› added 11 years ago

172

TIL that euthanasia literally means “Happy Death” in Greek

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via reddit.com

p8AaG TIL in 1864, the Confederate Army forced Frederick, Maryland, to pay $200,000 or be burned to the ground. The town had to borrow the money from local banks and didn’t finish paying off the loans until 1951.
kO7xE TIL bananas can ripen avocados. Ripe bananas contain a natural plant hormone called ethylene, which triggers ripening in mature fruit. If both are placed in a paper bag, the paper bag traps the ethylene gas that’s produced by the fruit and speeds up the ripening process.
QJYPk TIL A roman consul was told before a crucial battle with Carthage that the auguries suggested he shouldn't go to battle, since the chicken didn't eat that day. Wishing to do it any way, he proclaimed "lets see if they will drink", and had the sacred chickens drowned. He fought and lost the battle
44xN TIL that the Moon was proposed to be the 51st State of the USA
e0EWk TIL John Adams' Inaugural address, which totaled 2,308 words, contained the longest sentence ever, at 737 words.