Nat Baca

Apparently, in 17th century China, potters got really good at making hyperrealistic nuts out of clay.

The style was revived in the 20th century because we had not yet reached Peak Hyperrealistic Clay Nut.

Honestly? Fair.

TIL: The raccoon, to a surprising number of quite disparate world languages, is the “wash bear”, derived from its habit of appearing to wash its food.

Related: The real names of animals!

Sometimes dual language signs really highlights how much better other languages are at expressing certain things. Compare “to give birth” with “dar a luz” (“to give to the light”)

What is the origin of “dar a luz”, referring to giving birth?

Does anyone know the origin of the phrase “dar a luz”, meaning “give birth”? Where or whom did this phrase come from? Is it unique to the Spanish language?

“Musicians belong to very specific archetypes nowadays,” he says. “Everyone is a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy.” Tabakis defies all that. “He’s a nice change from the typical artist.”

‘Techno in a monastery – are you ready?’ The Greek priest whose doom metal album is the year’s hippest record

His church thinks electric guitars are the devil’s work. But Father Tabakis is on a mission to change that – with Paradise Metal, a religious dubstep album that outdid Daft Punk and Aphex Twin

The Senegalese football team is nicknamed “the lions of teranga”. Aside from a reference to the country’s literal lions, “lions” connote ferocity. “Teranga”is a Wolof word summarizing the Senegalese national character, and roughly means “hospitality”. “Fiercely hospitable” is a great vibe!

Know the nicknames of Group C teams at the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023

As we approach the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Côte d’Ivoire 2023, we take a close look at the nicknames of the teams in Group C of the competition.

The original World Cup trophy was stolen (!!) twice (!!) & recovered by a dog (!!) — named Pickles (!!) — who received a silver medal, became a cult hero, and went on to star in movies and tv shows, including The Spy with a Cold Nose. He was named dog of the year.

Pickles (dog) - Wikipedia

Anthem of newborns everywhere:

Kiss i sängen och ha det bra,
ligga lita och fundera
Varm om stjärten som en sommardag,
jag tror jag kissar lite mera

Pee in bed and have a good time,
lie down and think
Warm as a summer’s day,
I think I’ll pee a little more

Kiss i sängen

Åttopojat · Kauneimmat snapsilaulut · Song · 2003

Another verse of this same song is featured in Taskmaster here: From Have a 5-Minute Conversation in SWEDISH | Full Task | Taskmaster

Det är så roligt att vara full
Och stå vid gärsgården och ragla,
och skiter ned sig och stå i kull
och låter spyorna hagla.

I’ll leave the translation of this as an exercise to the reader

#crossculturalcommunication

TIL: The Chinese character 聰, meaning intelligent, is comprised of 耳 (ear) + 悤 (smarts).

悤 , in turn, is 囪 (window) and 心 (heart): “a mind as clear and transparent as a window”.

The original meaning was “ears that hear very clearly”.

The Story of 聰

聰 is composed of 耳 (ear) and 悤 (haste, intelligent). 悤 is formed from a variant of 囪 (chimney, window) and 心 (heart), conveying the idea of a mind as clear and transparent as a window, already…

Theres a precedent for this!