Goranth on Wed, 04 November 2015, 01:32:49
Mr Feeny from Boy Meets World prefers dark turkey meat. (http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2014/07/09/09-mr-feeny.w529.h352.jpg)
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: noisyturtle on Wed, 04 November 2015, 01:38:30
In Alberta Canada it is 100% legal to rob a bank, but only with a crossbow that was manufactured prior to 1874.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: hudson0804 on Wed, 04 November 2015, 05:19:38
Welshmen are prohibited from entering the city of Chester before the sun rises – and have to leave again before the sun goes down, according to an old by-law.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Wed, 04 November 2015, 05:21:18
In Alberta Canada it is 100% legal to rob a bank, but only with a crossbow that was manufactured prior to 1874.
I'll keep that in mind.  :thumb:
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: darkclone24 on Wed, 04 November 2015, 07:07:55

Welshmen are prohibited from entering the city of Chester before the sun rises – and have to leave again before the sun goes down, according to an old by-law.

It's similar to the fact you're allowed to kill a Scotsman inside York's walls, so long as it's with a bow and arrow.

Both laws are not actually in effect. Whilst they weren't repealed - they were overwritten by new laws and reclassification of old laws. Killing a Scotsman within York's walls with a bow and arrow is murder, denying a Welshman entry to Chester is a human rights violation.

Slavery comes under this as well. Until 2011, you were allowed to legally own another human being in the UK. However that person was entitled to the minimum wage, and every human right out there - you could own someone, but you couldn't actually make them do anything legally, so it was pointless.

Weird UK fact - we don't all drink tea.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: baldgye on Wed, 04 November 2015, 07:45:47
I ****ing love The Police.

Your right, that is a weird fact.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: keshley on Wed, 04 November 2015, 07:57:22
I ****ing love The Police.

Your right, that is a weird fact.

Particularly with how stalkerish they are...
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 04 November 2015, 10:18:22
I ****ing love The Police.

They're my best friend's favorite group of all time, so I know a few more facts about them than I really need to.   :confused:
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: ANightOnCloudNine on Wed, 04 November 2015, 23:23:06
We are all weak flesh.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: noisyturtle on Wed, 04 November 2015, 23:30:15
Humans are born with the ability to swim, and we lose it as our brains develop past infancy and have to relearn.
If you toss a baby into a pool it's bradycardic response will kick in causing the infant to hold it's breath.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: bcredbottle on Wed, 04 November 2015, 23:35:56
Under the Pashtunwali, a married man is not only allowed but obligated to murder his wife's lover if she makes him a cuckold.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: ANightOnCloudNine on Thu, 05 November 2015, 02:05:26
Humans are born with the ability to swim, and we lose it as our brains develop past infancy and have to relearn.
If you toss a baby into a pool it's bradycardic response will kick in causing the infant to hold it's breath.
I just killed my nephew, all your fault. not mine.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: trenzafeeds on Thu, 05 November 2015, 05:21:26
Under the Pashtunwali

Sorry what is that?
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: yowaffle on Thu, 05 November 2015, 05:43:08
At minimum wage working a regular40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent.

Source: urban planner! and the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach Studies http://nlihc.org/oor (http://nlihc.org/oor)
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 05 November 2015, 05:53:07
At minimum wage working a regular40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent.

Source: urban planner! and the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach Studies http://nlihc.org/oor (http://nlihc.org/oor)
When I was first married we rented a house, had our first child and bought a new to us used car all while on minimum wage but that was almost 10 years ago.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 05 November 2015, 06:56:07

Under the Pashtunwali

Sorry what is that?

I'm assuming tribal law of Pashtun people group, in Afghanistan/Pakistan.  Probably mixed with Muslim Sharia law.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: yowaffle on Thu, 05 November 2015, 11:43:23
At minimum wage working a regular40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent.

Source: urban planner! and the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach Studies http://nlihc.org/oor (http://nlihc.org/oor)
When I was first married we rented a house, had our first child and bought a new to us used car all while on minimum wage but that was almost 10 years ago.

Ohhhh sorry I wrote that when this morning when I was running late for work and forgot to include an important part of the fact :x It should read as:
"At minimum wage working a regular 40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent without being cost burdened."

The Department of Housing and Urban Development consider paying more than 30% of your income for housing being cost burdened.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 05 November 2015, 11:50:18


At minimum wage working a regular40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent.

Source: urban planner! and the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach Studies http://nlihc.org/oor (http://nlihc.org/oor)
When I was first married we rented a house, had our first child and bought a new to us used car all while on minimum wage but that was almost 10 years ago.

Ohhhh sorry I wrote that when this morning when I was running late for work and forgot to include an important part of the fact :x It should read as:
"At minimum wage working a regular 40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent without being cost burdened."

The Department of Housing and Urban Development consider paying more than 30% of your income for housing being cost burdened.

At $8.50 x 40 x 52 = $17,680, we paid $275/month for 2 bedrooms/one bath.

Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: yowaffle on Thu, 05 November 2015, 12:20:19


At minimum wage working a regular 40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent.

Source: urban planner! and the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Out of Reach Studies http://nlihc.org/oor (http://nlihc.org/oor)
When I was first married we rented a house, had our first child and bought a new to us used car all while on minimum wage but that was almost 10 years ago.

Ohhhh sorry I wrote that when this morning when I was running late for work and forgot to include an important part of the fact :x It should read as:
"At minimum wage working a regular 40 hour week, there is no single state in the US where you can afford a one or two bedroom apartment at fair market rent without being cost burdened."

The Department of Housing and Urban Development consider paying more than 30% of your income for housing being cost burdened.

At $8.50 x 40 x 52 = $17,680, we paid $275/month for 2 bedrooms/one bath.

Congrats on not being income burdened back then! If you're interested in looking further into your situation 10 years ago, you could look for the data on what Fair Market Rent (FMR) was for a 2 bedroom apt. for your location back then. You could also learn more about my fact by checking out the link from my original post. It has the NLIHC's Out of Reach reports for the last several years as well as some fact sheets and interactive maps.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: keshley on Thu, 05 November 2015, 12:22:26
Cats don't meow at eachother, they only meow to communicate with us humans.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: Melvang on Thu, 05 November 2015, 12:28:52
The Eiffel Tower is 6 inches taller in the summer than the winter. 

The original group of Metallica composed of Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Dave Mustain and Ron McGoveny.

Ron McGoveny left on his own accord and Dave Mustain was kicked out due to excessive partying.

The name of Metallica was an idea of one of those two and was changed shortly after they left.

Metallica was originally called Bay Area Trashers and had one demo album from 1979.

Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: eksuen on Thu, 05 November 2015, 15:58:41
It takes seven shuffles to randomize a standard deck of 52 cards.

Jonah Falcon is the man with the world's longest (human) penis, at 13.5 inches when erect.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: Bromono on Thu, 05 November 2015, 15:59:54
Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 05 November 2015, 16:46:22
Only armadillo and humans can carry leprosy.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 05 November 2015, 16:57:35
Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.

I thought bonobo monkeys did as well.  Dolphins are the rapists of the sea though.

Only armadillo and humans can carry leprosy.

And Tasmanian Devils are at risk due to a contagious cancer.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Thu, 05 November 2015, 17:23:00
Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.

How do we know this? And does it mean that we are the only ones that feel pleasure from it, or we are the only ones that still have sex despite no chance of babby? I suppose if other animals don't have sex when pregnant you could conclude that it's purely functional?

Also, why the **** did all those dogs hump my leg if not for pleasure??
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 05 November 2015, 18:13:08

Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.

How do we know this? And does it mean that we are the only ones that feel pleasure from it, or we are the only ones that still have sex despite no chance of babby? I suppose if other animals don't have sex when pregnant you could conclude that it's purely functional?

Also, why the **** did all those dogs hump my leg if not for pleasure??

They wanted a baby that looks like your leg?
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 05 November 2015, 18:25:53


Also, why the **** did all those dogs hump my leg if not for pleasure??

That's all about the dominance. :eek:
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 05 November 2015, 18:37:58

Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.

How do we know this? And does it mean that we are the only ones that feel pleasure from it, or we are the only ones that still have sex despite no chance of babby? I suppose if other animals don't have sex when pregnant you could conclude that it's purely functional?

Also, why the **** did all those dogs hump my leg if not for pleasure??

Bro it wasn't your leg they were humping...
(http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/3870956/dog-hump-trampoline-o.gif)
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: noisyturtle on Thu, 05 November 2015, 19:00:05
Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.

This is untrue.
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 05 November 2015, 19:27:46

Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.

This is untrue.

First hand knowledge bro?
Title: Re: What weird facts do you know?
Post by: ANightOnCloudNine on Fri, 06 November 2015, 01:25:53

Dolphins are the only other mammal besides humans that has sex for pleasure.

This is untrue.

First hand knowledge bro?
No, horses too I'm pretty sure.