Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL all public transport has been free in Luxemborg for nearly 5 years now

BBC News

Free transport in Luxembourg, but what's the cost?

One aim is to get cars off the road and ease traffic congestion but critics see it as a PR stunt.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iuqegg/til_all_public_transport_has_been_free_in/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL when the city of Munich chose to migrate their administration to Linux 10 years ago, Bill Gates personally paid a visit to ask for their reasons. The mayor replied "Freedom from you, Mr. Gates."

Linux-Magazin

Auf den Punkt 10 Jahre: Limux "ist fertig"

10 Jahre Linux und freie Software bei der Stadtverwaltung München – und der Projektleiter erklärt: “Limux ist fertig”. Mikmak, Wollmux, Deb...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iuij9c/til_when_the_city_of_munich_chose_to_migrate/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL about Air Indiana Flight 216 that crashed on December 13, 1977. Plane was carrying the University of Evansville basketball team, the Evansville Purple Aces. The only member of the Purple Aces who survived the crash was David Furr. Two weeks after the crash, Furr was killed in a car accident.

Air Indiana Flight 216 - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1isw3fy/til_about_air_indiana_flight_216_that_crashed_on/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL Ants can end up following each other in a cercle (called an ant mill or a death spiral), until they die of exhaustion. Similar phenomena have been noted in processionary caterpillars and fish.

Ant mill - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1is35b2/til_ants_can_end_up_following_each_other_in_a/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that AI systems have developed their own languages to communicate with each other, a phenomenon known as emergent language, which researchers are still striving to fully understand.

Recursive self-improvement - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1irkt90/til_that_ai_systems_have_developed_their_own/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL "Jet Ski" is a trademarked brand name belonging to Kawasaki. A neutral name for this type of vehicle is for example personal watercraft (PWC) or water scooter.

Jet Ski - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iqbphg/til_jet_ski_is_a_trademarked_brand_name_belonging/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that, according to his daughter, in 1996 Reuben Mattus sat at his kitchen table for hours saying nonsensical Danish-sounding words until he came up with his brand name, Häagen-Dazs

HuffPost

Häagen-Dazs Comes From Where?!

The ice cream company that makes your favorite pints has a secret that

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iptgee/til_that_according_to_his_daughter_in_1996_reuben/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL some tropical species of cone snails have a "harpoon" sting which can be fatal, and has killed at least 27 people. One species is nicknamed the "cigarette snail" as the victim will have only enough time to smoke a cigarette before dying

Cone snail - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1iofjo6/til_some_tropical_species_of_cone_snails_have_a/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that Nicholas Hoult was given Count Orlok’s prosthetic penis as a gift after Nosferatu https://ew.com/nicholas-hoult-says-robert-eggers-sent-bill-skarsgards-prosthetic-penis-nosferatu-8766051 #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1insn1o/til_that_nicholas_hoult_was_given_count_orloks/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL the famous "Tank man" from the tiananmen square protests was never identified.

Tank Man - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inqyfv/til_the_famous_tank_man_from_the_tiananmen_square/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL about the spintria, or spintriae in plural, a Roman-era token with a numeral on one side and on the other side, the image of a couple having sex. Each numbered coin had a different sex position. Historians don’t know what spintriae were for but have suggested they were used as brothel passes.

Spintria - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inq6uq/til_about_the_spintria_or_spintriae_in_plural_a/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL why Tom Wolfe wore a white suit. The pioneer of 'New Journalism' said that the unusual clothing caused others to see him as "a man from Mars, the man who didn't know anything and was eager to know", so talked freely to him. The white suit became Wolfe's trademark from 1962 to his death.

Tom Wolfe - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inpsa5/til_why_tom_wolfe_wore_a_white_suit_the_pioneer/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that the "Hitler rants" video meme led to an employment lawsuit. While negotiating with BP for a new contract, Scott Tracey was fired for posting a video using the 'Downfall' scene. After suing for unfair dismissal, he won his job back and AU$200K in lost wages.

BP Refinery v Tracey - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inph3k/til_that_the_hitler_rants_video_meme_led_to_an/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that American Saxophonist John Coltrane is a venerated saint.

John Coltrane - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inp9rj/til_that_american_saxophonist_john_coltrane_is_a/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that Pittsburgh had a fake Burger King. In 2014 a TV station revealed that a location of the fast food chain was using plain brown bags and odd recipes. Burger King had revoked the license but the franchisee continued until the news report, after which it became "South Side Burgers".

PopCulture.com

Pittsburgh's Fake Burger King, Explained

A tall tale out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has grown in the telling, and now occupies the national consciousness thanks to social media. The urban...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inp9mk/til_that_pittsburgh_had_a_fake_burger_king_in/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that a zoo had fake pandas. Taizhou Zoo of China in 2024 exhibited Chow Chow dogs painted black and white. The zoo said that it had advertised them as "panda dogs" so had not lied: "Normal people dye their hair. Dogs can dye their hair, too".

NBC News

Chinese zoo under fire after dyeing dogs to resemble pandas

Two “panda dogs” in a new exhibit are actually Chow Chows dyed black and white, state media reported, citing zoo officials.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inp01s/til_that_a_zoo_had_fake_pandas_taizhou_zoo_of/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that after admitting responsibility for over 12,000 deaths in the Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge, Kang Kek Iew aka Comrade Duch asked the war crimes tribunal to acquit and release him. They did not.

Kang Kek Iew - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inomt4/til_that_after_admitting_responsibility_for_over/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL: There is a study by Texas A&M on Otaku stereotypes conducted by 4 Phd professors. Contrary to popular belief, the average anime fan are similar in height, weight, social strength, and wealth to the general populace. However, they game, pirate, and consume more adult content by a large amount. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephen-Reysen/publication/362743414_Empiri… #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inmxzb/til_there_is_a_study_by_texas_am_on_otaku/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL of Leisure Suit Larry. You play as Larry, a 38 year old balding virgin who lives in his moms' basement, and your goal is to get him laid in Las Vegas with the little money he has in his pocket, in 7 (realtime) hours.

Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inlo15/til_of_leisure_suit_larry_you_play_as_larry_a_38/

Today I learned 1 year ago

TIL that Napster was active for just 2 years, from June 1999 to July 2001

Napster - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1inld9x/til_that_napster_was_active_for_just_2_years_from/