Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL that in 1996 Caribbean authorities shot at a plane that Jimmy Buffet and Bono were on suspecting it was carrying drugs. Jimmy buffet later went on to write a song called Jamaica Mistaica and put it on his 1996 album Banana Wind.

Jamaica Mistaica Incident » Jimmy Buffett World

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Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL John F. Kennedy, who grew up in an affluent household in the 1920s, admitted he only learned about the Great Depression from the books he read at Harvard.

Miller Center

John F. Kennedy: Life Before the Presidency | Miller Center

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL that during the "fantasy comedy" era of the 1960s, NBC debuted a show called "My Mother the Car", which features a deceased mother reincarnated as an antique car who communicates with her son through the car radio. It lasted one season and is considered the 2nd worst show of all time.

My Mother the Car - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL The final sermon of Martin Luther, the central figure of the Protestant Reformation, in 1546 was "entirely devoted to the obdurate Jews, whom it was a matter of great urgency to expel from all German territory."

Martin Luther - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL of Hyperparasites: Parasites that live on other parasites. In some cases, the hyperparasite may itself have a parasite living on it

Hyperparasite - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 3 months ago

TIL German citizens, upon reaching their 100th birthday, receive a letter of congratulations from their president.

Centenarian - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL the Roosevelts were known for serving "terrible" food at the White House during the Great Depression. In reality, they dined plainly as a show of solidarity with their beloved country.

HISTORY

Why FDR’s White House Served Such Terrible Food | HISTORY

As Americans suffered through the Great Depression, the Roosevelts dined on bread and butter sandwiches and cold jell...

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL that Nvidia is worth more than Amazon and Saudi Aramco combined. Or more than Meta, Tesla, and Berkshire Hathway combined.

List of public corporations by market capitalization - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL that by 1984, the English band Depeche Mode desperately wanted to shed their youthful image. To do this, they released the song “Master and Servant” - a song about sexual domination and exploitation. Their plan worked so well that some radio stations even refused to play the song.

Master and Servant - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL Reagan had 8 government shutdowns. Two lasted for 3 days, two for 2 days and four lasted for just 1 day.

Trump has overseen the two longest US government shutdowns in history

The government shutdown is continuing in the US and some of the worst effects are yet to be felt.

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL In 2017 Iceland's President said that if he could he would ban pineapple on pizzas. He later clarified that he didn't have the power to ban pineapple from pizzas and said he was glad he didn't hold such power.

the Guardian

Iceland

Guðni Th. Jóhannesson had expressed dislike of tropical fruit on pizza but now says he is glad he does not have power to initiate ban

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL Alan Turing feared losing his savings if Germany invaded Britain, so he used the money to buy two 90 kg silver bars, buried them in the woods, and wrote down the location in code. Later on when he wanted to dig up the silver bars he was unable to break his own coded message and never found them.

Alan Turing - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL in 2003, Russ Decker, Wisconsin State Senator, voted for a law to lower the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.10 to 0.08. Then two years later he blew a 0.09 on the breathalyzer test after being pulled over for drunk driving.

Russ Decker - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL Ethiopia became the first country in the world to ban the import of gasoline and diesel vehicles in 2024.

FurtherAfrica

Ethiopia’s EV Fleet Triples in Two Years After Fuel Car Ban

Ethiopia triples its electric vehicle fleet after banning fuel car imports. Aggressive EV incentives and hydro power drive clean mobility growth.

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL there is a small part of Kentucky that can only be accessed by land by going through Tennessee.

Kentucky Bend - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 4 months ago

TIL that Abraham Lincoln had a grandson, Abraham Lincoln II, who was born after his assassination and died at the age of 16.

Robert Todd Lincoln - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 5 months ago

TIL that in 1911 in what is known as the "Hayırsızada Dog Massacre" 80,000 of Istanbul's dogs were rounded up and banished to the island of Sivriada where most of them later died of starvation or drowning

Sivriada - Wikipedia

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 6 months ago

TIL There’s a California based hot air balloon company that offers a Mile High Club package for partners interested in doing the deed at 5000 ft. in the air. It includes a whole basket separated by a privacy screen from the pilot, which will be wearing headphones. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/08/travel/travel-news-mile-high-club-hot-air-balloon-flights #til #todayilearned

Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 6 months ago

TIL that artist James Turrell owns a two-mile-wide crater in the Arizona desert

Smithsonian Magazine

An Exclusive Look at James Turrell's Visionary Artwork in the Arizona Desert

In the American Southwest, the famed light-bending artist is putting the final touches on Roden Crater, his ambitious, mind-boggling masterpiece

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Reddit - The heart of the internet

Today I learned 6 months ago

TIL Philippa of England (ca. 1394-1430), daughter of Henry IV. In an alliance with the Nordic Kalmar Union, Henry brokered the marriage of 12-year-old Philippa to Eric, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. During the siege of Copenhagen, she kept the enemy at bay and the city did not fall.

Philippa of England - Wikipedia

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