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Martha Stewart once said, “If you learn something new every day, you can teach something new every day.” An excellent place to follow Miss Stewart’s advice is the subreddit r/TodayILearned. With an impressive 27.4 million members, Today I Learned (or TIL for short) is a source of infinite knowledge for curious readers. Since 2008, users have been gathering to share interesting facts they just learned about anything and everything, and we want to pass some of the knowledge along.

Whether you’re looking for conversation starters to impress your colleagues or pointless fun facts to whip out at parties, TIL is the place to be. We’ve gathered some of the most interesting facts that have recently been shared on the page, so you can definitely learn something today. And when you’re looking to continue your education even more, check out some of Bored Panda's previous TIL publications here, here, and here!

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#1

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that Alan Turing (cryptographer responsible for breaking the Nazi Enigma code during World War II) was also an Olympic-level runner and he developed a new field of biology out of his fascination with daisies

wanderling_alien , jecinci Report

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Mark Twain famously said that "truth is stranger than fiction", and this subreddit seems to support that claim. Learning interesting facts is more than pure entertainment, though. Acquiring knowledge is actually like exercise for our brains. According to Health Navigator, keeping our brains active can "improve cognitive functions such as concentration, attention to detail, memory recall and problem solving", as well as reduce risk of dementia.

Harvard Health Publishing even has an article titled "Train Your Brain" encouraging readers to take up a new hobby or practice a challenging activity to keep their brains in good shape. "Eventually, your cognitive skills will wane and thinking and memory will be more challenging, so you need to build up your reserve," says Dr. John N. Morris of the Institute for Aging Research. "Embracing a new activity that also forces you to think and learn and requires ongoing practice can be one of the best ways to keep the brain healthy."

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#2

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL about Theo van Gogh, Vincent's younger Brother, whose unfailing financial and emotional support allowed his brother to devote himself entirely to painting. He also died 6 months after his brother's suicide and today they are buried next to each other at the cemetery of Auvers-sur-Oise

edi24 , Yannbee Report

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Vicky Zar
Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They still speculate if some of his portraits were him or his brother.

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#3

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL dogs "play sneeze" when they're feeling excited or playful. "Play sneezes" mean your dog is having a good time and indicate to other dogs that their behavior is only play

shelbeelzebub , otamajakusi Report

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InfectedVoice
InfectedVoice
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All my dogs do this, If I sneeze at them they will run to get a toy and come running back to play, it's cute as.

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#4

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Virgin Atlantic kept having passengers steal their popular salt and pepper shakers. Instead of removing them from the plane, they placed the words "pinched from Virgin Atlantic" at the bottom. The shakers then became dinner table conversation pieces and free advertisement

blueberrisorbet , Tiguy789 Report

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Even physical activities can help improve our cognitive abilities when combined with mental requirements. Many sports have complex rules to keep in mind and are more than simple physical exercises. Swimming, for example, is obviously a full-body workout, but it also requires mental stamina as well. Swimmers must stay mindful of their breathing techniques, stroke execution, kicks, speed and more. But if you don't consider yourself an athlete, have no fear. Creative outlets such as painting, sculpting, writing and learning a new language are also excellent ways to keep your brain active.

#5

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that cats are not nocturnal or diurnal, they are crepuscular: a circadian rhythm where they are most active during dusk/dawn (low-light hours)

PlatinumAero , Christopher Alvarenga Report

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#6

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Tommy Davidson, comedian and actor from "In Living Color," was abandoned in a pile of trash at eighteen-months-old. He was rescued and adopted by a white family

marmorset Report

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Thida Yang
Thida Yang
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wth 18 months!? OBVIOUSLY not saying it is EVER ok to leave a baby anywhere other than a hospital/ fire station, but jeez at 18 months, they're already walking and talking & aware enough to be scared and confused :/ I hate people sometimes

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Dr. Morris states that the task itself is not as important as the commitment to it. He lists three rules of thumb to keep in mind when choosing a brain-enhancing activity. The first rule is that it must be challenging. But not everyone is required to reinvent the wheel. Dr. Morris mentions the possibility of delving deeper into an existing skill. "You don't have the challenge of learning something new," he says. "But rather the challenge of increasing your skill set and knowledge."

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#7

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that songwriter Joni Mitchell only released a greatest hits album, "Hits", on the condition that she released a "Misses" album to go with it

ronache_9 , ultomatt Report

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#8

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL “Terminal Lucidity” is the brief return of mental clarity or memory right before before death, in people who suffer from severe dementia and other neurological disorders

jeffgolenski , Pawel Czerwinski Report

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The next rule Dr. Morris states is that whatever task is chosen must be complex. "A complex activity not only strikes a match of excitement, but forces your brain to work on specific thought processes like problem solving and creative thinking." Don't choose anything that allows you to go on auto-pilot. Lastly, he shares a rule many of us are familiar with: practice makes perfect. "You can't improve memory if you don't work at it," says Dr. Morris. "The more time you devote to engaging your brain, the more it benefits."

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#9

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that the Aboriginal people of Australia have occupied the land for more than 60,000 years

Siray Report

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Judes
Judes
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The photo is not of Australian aboriginal people. They look like Papua New Guineans.

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While you're reading this list, remember that you're doing something good for your brain. (Perhaps this time even counts as a workout!) Don't forget to upvote your favorite interesting facts, and let us know in the comments something you recently learned!
#10

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that Harry Houdini had skepticism of anything mystical and had intense anger at miracle workers, spiritualists, and mediums that preyed on vulnerable people

wanderling_alien , Thurston, John H. Report

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Octavia Hansen
Octavia Hansen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was friends with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes author) but they had a falling out when Doyle tried to convert him to Spiritualism. Doyle was the one who took offense and never spoke to Houdini ever again. Not very brainy of the consulting detective's author.

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#11

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Queen Elizabeth has an official shoe-wearer who breaks in her shoes so they don't give her blisters

katymae123 , wikimedia Report

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#12

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL in 2011 a couple from Florida turned the tables and received a judgement against Bank of America for mistakingly foreclosing the family’s home and to cover subsequent legal fees. A court issued the family a writ of execution giving them permission to seize bank assets

samgarita , Taylor Simpson Report

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Mazer
Mazer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are not the only ones to have turned the tides on predatory banking practices. One guy who owned his house outright was given an eviction notice, dude fought the bank in court and won. Bank ordered to pay court fees snd a fine to the home owner. After six months of attempting to get his award without success, the home owner went back to court. Judge said it was okay to seize bank assets from the local branch. Next day the home owners and sheriff went into the local branch, home owner asked to see the manager. Home owner handed the papers to the management letting the manager know he was there to collect his award signed by the courts. Manager refused to pay, home owner said, great, asked all the customers to leave and he began to assess what he would be removing from the bank. Manager had a cow, claiming the home owner had no authority, home owner turned to look at the Sheriff. Sheriff said cut a check or go home. Check cut, cashed and home owner left. I love underdog wins

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#13

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL : Val Kilmer has lost his voice, quite literally. The only way we may hear speak again is through a computer program

flynnfx , Georges Biard Report

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Raven DeathShade
Raven DeathShade
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting. And sad. That is my worst nightmare. I love speaking so much, but somehow every time I get sick that's the first thing to go.

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#14

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL The Mapuche of South America were one of the very tribes successfully resisting Spanish control, staying independent for over 300 years. They called the Spaniards "New Incas", because the successfully resisted the Incan Empire as well. They were only subjugated in 1883

CactusCoin , John Englart Report

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Camila Esteban Guerrero
Camila Esteban Guerrero
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are still fighting though. Hopefully, In the new Constitution they will be recognised as an independent nation. Many people believe that they were never really conquered by the spanish. WALLMAPU LIBRE!

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#15

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL, while you can go any speed on the Autobahn when indicated by signs, the recommended speed is 130 km per hour. If you are in an accident going 170 km per hour and it could have been avoided at the lesser speed, you will be automatically partially or fully faulted for the accident

missxxvic , Jennifer Latuperisa-Andresen Report

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Vicky Zar
Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And most of the Autobahn is not "as fast as you can go". There are quite a lot places where you can only go 120 or even 100. When there is a construction, it's almost always 80, unless it is 50 or 30. LOL. AND the Autobahn is NOT one very long road, but several roads. "Autobahn" is basically our word for Highway/ Freeway/ Motorway. Do you have only one Highway/ Freeway/ Motorway? I did not think so.

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#16

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL there are at least 10 other men who left genetic legacies that rival Ghengis Khan's, and we only know the name of one of them: Giocangga, a 16th century ruler and ancestor of the Qinq Dynasty.

DirtyDracula , Vidor Report

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Vicky Zar
Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I understanding right? There are at least 10 men who sired as many children as Genghis Khan?

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#17

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL about the Gibson Nine, an Australian aboriginal family who were still living a traditional nomadic lifestyle in the outback until 1984, when they settled in a town. The children have gone on to have successful careers as painters, although one of them later returned to the desert

JosephvonEichendorff , Ninara Report

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Molly Whuppie
Molly Whuppie
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Their family name is Pintupi and they are referred to as the Pintupi Nine. And what this TIL leaves out is that they had no clue that Australia had been colonised by Europeans prior to 1984 when they came across some other aboriginals - people from their own family they hadn't seen in over 30 years (due to the government "rounding up" aboriginal people in the 50s-60s). The Pintupi were just living out in the vast desert of Western Australia travelling back and forth between two lakes.

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#18

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL in 2006, William Shatner sold a kidney stone for $25,000 to an online casino. Shatner then donated all the proceeds to charity

gladman1101 , Stephen Tordoff Report

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Vicky Zar
Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok.... who would buy a kidney stone? Even if it was from a celebrity? People are nuts!

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#19

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that wearing glasses actually increases a political candidate's electoral success, despite many politicians avoiding them as they think it makes them look less attractive

gabejohn , Sigmund Report

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#20

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that 67% of all fire departments in the United States are entirely or mostly staffed by volunteers

busterbrown78 , Daniel Tausis Report

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J. F.
J. F.
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here in Germany, the only ones doing it as full time jobs are in the big cities like Hamburg, Cologne and so on. In the rural country side we use old air raid horns to alert the volunteers

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#21

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL at least 33 people have died by electrocution from practicing Fractal Wood Burning

iritian , MrMarkinator Report

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#22

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL in 1714 the British government offered £20K (~£2m today) to solve the longitude problem - which had cost thousands of lives due to a lack of ship positioning. John Harrison, a carpenter, took 40 years to make the perfect clock - his final version only lost 39.2 seconds over a voyage 47 days

goodvibezone , cottonbro Report

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Ellie Rosser
Ellie Rosser
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, and once he had solved it hey prevaricated, added stupid new conditions for payment and then didn't pay him in full. Basically they were total d***s about it and sent him nuts.

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#23

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL in the 70's and 80's, dead acidic lakes were fairly common in the US, Europe and Canada because of acid rain. The acidity in lakes killed all microbes and aquatic life, resulting in crystal clear water that allowed the lake bottom to be visible

adimwit , Jeremy Bezanger Report

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Vicky Zar
Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

..... why was there acid rain? And, I guess it was not safe to swim in those lakes, was it?

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#24

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL A century before Martin Luther, Jan Hus criticized the Catholic Church for selling of indulgences and church positions. Hus was invited to the Council of Constance, arrested, charged with heresy, and burned at the stake on 6 July 1415

jamescookenotthatone , Maria Orlova Report

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May
May
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't he inspire a branch of Christianity? Hussites or something?

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#25

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that in 2014 the state of Alabama paid $75,000 for the right to use the phrase "Sweet Home Alabama" on road signs at the state line

Michael Rivera , Alpha Bonding Report

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Octavia Hansen
Octavia Hansen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmm, could have spent the money on education, or food, or housing, but an image is just passing by at 60+ MPH.

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#26

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Susan Sarandon, who play a cellist named Jane in "The Witches of Eastwick", learned only after being cast that she would have to quickly learn how to play cello, and was told that she would be sued if she left the production

Svarec , Gimmeges Report

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IlovemydogShilo
IlovemydogShilo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jane Spofford (Susan Sarandon) plays the Dvorak cello concerto, not an easy piece for a novice cellist to play to say the least, but she nailed it.

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#27

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that, for 25 years, "Goodnight Moon" wasn't carried at the New York Public Library because it was hated by the children's librarian

rachaelonreddit , Margaret Wise Brown Report

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#28

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that Charles Lindbergh’s son, Charles Lindbergh Jr., was kidnapped at 20 months old. The kidnapper picked up a cash ransom for $50,000 leaving a note of the child’s location. The child was not found at the location. The child’s remains were found a month later not far from the Lindbergh’s home

renaissanceman717 , fbi Report

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SomeGuyinWY
SomeGuyinWY
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lindbergh's abduction is the reason kidnapping is a federal crime, (US).

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#29

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that in 1940 Hitler decided to change the name of the battle cruiser “Deutschland” to “Lützow” recognizing that the sinking of a warship was a propaganda disaster if it bore the name of its country

Roche7000 , Андрей Report

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#30

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL there is another photo, taken at a different angle, of the same famous Victory Day kiss in Times Square; unlike the original, the other photograph was taken by a government photojournalist on official duty, and is thus in the public domain and not protected by copyright

janmayen , Victor Jorgensen Report

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#31

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that before Geronimo ever learned how to properly use a rifle, he would run at armed enemies in a zig-zag pattern until he was close enough to use his knife. He claimed that the mountain spirits spoke to him and said, "You will never die in battle, nor... by gun. I will guide your arrows.”

ahtaylor13 , Tom Keldenich Report

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Julie Arsmtrong
Julie Arsmtrong
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What did Geronimo shout when he was charging towards his enemies? "MEEEEEEEEEEEE"

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#32

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that Outback Steakhouse was founded in Tampa, FL by four Americans who had never visited Australia. They simply saw an opportunity to ride the wave of popularity of all things Australian following the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee. Their concept was “American food and Australian fun.”

TheGoodPane , Mike Mozart Report

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Little Wonder
Little Wonder
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an Aussie who has been. I was there for about two hours and didn't stop laughing the entire time. So tacky and terrible and hilarious.

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#33

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL during the Titanic's sinking, Lucile Carter and her children was separated from her husband William. When she met him again on the rescue ship Carpathia, "All he said was that he had had a jolly good breakfast and that he never thought I would make it." They divorced less than two years later

A-dab , Museums Victoria Report

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#34

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Blockbuster Video's attempt to enter Japan in the early '90s failed due in part to their business strategy of "Wholesome Home Entertainment" not accounting for the popularity in Japan of extreme horror films, or the fact that adult entertainment accounted for 35% of the Japanese video market

robaato72 , Erik Mclean Report

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J. F.
J. F.
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Things that the US and european entertainment industry still gets wrong about Japan - their content is often aimed at a mature audience (Mangas, animes, movies)

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#35

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL about Dave Thomas, who was a mentee of Colonel Sanders, who came up with the idea for the rotating bucket sign and having the Colonel appear on TV. He later sold his stake in four of his franchises back to Sanders for $1.5 million, then went on to found a chain of restaurants called Wendy's

therealpax94 , JJBers Report

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SomeGuyinWY
SomeGuyinWY
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dave Thomas was adopted as a child, and he started a foundation that helps people adopt children.

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#36

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL A woman once sued herself for the wrongful death of her husband. The district court threw out the suit saying that you can't sue yourself, but the case appealed to the supreme court who ruled that you can

Kudos2Yousguys , EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA Report

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Kim Kermes
Kim Kermes
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is sometimes the only way to get insurance companies to pay

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#37

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Weezer's Number 1 hit, a cover of Toto's Africa, came to be because of a persistent 14-year old who created a Twitter account and wouldn't stop asking the band to cover the song

manamonggamers , Brett Jordan Report

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Mistralok
Mistralok
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By FAR the best cover I have ever seen/heard of this song is a live recording of it sung by The Mona Lisa Twins and Mike Massé. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp6w-i5znag&ab_channel=MonaLisaTwins

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#38

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Batman The Animated Series was drawn on black paper to make the city/atmosphere feel dark

Li-Proxy , Sajjad Ahmadi Report

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#39

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL in 1940, an insurance agent sold an $800K policy on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and secretly pocketed the premium, believing the new bridge to be indestructible. The bridge collapsed spectacularly 4 months after opening, and the agent was jailed for fraud

ThurstonHowellIV , Asap PANG Report

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#40

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Dr. Seuss's first book "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street" was rejected by 27 publishers. He decided to destroy the book but randomly bumped into an old friend who'd just become a children's book editor, who asked to look at it and ended up publishing it

SAT0725 , Dr. Seuss Report

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#41

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Sinead O'Connor was a major inspiration for REM's Losing my Religion video. Not only was Michael Stipe so moved by Sinéad's lip syncing in Nothing Compares to U video that he finally acquiesced to lip-synching in REM music videos, but he also states that he stole his dance moves from her

FlatBat2372 , remhq Report

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#42

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL due to the intense heat of flying at 1350mph, the Concorde's fuselage would expand by up to 12 inches. It was painted white to help dissipate heat

Status-Victory Report

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Troux
Troux
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The pilots were trained to apologize when it was on the ground in cold locations and appeared much smaller.

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#43

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Global shark populations were wiped out by up to 90 per cent around 19 million years ago, even though there were no signs of sudden climatic or environmental changes

PeculiarPete , Los Muertos Crew Report

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David A Paterson
David A Paterson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the same time as Iceland formed, by a series of massive undersea lava flows along the mid-Atlantic Ridge. May I tentatively suggest a connection?

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#44

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL The infamous sound German JU-87 dive bombers made while in a dive is due to a siren installed on the plane, and not just the sound of the plane diving on a bomb run

gotchabrah , Joe Ambrogio Report

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MarioRossi
MarioRossi
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sirens were called Jericho Trumpets https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jericho-Trompete

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#45

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that buildings so big they "need their own ZIP code" are very much real, however this is not due to the actual size of the buildings themselves, rather it's the sheer volume of mail they receive. One example is the Walmart Headquarters, which has a unique ZIP code of 72716

SplittingHares , Mike Mozart Report

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Torsten
Torsten
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a company or government institution recieves a large amount of mail on a regular basis in Germany it can have its own ZIP code (since the change to 5-digit ZIP-Codes in 1993). There are over 3,000 of those ZIP codes today (i.e. every larger company, every bank, etc. has one of those).

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#46

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that in 2019, a Windows XP computer infected with six types of malware was sold at an art auction for 1.3 million dollars

TheIndianExplorer , GSAKing PocketEdition Report

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#47

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL Massachusetts has the lowest rate of road fatalities by population and per mile of any state

737900ER , Sasha Prasastika Report

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Candia Lee
Candia Lee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's odd. Boston drivers were notoriously bad when I visited. My BIL inherited my dad's van he drove cross-country twice, BIL wrecked in less than a month.

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#48

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL the founder of Safeway supermarkets was a preacher who felt that credit purchases were evil, and named his cash-only stores to promote the “safe way to shop”

pshurman42wallabyway , Mike Mozart Report

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SobyKay
SobyKay
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

During Covid this is the only supermarket I frequented for the same reason......😆

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#49

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL in 1986, divers at the wreck of the Titanic discovered there was no large gash in the hull as originally expected. Instead it is believed that the iceberg simply loosened or buckled seams in the hull of the "unsinkable" ship

gladman1101 , NOAA Report

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#50

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL ginger ale was invented by apothecary Thomas Cantrell in Belfast during the 1850s. In the 1890s, Canadian John J. McLaughlin, a chemist and pharmacist, added flavor extracts to his version. And so Canada Dry was created. It became a hit in the prohibition-era US as a mixer for cocktails

Knight_of_the_Lepus , Kim Knoch Report

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Sue Mullen Andersen
Sue Mullen Andersen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Vernor's Ginger Ale was made in Detroit in 1866, long before Canada Dry. It was a popular drink mixer before prohibition. It is still in production today and is considered the oldest Ginger Ale in the USA. I think this TDL fact is missing some key points and about 26 years of Ginger Ale history.

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#51

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL in the 1960s the US government dug a mile-deep hole in the ground and dropped a 40-kiloton atomic bomb in it, to release natural gas. It worked, but the gas was too radioactive to use, and the project was abandoned

CalmBarber , Kilian Karger Report

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#52

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that in 1974 there were at least 5 serial killers active including the BTK Killer, John Wayne Gacy, and Ted Bundy

UWontLikeThisComment , Florida Department of Corrections Report

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Kayla J
Kayla J
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

lol "at least" does a lot of work here considering that was a golden age of serial killers.

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#53

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL the Oingi Boingo song Little Girls was originally banned in Canada and was named "the creepiest music video of all time" by The Independent

pikknz , Boingo Vision Report

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IlovemydogShilo
IlovemydogShilo
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun Fact. The song was written by Danny Elfman who, among many other things, wrote the theme tune to The Simpsons.

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#54

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL A Montana man named Jack Ass sued MTV for $10 million in 2002, claiming that the show was plagiarizing his name. Jack Ass, whose birth name was Bob Craft, changed his name in 1997 to raise awareness for drunk driving after his brother and friend both died in a car accident

richh00 Report

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#55

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that after the Enron investigation ended, the company's entire email database became public domain. It has become a valuable research tool cited in over 3,000 data science papers, since access to company emails is normally bound by privacy and security restrictions

IAmABot_V0I , David Pupaza Report

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Cara Vinson
Cara Vinson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep, every inane thing I ever emailed was on full display like “WTF wrote Working for the Weekend?”

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#56

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL that when the film adaptation of the Crow was in preproduction, Paramount studio execs proposed turning the movie into a musical starring Michael Jackson

RGDJR , Mathew Browne Report

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#57

30 New ‘Today I Learned’ Facts That Prove It’s Never Too Late To Learn TIL In 1965 the Hells Angels motorcycle gang refused to take part in an anti-Vietnam war rally in Oakland, CA and actually wrote to President Johnson offering to serve there as a "crack group of trained guerillas."

gaslightindustries , Benjamin Suter Report

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Elizabeth Molloy
Elizabeth Molloy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In case you were in any doubt that they are a bunch of assholes ...

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