# 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:** 464
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9273 "2024-04-03T00:09:49Z")
Matthew 5:18, King James Version: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” In the Vulgate Latin, “one jot or one tittle” is _iota unum aut unus apex_, “one iota or one [accent mark on a vowel].” In Greek it seems to be ιωτα εν η μια κεραια, “one iota or one [accent mark on a vowel]” So what they’re referring to are the two strokes involved in: ί (Greek) ī (Latin) i (English) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9274 "2024-04-03T18:05:42Z")
a ROLLERCOASTER in spanish is montaña rusa (Russian mountain) … whereas the russians call a rollercoaster an American mountain (amerikanskije gorky). ---
**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:** [April 3, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9275 "2024-04-03T18:14:05Z")
…I would have liked to see Montana. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9276 "2024-04-03T19:15:25Z")
For you, Chronos [![](https://www.j-14.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/hannahmontana.png?fit=1246%2C826&quality=86&strip=all) ](https://www.j-14.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/hannahmontana.png?fit=1246%2C826&quality=86&strip=all) ---
**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:** [April 3, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9277 "2024-04-03T19:50:29Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > a ROLLERCOASTER in spanish is montaña rusa (Russian mountain) … The name undoubtedly comes from a construction dating back to 17th century Russia: > [@](#): > > Think of theme parks, and most people think of roller coasters – the highlight of many visits, to thrill, dare and get the pulse racing. These iconic giants first reared themselves not within a setting for everyday fun-seekers in the USA but within the frozen regions of Russia in the 17th Century. > > Named the ‘Russian Mountains,’ the first roller coaster was made of ice, cut into hill shapes supported by wooden structures. The slopes rose to 80ft at a 50-degree angle. So popular were these roller coaster slides with the upper class that even Catherine the Great built them within her own grounds. > **[Roller coasters: the history of ‘the Russian Mountains’](https://blooloop.com/theme-park/in-depth/roller-coaster-history/)** > > From the 'Russian Mountains' and early wooden examples, we chart roller coaster history through to today's recording breaking rides. When the first wheeled rollercoasters started appearing in tParis in 1804, it was called “Russian Mountains” in imitation. The name isn’t only Spanish, but also Portugese and Catalan. I have no idea why Russians would call a roller coaster “American Mountains”, unless they had a good knowledge of roller coaster history and a sense of irony. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9278 "2024-04-03T20:31:56Z")
Several things carry the epithet “Russian” in Spanish, not just the mountains. Most are related to food: [Filete ruso:](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torta_de_carne) _Russian steak_, a Salisbury steak or a Hamburger steak. [Ensalada rusa or ensaladilla rusa](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensalada_rusa): _Russian salad_, better known in English as the Olivier salad. [Huevo ruso, huevos a la rusa](https://superhuevos.es/recetas/yemas/huevos-a-la-rusa-receta/): _Russian eggs or eggs Russian style_, deviled eggs. Ruleta rusa: just like in English: Russian roulette. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9279 "2024-04-03T20:43:55Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > [Filete ruso:](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torta_de_carne) _Russian steak_, a Salisbury steak or a Hamburger steak. interesting that in the S-tip of S-America this is called Asado Alemán (German steak/grill) the ensalada rusa is known here as well (potato/carrot/peas/etc… with lots of mayo, right?) Huevo ruso - not sure (at least not widespread) ---
**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:** [April 3, 2024, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9280 "2024-04-03T20:55:32Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > with lots of mayo, right? right! ETA: Asado alemán is bigger than a filete ruso for me (European Spanish), that is rather a meat loaf. A filete ruso is more like a patty as I imagine it. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9281 "2024-04-03T21:14:08Z")
yes, def a meatloaf (faschierter Braten), often with sausage, hard boiled egg, dills or carrot in it anything smaller made of ground meat , especially if it is 2D - (flat) would probably fly as hamburger here _hamburguesa jumbo_ or so ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9282 "2024-04-04T00:15:13Z")
Jesus spoke Aramaic, although as a male Jew he no doubt understood Hebrew as well. Matthew wrote in Koine Greek. He understood Hebrew too, but he didn’t write his Gospel in it. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9283 "2024-04-04T21:56:02Z")
A heart warming story about a bright young man doing good in the world. (Gift link.) > **[At age 11, his passion is Pearl Harbor. He’s raised nearly $100,000.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/04/04/pearl-harbor-harrison-johnson-fundraiser/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzEyMjAzMjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzEzNTg1NTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MTIyMDMyMDAsImp0aSI6IjVjOTVkNDU3LWIxMzAtNGQyMi1hYmRjLWRiMTgxYzVjNDM2ZiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9saWZlc3R5bGUvMjAyNC8wNC8wNC9wZWFybC1oYXJib3ItaGFycmlzb24tam9obnNvbi1mdW5kcmFpc2VyLyJ9.mivoVPMomJY5GJR51IMHuJ6Nc6AVuJLHeI84XUwwmqk&itid=gfta)** > > “After I finished the project, all I wanted to talk about was Pearl Harbor,” said Harrison Johnson, 11, about his school assignment. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9284 "2024-04-05T14:34:38Z")
[_Son of Ingagi_ was the first horror movie with an all-black cast.](https://collider.com/son-of-ingagi-horror/) ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9285 "2024-04-05T16:36:20Z")
When he becomes king, Prince William of England will be the first descendant of a Stuart king to head the monarchy since the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He descends through an illegitimate daughter of James II. The illegitimacy prevents him from being the Jacobite pretender, but he does have Stuart blood. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9286 "2024-04-05T22:20:02Z")
In the _Star Trek: The Next Generation_ episode “Fly Me to the Moon” (S2E5) the character Q sends another character his business card. The phone number on it was (323) 634-5667. As of at least 30 seconds ago today, that number is still active (I called it). You can call it and hear a message from Q’s answering machine. Seriously! ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9287 "2024-04-05T23:03:00Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Q’s answering machine “Why does God need an answering machine?” ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9288 "2024-04-05T23:04:19Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > “Why does God need an answering machine?” It’s how prayers work. ETA: That is not who I answered to, something weird is going on. Press one for miracles Press two for comfort Press three for healing Press four for forgiveness Press five for ~~sex~~ six Press six three times for starting a new sect Press seven to speak to an operator Your call will be recorded for quality assurance. Your safety, security and wellbeing are our top priorities and we take your privacy very seriously. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9289 "2024-04-05T23:19:45Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > > [@DCnDC](#): > > > > “Why does God need an answering machine?” > > It’s how prayers work. I guess he still has a large box of unheard tapes to work through (I imagine god still using obsolete technology, just like his followers having obsolete ideas). ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9290 "2024-04-05T23:24:23Z")
It’s probably a combined telefone, fax and answering machine. The fax uses that thermo-sensitive paper that fades with time when exposed to the light. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9291 "2024-04-05T23:29:38Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > The fax uses that thermo-sensitive paper that fades with time when exposed to the light. Well, there go your prayers, to the void… ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674/9292 "2024-04-05T23:33:20Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I guess he still has a large box of unheard tapes to work through (I imagine god still using obsolete technology, just like his followers having obsolete ideas). Just as long as he doesn’t leave them in the car, so your prayers get turned into Queen’s Greatest Hits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=463) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-us-an-interesting-random-fact-you-stumbled-across-part-1/851674.md?page=465)