john510runner
john510runner t1_jebtayz wrote
Reply to comment by DevoutandHeretical in TIL that Walt Disney World began as "The Florida Project". Dummy corporations were used, by Walt Disney Productions, to buy up 27,000 acres of land to avoid bursts of land speculation in the Orlando area. Early rumors assumed possible development by NASA, Ford, the Rockefellers, and Howard Hughes. by jdward01
The legend is only true if a) one means the ownership of orchards around what is now Disneyland changed hands and b) if “crowded” means the orchards being replace by single family homes
john510runner t1_jdjx5b2 wrote
Reply to TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01
Not sure if this is still true... in the statement made in this Ted Talk...
There are more Chinese restaurants in the US than McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Wendy's combined.
https://youtu.be/U6MhV5Rn63M?t=15
Can't find it but Yelp put something out (prior to Covid shut downs) saying the number of Chinese restaurants are on the decline even though the over all number of restaurants are at all time highs.
One of the explanations offered is the kids of the parents who own restaurants have choices to not be self employed.
Also in southern California I've noticed Vietnamese people running Chinese restaurants. Might also have something to do with more paths to being middle class in China that new waves of Chinese immigrants not taking up restaurant work in the US.
john510runner t1_jaaejf6 wrote
john510runner t1_iy564y2 wrote
Reply to TIL that Ulysses Grant was made commander of all Union armies at 41 and President at 46 by IllustriousAct28
I wonder if there's a movie being made about him...
From what I can gather he could do amazing things on a horse and the only reason he went along with plans to go to West Point was so he could join the cavalry. Some of the action sequences on horseback... I see Grant being shot/portrayed like he's the main character in an Assassin's Creed game.
Grant didn't graduate high enough in his class to be assigned to a cavalry unit like he wanted.
One of the things that's fascinating to me about Grant is all of the setbacks he's had in his life and how he worked through them in practical and humble ways.
john510runner t1_iy53fws wrote
Reply to comment by TrailerBuilder in TIL that Ulysses Grant was made commander of all Union armies at 41 and President at 46 by IllustriousAct28
Grant didn't own the shop he worked in. He was a junior clerk at a leather goods store and his younger brother(s?) had more senior positions there.
edit words
john510runner t1_iy52fnk wrote
Reply to comment by Regular_Ferret1080 in TIL that Ulysses Grant was made commander of all Union armies at 41 and President at 46 by IllustriousAct28
That's (Grant not writing his own memoir) been debunked. Mark Twain acted in the capacity of a literary agent/publisher of Grant's memoir.
Twain, who I think Grant addressed as Clemens, talked Grant out of signing a bad deal with a different publisher.
john510runner t1_iy50iq4 wrote
Reply to comment by Huli_Blue_Eyes in TIL that Ulysses Grant was made commander of all Union armies at 41 and President at 46 by IllustriousAct28
Grant at multiple times in his life was where you were.
He kept doing different jobs until he found some he excelled at.
At one time in Grant's life, he sold firewood on the streets of St. Louis.
john510runner t1_iy502cl wrote
Reply to comment by TrailerBuilder in TIL that Ulysses Grant was made commander of all Union armies at 41 and President at 46 by IllustriousAct28
Believe it or not I see parallels between what you just said and Grant.
He loved to drink but kept it somewhat undercover. He was a store keeper. Not saying you're a storekeeper but the customer service angle.
john510runner t1_jebtoq9 wrote
Reply to comment by john510runner in TIL that Walt Disney World began as "The Florida Project". Dummy corporations were used, by Walt Disney Productions, to buy up 27,000 acres of land to avoid bursts of land speculation in the Orlando area. Early rumors assumed possible development by NASA, Ford, the Rockefellers, and Howard Hughes. by jdward01
I grew up in Anaheim. Being near a theme park or sports stadium sounds lucrative but it doesn’t always pay off if one lives near those “amenities”. Traffic and crowds rarely help the people living in neighborhoods near traffic and crowds.