Recent comments in /f/todayilearned

bokononon t1_j8p30cc wrote

Reply to comment by jusmellow in TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow

″The countdown stalled at T-Minus 69 seconds when Desiree, the first female ape to go up into space, winked at me slyly and pouted her thick, rubbery lips unmistakeably - the first of many such advances during what would prove to be the longest, and most memorable, space voyage of my career,″

  • Martha Simpson of Glastonbury, Conn, 1985 Grand Winner
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bokononon t1_j8p2etw wrote

Reply to comment by Ferec in TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow

I suspect you've probably read Alexander Pope's similar lesson on writing :-) --

True ease in writing comes from art, not chance,
As those move easiest who have learned to dance.
'Tis not enough no harshness gives offense,
The sound must seem an echo to the sense:
Soft is the strain when Zephyr gently blows,
And the smooth stream in smoother numbers flows;
But when loud surges lash the sounding shore,
The hoarse, rough verse should like the torrent roar;
When Ajax strives some rock's vast weight to throw,
The line too labors, and the words move slow;
Not so, when swift Camilla scours the plain,
Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main.
Hear how Timotheus' varied lays surprise,
And bid alternate passions fall and rise!

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SteelMarch t1_j8p24k8 wrote

Reply to TIL the 'Negro Motorist Green Book' was based on an earlier 'Jewish Vacation Guide' book which outlined places that Jews were not unwelcome to stay in America in 1917. by aripy

The irony here is that then the basis for a lot of the racial covenants such as the original Levitt towns was made by a Jewish American. Then went on to not include them but rather just African Americans and People of Color instead. Talk about moving the needle.

−15

NeuHundred t1_j8p168z wrote

Reply to comment by rdrckcrous in TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow

"Once upon a time there was a little sausage called Baldrick. And he lived happily ever after."

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Periodic-Inflation t1_j8p0p3z wrote

Reply to comment by Mister-Grumpy in TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow

I couldn't help but read this to the tune of "The Windmills of your Mind"

3

TheRecognized t1_j8p0hec wrote

Reply to comment by Extension-Ad-2760 in TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow

Cliches don’t usually become cliches because they suck the first time around

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Merlion2018 t1_j8ozaml wrote

Reply to comment by Vogon-Poetry-Slam in TIL that the phrase "It was a dark and stormy night" was the opening line to an actual novel published in 1830, but runs on for another 51 words: "It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which..." by dylancatlow

When I woke up today, I didn’t think there was a chance in hell that I’d encounter the term “world’s thirstiest gerbil” but there it is.

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