Really TRUE odd factoids

[Dave7]

The Albert and Victoria museum has a staggering TWO MILLION articles/items in storage ie not on show.

 

[Chris S]

Dinky cars were originally sold as accessories for Hornby model railways.

 

[classic33]

On Friday the 13th of April in 2029, the asteroid 99942 Apophis will fly by Earth safely for us all to witness without a telescope from Africa, Europe, and Asia.

The fear of Friday the 13th is known as “Friggatriskaidekaphobia.”

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

If you put your thumb over Paul Simon's face on the cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", it makes Art Garfunkel look like he's got a big droopy moustache.

 

[Beebo]

If you put your thumb over Paul Simon's face on the cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water", it makes Art Garfunkel look like he's got a big droopy moustache.

 

[classic33]

Remember CHiPs?
Erik Estrada's character "Poncherello", inspired the costume worn by Victor Willis, the police officer in the Village People.
Willis noted the tight uniform worn by Estrada, and adopted it for his part in the group.

 

[classic33]

One of the odder skills Alexa possesses.

Wondering if you can handle another one? Beer Goggles is a quirky skill that will ask you a series of questions to help you determine whether or not you can afford to have another one poured.

Of course, it’s merely an entertaining Alexa skill, so do use your actual best judgement when deciding.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

While Philadelphia is rightly described as deriving from the Greek meaning “City of Brotherly Love” the true meaning ultimately comes from a nickname given to an ancient Greek ruler of Egypt who gained notoriety for marrying his own full sister. The “brotherly love” in the name originally referred to literal incest.

https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2020/02/10/the-shocking-true-origin-of-the-name-philadelphia/

 

[classic33]

In 1997, an orange cat names Stubbs became honorary mayor of the Alaskan town of Talkeetna. With a population of 772 in 2000, it would not have taken too many votes to earn the position (and the small town did not actually have a real, human mayor. anyway), but Stubbs proved adept at the role, gaining fans from around the world and "serving" in the position for years, greeting tourists and becoming a beloved symbol of the town until his death in 2017.

 

[Hover Fly]

Kishi station in Japan was rebuilt to resemble Tama the station master’s face.
Tama was a cat.

 

[classic33]

There are a large number of stray dogs located in Moscow. Over time these creatures have learned how to take the railway system from the suburbs going into the city.

 

[Hover Fly]

There are a large number of stray dogs located in Moscow. Over time these creatures have learned how to take the railway system from the suburbs going into the city.

Some of them went a bit further
https://www.space.com/17764-laika-first-animals-in-space.html

 

[classic33]

Moscow street dogs were reckoned to be tougher, too. On July 22, 1951, Tsygan and Dezik reached an altitude of just under 70 miles. When they touched down after 15 minutes, they were the first vertebrates to experience space flight safely.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

In Nelson's day, a ship could haul itself out of a dead calm using anchors. This was called warping, and ships doing it were travelling at warp speed.

A dog paddling alongside could outpace such a ship.

 

[Chris S]

So many people have been wrongly registered as dead in India that there is now an 'Association of the Living Dead' to try and restore their rights.