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Things you didn't know until very recently...

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What interesting things have you only recently learned about?

To be clear, this is about things which have been true for some time and you only recently learned about, not things that only happened recently. In particular, recent deaths of celebrities and other high-profile individuals should go in the General RIP Thread.

    Original post 
Hey guys...and gals...I was just browsing through an XKCD strip and ended up learning that Jimmy Carter was attacked by a swimming rabbit.

Courtesy link...

So, what interesting things have you guys...and gals...only recently learned about?

Edited by Twiddler on Apr 8th 2023 at 1:07:55 AM

Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#301: Jul 30th 2009 at 7:01:42 PM

I didn't know until last night that the lead character in my fiction-in-progress is actually undead. I knew she was badly wounded in battle and was never the same since, but she confessed her secret to me last night. It's a lot of work and pain-in-the-ass, being undead in her world, it seems.

I like having characters that tell ME how to write THEM.

A brighter future for a darker age.
Golem \m/ ('.') \m/ from New York Since: Jan, 2001
\m/ ('.') \m/
#302: Jul 30th 2009 at 7:02:31 PM

I wish I was smart enough to write coherent fiction.

"They wanted to play 'memes' with the Old School. Now there are tears." - Fast Eddie
Inkblot Since: Jan, 2001
#303: Jul 30th 2009 at 9:02:06 PM

The song "Yesterday" by The Beatles was almost remixed by Delia Derbyshire, who also performed the original Doctor Who theme.

And so I don't look like too much of a Doctor Who nerd, a species of tree that grows in my backyard was the closest survivor to Ground Zero when the Hiroshima bomb dropped.

edited 30th Jul '09 9:07:55 PM by Inkblot

YKTTW Salvage List
Kinkajou I'm Only Sleeping Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Hiding
I'm Only Sleeping
#304: Jul 30th 2009 at 9:07:55 PM

I recently learned that The Beatles made German versions of two of their songs.

INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.
Blackmoon Since: May, 2009
#305: Jul 30th 2009 at 9:09:53 PM

I recently learned what Histrionic Personality Disorder is, thanks to Made of Meat.

wellinever Last woman standing from Australia Since: Jan, 2001
Last woman standing
#306: Jul 30th 2009 at 9:56:33 PM

Word of the day. The question now is "Is that physically possible?"

Madrugada Since: Jan, 2001
#307: Jul 30th 2009 at 9:58:13 PM

You ever seen a tomcat spray a wall? Definitely retromingent.

edited 30th Jul '09 9:59:27 PM by Madrugada

MissHap Richard III?! Since: Jan, 2001
Richard III?!
#309: Jul 30th 2009 at 10:41:39 PM

I didn't know what E-Prime was, until it came up in another thread.

Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
DUMB
#310: Jul 30th 2009 at 10:42:41 PM

Fuck yeah. I only know about it from Wikipedia's article on RAW, though.

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
DUMB
#311: Aug 1st 2009 at 11:48:32 AM

(doublepost)

The Japanese word "tatemae" means about the same thing as "façade", even etymologically. The kanji mean "building" and "front"/"face". And both words have about the same figurative meaning as well.

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.
VennDiagram The Chick from Boston-ish Since: Jan, 2001
The Chick
#312: Aug 1st 2009 at 9:13:52 PM

Oh, man, I love unrelated words with parallel derivations. Similar, although less serendipitous, are the Latinate and Anglo-Saxon pairs in English: manual and handbook, for example, both come from words for "hand" (duh) and I'm pretty sure there are some others like that.

Kinkajou I'm Only Sleeping Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Hiding
I'm Only Sleeping
#313: Aug 1st 2009 at 9:38:18 PM

2 former Philippine Presidents died on the same day 65 years apart - namely, Manuel L. Quezon and Corazon Aquino.

Also, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines and former President George W. Bush took office on the same day - January 20, 2001.

INT is knowing a tomato is a fruit. WIS is knowing it doesn't belong in a fruit salad. CHA is convincing people that it does.
Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#314: Aug 1st 2009 at 9:39:32 PM

I love in general that for most things there's a latinate word and a germanic word for the same thing, more or less, in English. And they tend to have slightly different connotations.

A brighter future for a darker age.
Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
Zyxzy Embrace the mindscrew from Salem, OR Since: Jan, 2001
Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#318: Aug 1st 2009 at 9:46:06 PM

Yay!

But the forum broke your second link. Fixable, tho.

A brighter future for a darker age.
Tzetze DUMB from a converted church in Venice, Italy Since: Jan, 2001
wuggles (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#320: Aug 2nd 2009 at 12:23:08 PM

I didn't know that "Bring Me to Life" was mistaken for a Christian song. When I think about it, it really does sound like it's talking about God.

Nyktos (srahc 84) eltit Since: Jan, 2001
(srahc 84) eltit
#321: Aug 2nd 2009 at 6:31:39 PM

Nathan Fillion voiced a character in Jade Empire. I really need to play that game...

edited 2nd Aug '09 6:31:54 PM by Nyktos

I guess it is.
LuckyRevenant ALMSIVI from The Flood Since: Jan, 2001
ALMSIVI
#322: Aug 2nd 2009 at 10:50:55 PM

Today, I learned the meaning of the word "misoneism"

 *. I also learned the meaning of the word "misology"  *. Reading the dictionary can do that kind of thing to you.

edited 2nd Aug '09 10:51:13 PM by Lucky Revenant

"I can't imagine what Hell will have in store, but I know when I'm there, I won't wander anymore."
Morven Nemesis from Seattle, WA, USA Since: Jan, 2001
Nemesis
#323: Aug 2nd 2009 at 11:08:58 PM

Interesting words!

A brighter future for a darker age.
LuckyRevenant ALMSIVI from The Flood Since: Jan, 2001
ALMSIVI
#324: Aug 2nd 2009 at 11:20:33 PM

I thought so too! And they're pretty useful, since I think everyone knows people like that.

"I can't imagine what Hell will have in store, but I know when I'm there, I won't wander anymore."
SandJosieph Since: Dec, 2009
#325: Aug 3rd 2009 at 12:17:57 AM

Post 325! I feel happy. (:smile:)

edited 3rd Aug '09 12:18:23 AM by Sand Josieph


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