› added 11 years ago

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TIL that the opposite of a euphemism (a more pleasant term for an unpleasant thing) is called a dysphemism. For example, “took a dirt nap” instead of “died.”

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RBoj TIL Despite his on-camera demeanor, Johnny Carson was extremely shy off-camera. He was known for avoiding most large parties, and was referred to as “the most private public man who ever lived”.
jglE TIL ‘The Starry Night’ depicts Vincent Van Gogh’s view from the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum.
nW80o TIL Thomas Jefferson invented the swivel chair.
69EmX TIL of SC Tasmania 1900 Berlin. A German football club who, after the only other team in Berlin were kicked out the league got an unexpected promotion to the top league. The German FA wanted to keep a club in the city of Berlin for political reasons. They remain the worst team in Bundesliga history.
RbE9 TIL That the side-blotched lizard uses a ‘rock-paper-scissors’ mating mechanism, with Orange throated males beating blue, blue throated beating yellow throated, and yellow beating orange.