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They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but what about pandas? We believe that, regardless of your age, you can always learn something new. Just ask the members of Reddit’s ‘Today I Learned’ community! This group, which has an impressive 31 million members, is a wealth of information that’s constantly changing and updating, so below, we’ve gathered some of our favorite recent posts from TIL. 

Keep reading to also find an interview with Alison Winfield-Chislett, founder and director of The Goodlife Centre in the UK, and be sure to share the tidbits of information you find most fascinating with your friends. I’m sure they’d like to learn more about why dishwashers were invented and why there are hundreds of raccoons wreaking havoc in Japan!

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#1

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL about Don Ritchie, an Australian who intervened and prevented at least 180 suicide attempts at a notable suicide destination called The Gap. He lived nearby and would approach and ask “Can I help you in some way?”

PRSouthern , Kurosi Report

Final score:
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OneSoulHero
OneSoulHero
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And apparently he didn't specifically stop them. Just started a conversation. And he said it was just enough of an interaction sometimes to make people feel compassion and change their minds. A hero among men.

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#2

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL One of the largest charitable donations made by a lottery winner came from a man in Canada. Two years after his wife died from cancer, Tom Crist won the lotto and donated everything to organizations fighting the disease. Canada doesn't tax winnings, so Crist donated $40 million.

theotherbogart , Waldemar Report

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To learn more about why it's important to be a lifelong learner, we reached out to Alison Winfield-Chislett, founder and director of The Goodlife Centre in the UK, and she was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda. The Goodlife Centre is an independent learning space in London that offers practical boutique workshops in DIY, Home Maintenance, Decorating, Upholstery, Woodwork & Carpentry, Furniture Upcycling & Restoration and various traditional hand Crafts. It's the perfect place to go to learn something new, which Alison says is important to "help us feel vital and part of life. We can continue to grow until the day we die."

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#3

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL in 1952, Jimmy Carter led a team of nuclear scientists in disassembling a Canadian nuclear reactor undergoing meltdown. To accomplish this, Carter, alongside other American military personnel, personally lowered himself into the reactor to disassemble it by hand.

JJKingwolf , Patrick McGarvey Report

Final score:
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Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jimmy Carter is an amazing man. It will be a shame when he eventually passes away (he entered hospice a few weeks ago).

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#4

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL of castaway huts (or depots) which are deliberately placed on isolated islands by governments. They contain supplies and tools which can help people who become stranded there. Most were built by the New Zealand government in the 19th and 20th centuries.

bermuda__ , LawrieM Report

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LuckyL
LuckyL
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd really like to know how often they are used and needed.

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When it comes to the benefits of learning something new, Alison says, "As we get older we can challenge any belief system that has held us back. ‘I don’t know how to…’ becomes ‘I’m learning how to…’"

Alison also shared with Bored Panda that there's no end to what she's curious about. "I love all materials and processes. The practical methods of making your world personalised leads on forever. There’s always a way to improve what you make."

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#5

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL the ancient Nazca got water in the middle of the desert through an engineered series of 46 aqueducts running 12 m underground. They were built around 200-500 AD, and 32 of them are still used by local farmers today.

PianoCharged , Diego Delso Report

Final score:
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Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is awesome! I continue to be amazed at the ancient feats of engineering! And then we learn that some of these feats are still practiced to this very day!

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#6

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL about Josephine Cochrane, who invented the dishwasher because she was fed up of China breaking whilst being hand washed.

blaikes , www.kidsdiscover.com Report

Final score:
480points
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Blurryface
Blurryface
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I too, detest the feeling of Asian nations shattering as I clean my food platters. (Sarcasm, lol)

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Alison also noted that we can find inspiration for learning anywhere. "I asked myself ‘Why is it called that?’ A little tool known as a ‘Gent’s saw’ led me to learn about the 19th century craft revolution when ‘gentlemen’ tried using their hands like ‘artisans’."

"When we are using our hands to make something, we connect with a part of ourselves that feels like we are home," she added. "There’s no place like it."

If you'd like to learn a new skill, particular one that involves working with your hands, be sure to check out The Goodlife Centre's website right here.

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#7

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL by passing a law requiring pharmacies to be owned by a licensed pharmacist, North Dakota has essentially done away with corporate chain pharmacies. Corporations that own pharmacies must be majority owned by licensed pharmacists.

Cjustinstockton , Nathaniel Yeo Report

Final score:
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Paul Macdonell
Paul Macdonell
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

same in Ontario but chains "franchise" each location. certainly doesn't save us any money.

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#8

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that mature bull elephants play a pivotal role in elephant society. The absence of mature bulls creates juvenile delinquency in younger bulls, who will soon enter musth. When mature bulls were introduced into areas with a high concentration of delinquents, they soon put a stop to this behavior.

TheGuyNoOneSees , Roger Brown Report

Final score:
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Mr. Cinder
Mr. Cinder
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes big brother needs to correct little brothers behaviour. My older brother did when I stepped out of line

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#9

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL of Movile Cave, which has been completely sealed off from the outside world for 5.5 million years and evolved dozens of animal species found nowhere else, sustained only by toxic chemicals in the air and water, not photosynthesis.

Cherimoose , kiarayew.com Report

Final score:
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Bree
Bree
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very cool! Here's the wiki article on it: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movile_Cave

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#10

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL Roman concrete structures such as the Pantheon and aqueducts are ultra durable because of lime clasts. While many modern concrete structures crumble after a few decades, Roman concrete has self-healing functionality from lime clasts which allow their structures to survive millennia.

The_Ry_Ry , Bernard Gagnon Report

Final score:
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#11

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL in 1993 Mattel's Barbie division accidentally released a Gay Ken doll. Despite being quickly recalled, it remains the best selling Ken doll of all time.

Ike_Arumba , Cyle Suesz for In The Know Report

Final score:
341points
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#12

TIL that in 2014, Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without using a shark cage. She endured a 104-mile swim through jellyfish and shark-infested waters, taking approximately 53 hours. Amazingly, she was 64 years old when she made this swim.

navigation007 Report

Final score:
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Captain Newt
Captain Newt
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shark infested waters? They live there, she was the visitor!

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#13

TIL of Dr. Jochem Hoyer, a German transplantation surgeon who argued in favour of altruistic organ donations. After a colleague criticized him for praising "living donors as long as it is NOT you who has to donate" Hoyer donated a kidney to an unknown stranger to make a quote "very strong statement".

NewAccountEachYear Report

Final score:
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#14

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL in 1974 the band Ace had their only hit, How Long (has this been going on). The song is not about a cheating girlfriend - it’s about the band’s bass player, who was moonlighting with another band.

edfitz83 , www.discogs.com Report

Final score:
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Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I immediately started singing this in my head. Definitely not out loud though…nobody wants that!

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#15

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that Nikola Tesla once worked for Thomas Edison but left due to a disagreement over payment for his work on improving Edison's DC power systems. Tesla went on to develop AC power systems, which became the basis for modern electrical grids.

Yolo0o , Unknown author Report

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Hphizzle
Hphizzle
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And also unknowingly brought about the name of an awesome band. AC/DC

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#16

TIL A slave couple escaped to the North in 1848 by disguising her, a light-skinned black woman, as his owner, and him, darker-skinned, as her valet. She was illiterate at the time, so they put her arm in a sling against signatures and pretended she was sick. An acquaintance nearly recognized them.

nakedsamurai Report

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A person with a problem
A person with a problem
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This slave couple was Ellen and William Craft. They went on to form a school to educate emancipated blacks after starting a family in Boston.

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#17

TIL that scientists created a 60 year long experiment in Siberia, selectively breeding wild foxes who showed friendly traits. 40 generations later they were as friendly as dogs!

TryingTruly Report

Final score:
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David Paterson
David Paterson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The really interesting thing about the experiment is that selecting solely for friendliness resulted in a major change in colouring of the foxes involved. Scientists are still debating whether the change in coat colour is genetically linked to friendliness or not. In dogs it is, domestic dogs are not usually the same colours as wild wolves.

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#18

TIL Impressed with his energy and ability to do the splits, the owner of the Oakland A's hired an 11-year old named Stanley Burrell as a batboy and personal play-by-play announcer. A's player Reggie Jackson gave the kid a nickname, Hammer, who would later become MC Hammer.

theotherbogart Report

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David
David
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sooo.... he was an announcer... nicknamed Hammer... who later chose the stage name MC ( master of ceremonies / Emcee) Hammer. The only batboy I know by name is Robin.

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#19

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL Sperm whales use babysitters. Sperm whale youths cannot dive as deep as their mothers so when the mother needs to forage in the deep the youth is kept safe by swimming with other adult whales.

jamescookenotthatone , 7inchs Report

Final score:
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#20

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL A repairman wanted to get out of work early and intentionally started a fire, causing $700,000,000 in damages to the USS Miami submarine.

ElJamoquio , Official U.S. Navy Page Report

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#21

TIL Robin Williams improv was so good in FernGully the director tripled his character’s screen time for the final cut.

famous_antelope69 Report

Final score:
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Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn’t the same thing happen for Aladdin? Gosh, I miss Robin Williams!

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#22

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that we start forgetting early childhood memories at around age 7.

Lupercali , Pixabay Report

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#23

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL Japan has become infested with North American raccoons after an anime based on the book Rascal aired in 1977 and caused thousands of raccoons to be imported as pets only to be released into the wild.

Unleashtheducks , Сергей Игнатьев Report

Final score:
236points
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#24

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL the Myers-Briggs has no scientific basis whatsoever.

ThreadbareAdjustment , Eric E Castro Report

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BigFish Artwire
BigFish Artwire
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nor the zodiac signs and yet people seriously believe in them. Same with religions. I'm not surprised, but in a world where not everyone cares about whether science backs up their believes I don't think knowing this would change I thing

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#25

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL 70% of people in the world do not use toilet paper.

mimino99 , Vlada Karpovich Report

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231points
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#26

TIL that bioluminescence in fireflies is nearly 100 percent efficient, meaning little energy is wasted to produce their light.

hsblhsn Report

Final score:
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Shark Lady
Shark Lady
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember the very first time i saw one, we were on holiday on Kefalonia, I thought it was a magic fairy.

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#27

TIL that the actor who played Darth Vader, David Prowse, was banned from attending official Star Wars events because he leaked too many plot details.

Someperson404 Report

Final score:
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#28

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL the crews of Apollo 11, 12, and 14 had to spend 3 weeks in quarantine after returning to Earth because of the possibility that they might spread contagions from the moon.

BlueHarvestJ , Neil Armstrong Report

Final score:
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Elita One
Elita One
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why? Something living up there they're not telling us about? 🤔😂

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#29

TIL That in case of emergency in a railroad crossing, instead of dialing 911, we should first look out for a blue and white sign that has a phone number that will get you in touch with the railroad dispatcher, who can radio the engineers of nearby trains to immediately stop short of that crossing.

guijcm Report

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Robert Trebor
Robert Trebor
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is supposed to be such a number at every grade crossing (in the USA), but people still try to get their vehicle loose until it is too late to stop the train.

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#30

TIL The prototype of the Rolls Royce Ghost was so quiet inside that it made test drivers sick. The engineers had to remove some of the noise-isolating material, and create seats that vibrated at specific frequencies to introduce some noise into the interior.

Rifletree Report

Final score:
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The Accidental Cat Thief
The Accidental Cat Thief
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get this! European super speed trains are so fast and smooth that I get sick. I need me a little shake and rattle occasionally to remind me I'm on the ground.

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#31

TIL about Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, a medicine used in the early 1900s to quiet infants and teething children. Popular in the US and UK it took twenty years of doctors' complaints before it was withdrawn from the market for being a "baby killer." The main ingredient was morphine.

marmorset Report

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#32

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL as a research student, Lawrence Bragg figured out how to use X-ray to study the atomic structure. His breakthrough discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics at age 25.

romeofantasy , collections.slsa.sa.gov.au Report

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Adam Jeff
Adam Jeff
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's actually not that unusual for Nobel-winning discoveries to happen in early life. The average age for publication of Nobel physicists' major work is 42. What is unusual is that Bragg was recognised so quickly: on average, the Nobel prize is granted 20 years after the discovery. https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/the-age-at-which-noble-prize-research-is-conducted

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#33

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL the Japanese turned the third of their superbattleships (after Yamato and Musashi) into the largest aircraft carrier ever built at the time. After four years of construction and enormous cost, she left the shipyard and was immediately sunk by a submarine.

AirborneRodent , Marine engineer Hiroshi Arakawa Report

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Gavin Johnson
Gavin Johnson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shinano was handed over to the Japanese Navy on the 19th November and torpedoed by U.S. submarine Archerfish on 28th November. Shinano had put to sea with inadequate support from other vessels, she was underpowered as her boilers weren’t up to full power (some weren’t even working) and she made an easy target for Archerfish. At a shade under 70,000 tons she remains the largest vessel sunk by a submarine. Of a crew of 2,400 only 1,080 survived, they were then kept isolated on an island in order to stop the news of such a devastating loss from being broadcast through Japan.

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#34

TIL Charles Dickens had a talking pet raven named Grip, who terrorized his dog, buried valuables in the yard, and died eating "a pound or two" of lead paint. As a character in one of his novels, Grip is believed to have inspired Poe's famous poem, and is on display in a Philadelphia public library.

jableshables Report

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David
David
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder if that is out of order. Maybe it was - eats lead paint - goes a bit mental - then terrorizes dog and steals valuables.

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#35

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that South Korea's CIA recruited a suicide squad to kill North Korea's dictator, Kim Il Sung. The squad mutinied, killed their commanders, hijacked a bus to Seoul, and were blown up by their own military. The survivors were then executed.

friarcat , 경향신문사 Report

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#36

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that the Fahrenheit scale was standardized 18 years before Celsius. The world switch due to the British Empire. The United States is actually using the earlier standard.

nyg3n , Jarosław Kwoczała Report

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#37

TIL Japan has used history textbook that contained references to the Nanjing Massacre, anti-Japanese resistance movements in Korea, forced suicide in Okinawa, comfort women, and Unit 731 since the mid 1990s.

Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar Report

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Maya Baggins
Maya Baggins
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only way to not repeat history is learn from past mistakes, so they don't hide theirs

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#38

TIL beneath the Puerto Rico Trench is a mass so dense it has a gravitational pull on the surface of the ocean, causing it to dip somewhat. The Trench is also associated with the most negative gravity anomaly on earth, -380 milliGal, which indicates the presence of an active downward force.

Muted_Pomegranate738 Report

Final score:
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David Paterson
David Paterson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The acceleration due to gravity varies quite a lot from place to place on the Earth's surface. The famous 9.81 m/s^2 is only an approximation. Since Britain has a high acceleration due to gravity and Australia has a low acceleration due to gravity, you can actually lose weight by travelling from Britain to Australia.

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#39

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL Crypto.com mistakenly sent a customer $10.5 million instead of an $100 refund by typing the account number as the refund amount. It took Crypto.com 7 months to notice the mistake, they are now suing the customer.

must_go , ajay_suresh Report

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#40

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that King Alfonso XIII of Spain,was known as "the Playboy king"and considered the pioneer of pornographic cinema in Spain.He commissioned pornographic films considered immoral and degenerate, including sexual relationships involving Catholic priests, and his passion "women with enormous breasts".

thirdwheelforever , Kaulak - Museu Nacional Report

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#41

TIL there is an official IRS guide for: What to Do When the Taxpayer Threatens Suicide.

pseudonym-2112 Report

Final score:
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Donkey boi
Donkey boi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'Tell them not to be so concerned, explain to them that all their problems will go away once they pay their money. Appeal to their family nature by suggesting that their spouse would likely inherit their debt and their children would be homeless with only one parent.' - Probably...

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#42

TIL In his book The Descent Of Man, Charles Darwin wondered whether human language abilities had started with singing. By studying fossils of hyoid bone in the throat, humans would have had the ability to sing over 530,000 years ago.

Ok_Copy5217 Report

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David Paterson
David Paterson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Humans have had a remarkable ability to mimic the calls of animals and songs of birds for an exceedingly long time. It's been very useful in hunting.

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#43

TIL Feral cats on Guadalupe Island have been observed stealing milk from Elephant seals. The cats sneak up on a nursing pup and and bat at them until the pup retreats, atwhich point the cat licks up the milk from the mother's teat. Some cats have been chased off by elephant seals.

jamescookenotthatone Report

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Upstaged75
Upstaged75
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Elephant seals creep me out. Especially the males. They look like they want to murder everyone.

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#44

TIL In 1953, Swanson had 260 tons of frozen turkey leftover after Thanksgiving, so they packaged them into trays with peas and potatoes, and the TV Dinner was born.

Rifletree Report

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Amanda Rose
Amanda Rose
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm reminded of the Golden Girls episode where Dorothy wanted to buy her parents a television set. Sophia claims that television is just a fad. Dorothy then quips "Ma, TV is not a fad otherwise Swanson would have called those radio dinners!"

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#45

TIL that shining lasers at aircraft is a criminal offense and can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.

toszma Report

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#46

TIL the ending of "The Bourne Supremacy" was reshot just two weeks before its release. Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon came up with a new idea that would cost $200,000 and involve pulling Damon from the set of Ocean's 12. The movie tested 10 points higher with the new ending and made $176m.

shor Report

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Owen
Owen
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe Matt Damon is not recognised as much as he deserves. He has acted in some incredible, highly important films, and written some too. Good Will Hunting, The Talented Mr Ripley, Saving Private Ryan, the Bourne films. I just think he doesn't get enough respect.

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#47

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL the famous Hollywood sign was in a state of disrepair and ultimately torn down for three months in 1978. Playboy’s Hugh Hefner helped rebuild it via a $250K fundraising campaign. He then donated $900K to save it again in 2010.

Miamime , minnemom Report

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Katie Lutesinger
Katie Lutesinger
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It originally said HOLLYWOODLAND but the last four letters fell down and were never replaced.

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#48

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that when Buddy Holly died 6 months after being married, his widow inherited everything but signed 50% over to his family.

Serialkillingyou , Buddy_Holly_Brunswick_Records Report

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Peppermallow
Peppermallow
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Terry Pratchetts Soul music, there is a character named Flowery Mistletoe. This is a direct parody of the name Buddy Holly

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#49

TIL the word dumpster wasn't added to the Scrabble dictionary until 2022 due to it being a trademark before.

denryaku Report

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#50

TIL President Calvin Coolidge had a pet raccoon named Rebecca. He got it as a gift in place of a turkey for Thanksgiving and Coolidge had no interest in eating it so he kept Rebecca as a pet and had a “White House Raccoon” tag made for her.

Dr_Cigs Report

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Moezzzz
Moezzzz
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was from Mississippi, and after his presidency ended, she was gifted to a zoo but could not adapt to life there and died shortly after. I mean, OF COURSE SHE COULDNT ADAPT! She was a house pet for her whole life! Wtf

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#51

TIL a priceless Roman marble bust was sold at a Texas Goodwill for $35.

Specialist_Check Report

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#52

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that bed bugs have no courtship rituals. What they have, instead, is a type of mating behavior called traumatic insemination. That is, a male will simply climb onto a female, stab her in the side of her body with his hypodermic penis, and release his sperm into her body cavity.

nomoniker , Gilles San Martin Report

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#53

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry has bred nearly 8,000 chicks annually (around 20 a day) as part of a Chicken Hatchery exhibit since 1956. The chicks are kept on exhibit for Museum Visitors to view for a week. After that, most are fed to animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

AspireAgain , Jim Dunn Report

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#54

TIL that a man blew a hole in his colon by attempting to treat severe constipation with a toilet plunger.

Pandalism Report

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#55

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL just like in the Tarantino film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, Sharon Tate really did have a habit of going barefoot in Los Angeles. When she went to restaurants with a "No Shoes, No Service" rule, she would frequently put rubber bands around her ankles to pretend that she was wearing sandals.

waitingforthesun92 , Lily Laurent Report

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Amy Taylor
Amy Taylor
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her sister Debra told a story in her book about how they would make fake sandals out of leather necklace strings popular at the time :)

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#56

TIL Napolean, who was famous for being short, was actually 5 foot 6 (1.686 meters).

NaughtySeer Report

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#57

TIL Coca-Cola's Simply Orange Juice is made by an algorithm known as the Black Book. Oranges are divided by source, type, sweetness, acidity, etc. flash pasteurised and then combined with flavour packages according to the black book algorithm to have a consistent taste countrywide and year round.

jamescookenotthatone Report

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Jeremy James
Jeremy James
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Simply Orange has also been found to contain high levels of PFAS, and there is a class-action lawsuit going about it.

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#58

TIL An estimated 50.000 Irish were made into indentured servants by Cromwell after he took Ireland in 1653.

DeadeyeClock Report

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#59

TIL of the 1991 Downing Street mortar attack, in which IRA members launched three mortars at No. 10 Downing Street during a cabinet meeting, attempting to kill John Major. One hit the lawn 30 yards away, and it is believed that if this mortar had hit the building the entire cabinet would have died.

a3poify Report

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Steve
Steve
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They also would have died if they saw the movie version of the musical “Cats”

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#60

TIL Mikio Okuda , a farmer in Japan, carefully grows a type of strawberry, Bijin-Hime, and sells just one for $500.

ZeusTroanDetected Report

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#61

TIL in 1990 Marge Simpson wrote a letter to First Lady Barbara Bush after Barbara said The Simpsons was ‘the dumbest thing [she] had ever seen’.

ConfidenceBooster1 Report

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Ed Brandon
Ed Brandon
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can that be true? Surely George W. had been born by the time The Simpsons aired? 🤔

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#62

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL that First Lady Mamie Eisenhower, disliked the Kennedys. Mamie did not inform Jacqueline of a wheelchair available for her during a White House tour. Kennedy remained composed during the tour but collapsed once home. When questioned, Eisenhower's reply was simply, "Because she never asked."

TheDictator26 , White House photographer Report

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#63

TIL in 2001, Disneyland tried to re-theme their aging "Submarine Voyage" attraction around Atlantis: The Lost Empire, but the movie flopped. They tried again with Treasure Planet, but that was a flop too. They finally succeeded with Finding Nemo in 2005.

AirborneRodent Report

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#64

TIL if you're unmarried when you turn 25 in Denmark, it is customary for your friends and family to cover you in cinnamon.

c_h_a_r_ Report

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Katie Lutesinger
Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are married, it's probably whipped cream applied by your spouse.

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#65

“Today I Learned”: 40 Lesser-Known Things About The World That Should Be Common Knowledge (New Pics) TIL it is dangerous to blow air into a pregnant women's vagina. The increased air pressure can pass beneath the fetal membranes and into the circulation causing a venous air embolism that can kill within minutes.

reddit4485 , Leah Kelley Report

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#66

TIL actor James Marsters took the role of Zamasu in the Dragon Ball Super anime for zero pay, as he felt he had to redeem himself to fans after appearing as Piccolo in the infamous critical disaster Dragonball Evolution (2009).

PresidentWeevil Report

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#67

TIL that in WW2, a Marine Corps Corsair pilot used his propeller to chew off the tail of an enemy aircraft after his guns jammed, while under fire from the enemy plane's tailgunner. The enemy plane crashed but the Corsair pilot made it back to base, receiving the Navy Cross for his actions.

hipster_deckard Report

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#68

TIL Dr. Sigmund Freud was addicted to smoking and failed to quit for good throughout a 45 years long battle that included 33 operations for cancer of the jaw, an artificial jaw replacement, and attacks of "tobacco angina" exacerbated by nicotine . He was known to smoke up to twenty cigars a day.

Story_Man_75 Report

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#69

TIL the Girl Scouts sell 200 million boxes each year, surpassing sales of Oreos, not to mention sales of all Chips Ahoy and Milano cookies combined.

FAmos Report

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Shana Hay
Shana Hay
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And only about $0.15 from each box goes to the troop that sold the cookies.

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#70

TIL "Cute aggression" or the urge to squeeze cute animals or babies is the brain’s coping mechanism to temper the onslaught of positive feelings. Because if you find yourself incapacitated by how cute a baby is—so much so that you simply can't take care of it—that baby is going to starve.

Patient_Champion_851 Report

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Bree
Bree
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BP is stretching on this one. Yes, that exists but humans aren't paralyzed by cuteness. Source:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cute_aggression

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#71

TIL that Roman gladiators were overweight (NOT muscle-bound) and ate mostly vegetarian diets.

snazzydetritus Report

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Jenn C
Jenn C
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gladiators also werent killed ar the end of a match. They were pro athletes of the day, some had 'action figures,' and their sweat was sold as an aphrodesiac.

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#72

TIL that the only sound recordings in existence of someone born in the 18th century speaking, are of Helmuth Von Moltke the German field commander.

VengefulMight Report

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M O'Connell
M O'Connell
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sort of a technicality. The recording was made in 1889, and Helmuth was born in 1800. Slightly more remarkable would be the oldest known sound recording (by recording date) made by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1860, which was first played back by scientists in 2008.

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#73

TIL that in medieval Japan, monks attempting to gain Nirvana would put themselves through 3000 days of eating nothing but tree byproducts, followed by drinking a tea that contains poison ivy, and eventually being buried while posing in a meditative state.

006ahmed Report

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#74

TIL Douglas MacArthur wanted to use atomic bombs to contain China and ultimately win the Korean War.

needle-roulette Report

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M O'Connell
M O'Connell
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The long-term consequences of nuclear weapons were not fully realized in the early 1950s. Plenty of military brass expected them to be a regular part of warfare moving forward, and devised tactics for how they might be used. Thankfully (and also painfully) testing and careful study of their effects stopped any from being used in this way. For some reason development of artillery-based nuclear weapon delivery systems continued all the way until the end of the Cold War.

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#75

TIL that several people have been caught cheating on game shows throughout history. One of the most notable cases involved Charles Ingram, who cheated his way to winning the jackpot on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" by having an accomplice cough to indicate the correct answer.

theID10T Report

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Tucker Cahooter
Tucker Cahooter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Quiz Show" (great movie) covers the scandal surrounding the 1950s quiz program "Twenty One" where the whole thing was rigged by the people running the quiz itself i.e. contestants fed the questions and answers in advance

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#76

TIL in 2004, Linda Ronstadt was booted and banned from the Aladdin hotel for dedicating a song to Michael Moore in support of his documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11." Along with this, bedlam began and Ronstadt was immediately booted, not allowed to return to her suite.

WalkingDown46 Report

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Corwin 02
Corwin 02
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was booted from the show she was giving at the hotel there since after the dedication HALF the audience walked out. The hotel stated that "“Ms. Ronstadt was hired to entertain the guests of the Aladdin, not to espouse her political views." to which I cannot really disagree

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#77

TIL John Wilkes Booth father, Junius Brutus Booth, wrote many letters in fits of drunken anger and madness to President Andrew Jackson threatening assassination.

Cabnit47 Report

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Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I recently found out that JWB’s brother saved Robert Todd Lincoln from dying when he fell on a railroad platform.

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#78

TIL on 1991, when he surrended, Pablo Escobar was allowed to build his own prison. Called "La Catedral", it was built like a fortress, had a football pitch, giant doll house, bar, jacuzzi and waterfall. The guards were chosen by Escobar.

Johannes_P Report

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Kate Jones
Kate Jones
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you ever want to read something that proves how people with money are treated differently when it comes to punishment, there ya go. I was reading about how Donald Trump might get indicted and they were going to arrest him and there was all this talk about whether they were going to put cuffs on him or perp walk him out. Political views completely aside-- I find it hilarious that rich people get the option of knowing when they'll be arrested and the option of getting handcuffs when the regular public would never get the choice for either. Pablo Escobar laughed at the idea of going to prison- he just bought the prison. He bought the guards. Marth Stewart called it 'going to Yale' as if it was she was 'slumming' it for a while but it was a breeze to do because she was treated like a celebrity. She was given a separate cell. She got special treatment. And it's because they have so much money that prison becomes just a minor inconvenience. It's infuriating.

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#79

TIL the 'Puckle Gun', considered to be one of the first machine guns (1718), had a specialized square shaped bullet to be used against Turks as a means to "convince the Turks of the benefits of Christian civilization".

CeeArthur Report

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Adam Jeff
Adam Jeff
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From the wikipedia page: 'Production was highly limited and may have been as few as two guns'

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#80

TIL Studies show that the risk of dying from an injury is far less in the city than in the country.

historymajor44 Report

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Corwin 02
Corwin 02
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Duh! cause you know that hospital or pharmacy at 2 blocks away or 50 miles away certainly has nothing to do with it. Study of kiss my tush.

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