What interesting thing have you recently learned?

[Kareni]

Today I learned that in Tudor times there was a color called Dead Spaniard!

I saw mention of this in a comment on the Word Wenches site in a blog post by author Joanna Bourne. Here's a link to the post ~ A Colorful Regency

You can see a list of Tudor era colors here ~ Color in Elizabethan Dress

And here's a visual representation.

 

What interesting thing have you recently learned?

Regards,

Kareni

[Kidlit]

1 hour ago, Kareni said:

Today I learned that in Tudor times there was a color called Dead Spaniard!

I saw mention of this in a comment on the Word Wenches site in a blog post by author Joanna Bourne. Here's a link to the post ~ A Colorful Regency

You can see a list of Tudor era colors here ~ Color in Elizabethan Dress

And here's a visual representation.

 

What interesting thing have you recently learned?

Regards,

Kareni

Gooseturd green and puke are the winners for me! 🤣. And, thanks to you, @Kareni , I have learned something interesting today. 

[lewelma]

I learned that the ex-slaves in Haiti had to pay back their masters for their value after they revolted and set up a free state. Yes, the ex-slaves were required to pay their masters, or France would invade! And it took 125 years to pay off the debt!!!!!  The value they had to pay back represented between 3 and 10 years of their GDP, plus a ton of interest and service fees.  

Edited September 17, 2020 by lewelma

[ElizabethB]

My son learned and told me that Boliva has two Capital cities and that there are several other countries that do, too. (From his Spanish class, he is taking some classes at local high school and some classes homeschooled.  Local high school is currently virtual but going back in a month if cases stay low, K-2 and Special Ed going back next week.)

[wintermom]

Because of this chat forum, I learned that Thai curry is a thing... a very delicious thing that I learned to make myself!! 

[MercyA]

Opossums carry nesting materials with their tails! (And you have to see these cuties.)

ETA: And I posted this *before* I saw the update in the "Animal in My House" thread!

Edited September 17, 2020 by MercyA

[MercyA]

And, oh, I've learned a lot about the physical aspect of death and the historical and current practices surrounding it from the Ask a Mortician YouTube channel. 

At first I found Caitlin very slightly annoying (although interesting!) but now I find her strangely soothing. Go figure.

[Laura Corin]

13 hours ago, Kareni said:

Today I learned that in Tudor times there was a color called Dead Spaniard!

I saw mention of this in a comment on the Word Wenches site in a blog post by author Joanna Bourne. Here's a link to the post ~ A Colorful Regency

You can see a list of Tudor era colors here ~ Color in Elizabethan Dress

And here's a visual representation.

 

What interesting thing have you recently learned?

Regards,

Kareni

I know about the colour Bristol Red. I went to this school

https://www.redmaidshigh.co.uk/about-us-a-brief-history.aspx

I just learned that there are many more blood types than I  knew, some very rare and interesting:

Eta right link

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2726-6

 

Edited September 18, 2020 by Laura Corin

[ktgrok]

I learned today during the kids' botany lesson that there are over 25,000 species of orchids, which is more than there are species of mammals! And the seeds are generally microscopic. 

Oh, and that you can use tulip bulbs - which are native to Turkey, not Holland - as an onion substitute, and that saffron comes from crocuses. 

Edited September 17, 2020 by Ktgrok

[Kidlit]

I did learn something today! I learned about the early history of life insurance. Did you know that life insurance (purportedly? I haven’t actually researched this, but it’s in this nonfiction audiobook I’m listening to. . . ) actually had its beginnings as fire insurance in Europe? People would belong to a “club” (can’t think of a better word. . .) that would guarantee them the help of a fire brigade should they ever need it.  Only homes bearing the official plaque of the fire brigade would receive attention in the event of fire. 
 

(Yes, I love parentheses. 😏)

[Pen]

2 hours ago, Ktgrok said:

I learned today during the kids' botany lesson that there are over 25,000 species of orchids, which is more than there are species of mammals! And the seeds are generally microscopic. 

 

Wow! 

2 hours ago, Ktgrok said:

Oh, and that you can use tulip bulbs - which are native to Turkey, not Holland - as an onion substitute,

 

 

With caution:

http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2008/05/09/tulips-really-are-edible-sort-of

[Terabith]

Alexander the Great conquered the unconquerable city of Tyre by turning the island into a peninsula, by forcing people to build a kilometer long land bridge by hand, while under fire from Tyre's navy and lots of arrows.  

[Lori D.]

24 minutes ago, Terabith said:

Alexander the Great conquered the unconquerable city of Tyre by turning the island into a peninsula, by forcing people to build a kilometer long land bridge by hand, while under fire from Tyre's navy and lots of arrows.  

And it took about 11 months to build that land bridge out there -- and it still exists today!


What I learned recently: DH and I recently watched 2 fascinating multi-part documentaries:

- High Score - 6 episodes, the early history of video games (arcade, to home console, to computer, to interactive gaming)
- Chef's Table: BBQ - 4 episodes, each on a very different chef and their technique of cooking over wood coals and fire

From the first, I learned that PacMan was developed as a marketing strategy to expand the arcade game market demographics to women -- rather than "shooting" (Asteroids and Space Invaders) PacMan was about "eating", which they thought would be more appealing and less aggressive... 😧  [Also noting that one of my new learning moments overlaps with poster above! 😄 ]

From the second, I learned that you can flash-cook salad in a special metal mesh basket over flames to bring out flavor!

Edited September 18, 2020 by Lori D.

[Lori D.]

2 hours ago, Ktgrok said:

... Oh, and that you can use tulip bulbs - which are native to Turkey, not Holland...

Although, during WW2 Nazi occupation of Holland, the starving people ate the tulip bulbs out of desperation, along with stripping and chopping down all the trees to keep warm in winter... 😢

[Kareni]

32 minutes ago, Pen said:

http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2008/05/09/tulips-really-are-edible-sort-of

My mother told of eating tulip bulbs during WW2; she said she'd never eaten anything so bitter.

Regards,

Kareni

 

[Katy]

The things I think of as Texas Stars - building decor often hung on the outside of a building, were made after Star Bolts, which actually hold a historic house together structurally because old mortars aren't strong enough as they age.

[Kareni]

I've been enjoying the variety of replies and have learned even more things today.

FYI ~ @Laura Corin, I think your second link is incorrect.

Regards,

Kareni

[Laura Corin]

3 hours ago, Kareni said:

I've been enjoying the variety of replies and have learned even more things today.

FYI ~ @Laura Corin, I think your second link is incorrect.

Regards,

Kareni

Thanks.  I've edited the link.

[Kareni]

And today I learned about hair receivers.

What are Hair Receivers?

ETA: Here are some on etsy.

Regards,

Kareni