/f/todayilearned
TIL of Columbia, the personification of the United States for over 200 years, and was even the alternate name for the United States. She is the reason for the District of Columbia, British Columbia, etc. She was replaced by Lady Liberty, and was gradually forgotten after WWI.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by SamtheCossack t3_1242le0
TIL that American Cheese was originally cheddar cheese, known as American or Yankee Cheddar and was being exported back to England by 1790. After James L. Kraft patented a method for manufacturing processed cheese in 1916, the term "American Cheese" was used to refer to Kraft's processed version.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by jdward01 t3_123q1sa
TIL that Rickey Henderson was so proud of earning a million dollar signing bonus that he had the check framed instead of cashing it. He saved the envelopes of cash teams gave players for per diem expenses, allowing his kids to pick them out of a box when they did well in school
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by EtOHMartini t3_123mazp
TIL that Michael Cain only changed his name LEGALLY by deed poll in 2016 from his birth name of Maurice Joseph Micklewhite becasue he was tired of being stopped at passport control. Everyone knew him by his showbiz name but his legal documents had his bith name.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by ajfromuk t3_123igvw
TIL in 1956-1957, the chinese communist party (ccp) launched a campaign called "hundred flowers movement" where they encouraged chinese citizens to give their opinions about the communist party. it failed. then mao zedong, conducted an ideological crackdown to those who criticized the party.
wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Popular-Good-5657 t3_122w9bn
Submitted by martinbishop t3_122ugbe
TIL that “Firehawks” a collection of three Australian bird species, are the only animals besides humans known to use fire to hunt. They will pick up burning sticks from fires and carry them in their beaks and talons before dropping it in unburnt vegetation setting the ground ablaze driving prey out.
wildlife.orgSubmitted by TodAllen-99 t3_122kgtb
Submitted by 4m2r0s t3_122bb55
TIL the earliest known account of Christianity from a non-Christian source is a letter (112 AD) of Pliny the Younger to Emperor Trajan, asking for advice on dealing with a new and 'extravagant superstition' that had spread to several cities in Northern Turkey.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by SvanteArrheniusAMA t3_121w189
TIL: A sex toy maker agreed to pay customers up to C$10,000 each for selling a “smart vibrator,” which tracked owners’ use without their knowledge. Two hackers had demonstrated the company was collecting information about users, including device temperature and vibration intensity.
theguardian.comSubmitted by theotherbogart t3_121oi52
TIL: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers drained Niagra Falls in 1969. It ended up attracting more visitors than any other feat attempted at the falls. The engineers wanted to find a way to remove the unseemly boulders that had piled up at its base since 1931, cutting the height of the falls in half...
smithsonianmag.comSubmitted by floof_mcgenius t3_120pskx
TIL that Liza Minelli, daughter of Judy Garland, the actress who played Dorothy in the 1939 MGM film, “Wizard of Oz,” was once married to Jack Haley, Jr., son of Jack Haley, the actor who played the Tin Man in the same film. He was Minnelli’s 2nd husband.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by TheMadIrishman327 t3_120kisk
TIL: James Blunt gave Weird Al Yankovic permission to parody his single "You're Beautiful." But after Yankovic recorded "You're Pitiful," Blunt's record label refused to let it be commercially released. Yankovic didn't include it on his album. Instead, he released it as a free digital download.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by theotherbogart t3_1206gai