› added 11 months ago

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TIL that the prairy dog's scientific name is "Cynomys" (Greek for "dog mouse") and I think that's adorably accurate

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ADB7d TIL about the QWERTY Effect in which people attach more positive meanings to words and names that can be typed with the right hand
e0WaE TIL about Andy Grant, a Royal Marine and Liverpool FC fan, whose "You'll never walk alone" tattoo read "You'll never walk" after an amputation from standing on a mine while serving in Afghanistan.
DQVwV TIL Lamborghini Names Their Cars After Legendary Bullfighting Icons and Gear
9w6Nm TIL Mercator maps were never intended as general-purpose world maps. The massive distortion of geographical geometry is a side-effect of the map's special feature: simple marine navigation. A course along any constant compass direction is represented on the map as a straight line.
j6A9X TIL The U-505 was known for being one of the most unlucky subs in the Kriegsmarine. She was the most damaged sub to return from a mission, repeatedly sabotaged by the French Resistance, had the only commanding officer suicide during combat, and failed to scuttle so was captured by the Americans.