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TIL that the word "amethyst" means "not drunk" because of an Ancient Greek belief that drinking from an amethyst cup would prevent intoxication.

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b9Kkp TIL of the death of Captain James Cook, the first European to discover Hawaii. When Hawaiian natives stole one of Cook's longboats, he attempted to get it back by kidnapping their chief. This almost succeeded, but after discovering Cook's plot, the angry natives clubbed and stabbed him to death.
ZYbv TIL that the phenomenon of occupational sudden death in Japan is so common, that they invented a word for it: Karōshi (“death from overwork”).
X05Ar TIL that in 2005, a Ph.D. student at the University of British Columbia nominated a fire hydrant to run for the Board of Governors (and even acted as its "translator"). The hydrant pulled in 900 votes, missing a seat by six ballots.
rNJVd TIL it is legal to drive a motorcycle between moving cars ("lane splitting") in California
j4Yn TIL that people who swear a lot tend to be more honest, loyal and upfront with their friends.