# Tell us an interesting random fact you stumbled across (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2020, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674 "2020-04-13T03:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 169
**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:** [January 3, 2022, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3368 "2022-01-03T03:14:14Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > What about [dying of dissing Terry](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/599/855/846.jpg)? Is that anything like Dire Rear? ---
**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:** [January 3, 2022, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3369 "2022-01-03T05:42:19Z")
During the filming of _The Blues Brothers_ John Landis put Carrie Fisher in charge of keeping John Belushi away from the cocaine. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3370 "2022-01-03T07:46:14Z")
Which she did by snorting it all herself. ---
**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:** [January 5, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3371 "2022-01-05T19:18:31Z")
About the words **Yearn** and **Yen** … To have a yen for something is a yearning for it, right? Yearn, yen, same word, really, yeah? Same etymology? Well no, it would seem. I’m sure there will be dissenting views out there, but there seems to be a general agreement that their origins are very different. For no other reason than convenience, I’m using Merriam Webster as reference. **Yearn:** History and Etymology for _yearn_ Middle English _yernen_ , from Old English _giernan_ ; akin to Old High German _gerōn_ to desire, Latin _hortari_ to urge, encourage, Greek _chairein_ to rejoice **Yen** : History and Etymology for _yen_ [snip] obsolete English argot _yen-yen_ craving for opium, from Chin (Guangdong) _yīn-yáhn_ , from _yīn_ opium + _yáhn_ craving _How 'bout that?_ j Source cited as MW request: “Yearn.” _[Merriam-Webster.com](http://Merriam-Webster.com) Dictionary_ , Merriam-Webster, [Yearn Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yearn). Accessed 5 Jan. 2022. “Yen.” _[Merriam-Webster.com](http://Merriam-Webster.com) Dictionary_ , Merriam-Webster, [Yen Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yen). Accessed 5 Jan. 2022. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3372 "2022-01-05T21:39:08Z")
That reminds me of something similar… **English:** Pine = a type of tree Pine = to yearn intensely (e.g. for someone you miss) [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pine](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pine) **Japanese:** Matsu = a pine tree Matsu = to wait, but also to “pine” for someone. The dual meaning is used poetically by the Japanese. (Cite: [https://www.kyotojournal.org/gardens/the-poetry-of-the-gardens/](https://www.kyotojournal.org/gardens/the-poetry-of-the-gardens/) ) ---
**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:** [January 5, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3373 "2022-01-05T21:56:55Z")
The _Amazing But Trivial Coincidences_ thread needs a cross-post of that. j ---
**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:** [January 6, 2022, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3374 "2022-01-06T18:44:57Z")
If you have some high voltage capacitors, there might be an export restriction on them. ([Link](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2012-title15-vol2/pdf/CFR-2012-title15-vol2-part774-appNo-.pdf) - bottom of page 766.) ---
**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:** [January 7, 2022, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3375 "2022-01-07T19:06:41Z")
The result of the pandemic driving people batty? > **[U.S. Records 5 Rabies Deaths in 2021, Highest Number in a Decade (Published...](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/07/health/rabies-deaths.html)** > > Three of the deaths involved direct contact with bats, the C.D.C. said. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2022, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3376 "2022-01-08T22:17:54Z")
Mele Kalikimaka. I’ve heard the Christmas song for decades, and always just figured it was the translation of “merry Christmas” into the Hawaiian language. Turns out it’s not a translation - it’s the _actual words_ “merry Christmas”, pounded and hammered to fit the more restrictive phonotactic rules of the Hawaiian language: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0h-gbeI0AFQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Mele Kalikimaka: Why You Can't Say "Christmas" in Hawaiian") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-gbeI0AFQ) The Japanese language has a lot of this sort of thing going on too. If you hear a native speaker say “merry Christmas”, the second word tends to come out as “kurisumasu” unless they’ve been really fastidious about internalizing the phonotactics of English. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3377 "2022-01-09T01:07:59Z")
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati is pronounced Kiribass, which is is the closest the local language could get to reproducing the English name of the group, the Gilbert Islands. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2022, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3378 "2022-01-11T23:36:05Z")
I impressed Mrs. L with this today, but I learned it awhile back. When your TV remote doesn’t seem to be working, you can check the batteries by pointing it at a digital camera. The pulses are invisible to the naked eye but a digital camera will show them on screen. Of course for many, the digital camera is on the cell phone. > **[Use your smartphone to check your remote control batteries](https://www.techhive.com/article/602259/use-your-smartphone-to-check-your-remote-control-batteries.html)** > > Are the batteries in that remote really dead? Your smartphone can help you find out. > Of course, this trick isn’t limited to your smartphone’s camera; many digital cameras can see infrared light, despite having filters to tune it out. So if all you have at your disposal is your laptop’s built-in webcam, you may have everything you need. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3379 "2022-01-11T23:41:49Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > When your TV remote doesn’t seem to be working, you can check the batteries by pointing it at a digital camera. The pulses are invisible to the naked eye but a digital camera will show them on screen. Of course for many, the digital camera is on the cell phone. That’s only if your remote uses IR. Newer remotes use bluetooth that don’t need an emitter and don’t need to be pointed at the tv. ---
**Author:** ![PozhanPop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pozhanpop/32/8022_2.png) [@PozhanPop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PozhanPop)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3380 "2022-01-12T08:44:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > was working in the Tools and Parts room the other day checking out radios and scanners to all and sundry. I scanned the ID badge of one young lady in particular and found out that “Contractor” is actually a legitimat I remember a famous 1970s cricket player called Engineer. I think his first name was Farook . Not sure if I spelt that right . ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3381 "2022-01-12T11:57:41Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > That’s only if your remote uses IR. Newer remotes use bluetooth that don’t need an emitter and don’t need to be pointed at the tv. Ah, haven’t see those. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3382 "2022-01-12T14:41:40Z")
Yeah, my Google Fiber remote talks to the Chromecast that is behind the TV (no line of sight). But it also talks to the TV, which is old so I presume it is using infrared. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3383 "2022-01-12T16:10:45Z")
What about Innsmouth? ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3384 "2022-01-12T16:21:52Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > The Japanese language has a lot of this sort of thing going on too. If you hear a native speaker say “merry Christmas”, the second word tends to come out as “kurisumasu” Thank you for adding this. I was going to mention Japanese as being “phonetically restrictive.” And the Japanese are very inventive with language. Thus, we get lots of “Japanese English” (term used by Japanese) words that make sense to Japanese but are so different from the original as to be not understood by native speakers. Examples: Bijinesu-man = businessman famicon = family computer amefuto = American Football (as in NFL) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3385 "2022-01-12T16:38:50Z")
> [@Limmin](#): > > Thank you for adding this. I was going to mention Japanese as being “phonetically restrictive.” And the Japanese are very inventive with language. Thus, we get lots of “Japanese English” (term used by Japanese) words that make sense to Japanese but are so different from the original as to be not understood by native speakers. Examples: > > Bijinesu-man = businessman > famicon = family computer > amefuto = American Football (as in NFL) There’s of course nothing different about native Japanese speakers’ vocal physiology, but when you’ve grown up with a restrictive set of phonotactic rules, it can be really hard to adopt another more liberal set of rules. I watch **[Nobita’s videos](https://www.youtube.com/c/FindYourLoveinJapan/videos)** a lot. He is fluent in English as far as grammar and syntax go, but he’s got a really strong Japanese accent. Every now and then he uses the word “positively,” except he pronounces it “pojichiburi.” As you’ve noted too, Japanese folks are fond of **[portmanteaus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portmanteau)**. I hadn’t heard of “famicon”, but I’m aware of “pasokon” (personal computer). Probably the most famous two outside of Japan are: - Pokemon, short for “Pocket Monster”. - Tamagotchi, short for “Tamago uochi” (“egg watch”). ---
**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:** [January 12, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3386 "2022-01-12T16:41:45Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > What about Innsmouth? Too shadowy over there. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/3387 "2022-01-12T16:42:22Z")
Yes! Those portmanteaus. There are so many, and often amusing. Heck, I even make some of them my own, using them in my English-only household, e.g. the -gon suffix from “doragon” (dragon) is often appended to my kids’ or pets’ names, making them little dragons. (Decades ago I babysat my neighbor’s toddler when living in Japan. Yuma became Yumagon.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=168) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=170)