Today I learned - Nostr Hypermedia

TIL the unofficial motto of the United Stated Postal Service "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" is actually over 2,500 years old (originates from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus).

United States Postal Service creed - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 weeks ago

TIL that a 17th-century fort was used in a game show that's still running today, Fort Boyard.

Fort Boyard (game show) - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 3 weeks ago

TIL that heavy cannabis users have been found to have nearly four times the odds of developing schizophrenia or psychosis compared to non-users, according to a Kings College Meta-Analysis of over 66,000 study participants

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Today I learned 1 month ago

TIL about Roy Sullivan, a U.S. park ranger who was struck by lightning seven times between 1942 and 1977 and survived all of them, earning him the nickname "Human Lightning Conductor.

Roy Sullivan - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 1 month ago

TIL about "revenge bedtime procrastination" — a term describing a phenomenon where people intentionally delay going to bed by doing things like scrolling, gaming, or watching TV to regain some sense of freedom after feeling they have too little control over their day.

Bedtime procrastination - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 1 month ago

TIL that chewing gum don't lose flavor; Your brain just gets bored of it and blocks it out. Putting chewing gum aside for 40 minutes will let you taste the flavor again afterwards.

Heston's Three Recipes to Play with Senses | The Fat Duck

The Fat Duck Restaurant, Heston Blumenthal, awarded three Michelin stars, restaurant of the year, Best Restaurant in the World and Best Restaurant ...

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL after a period of substance abuse and living without permanent housing, "Steve-O" of Jackass got accepted to the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Clown College in Sarasota, FL. After completing clown training he didn't get selected to join the circus.

Steve-O - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL: Australia's "cultural cringe" is a long-recognized trend where many Australians view their own culture, or a self-perceived lack of culture, as inferior to other countries in the world, especially European countries, reflecting a national inferiority complex rooted in the country's history https://www.strandmagazine.co.uk/single-post/australia-s-cultural-cringe-complex #til #todayilearned

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL that "Mt Sunflower" is the highest point in Kansas, with a "prominence" (height above the base) of 5.8 m or 19 ft.

Mount Sunflower - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL in 1995 a traveller from South Africa accidentally transported a live bat to Los Angeles in his suitcase, triggering an Ebola scare

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL that the slang term "vag," used when referring to female private parts, comes from the word "vagina," not the word "vagabond."

Cleveland Clinic

What Does the Vagina Do?

Your vagina plays an important role in reproduction, childbirth and sexual well-being. Learn more.

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL about PAN-PAN. PAN-PAN is the international standard distress signal that someone aboard a boat, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle uses to declare that they need help and that the situation is urgent but for the time being, does not pose an immediate danger to anyone's life or to the vessel.

Pan-pan - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL in the U.S., surviving spouses or a surviving child qualify for a lump sum payout of $255, because it was three times the maximum monthly retirement benefit at the time of its conception in 1954, and has not increased in the last 72 years because it was never indexed to inflation. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R43637#_Toc179359009 #til #todayilearned

Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL that the first 'Die Hard' was Jeb Stuart's very first screenplay, and then later on was a co-writer on 'The Fugitive'

Jeb Stuart (writer) - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL Robins Williams homeless rider clause wasn’t real

Snopes

Analyzing claim that Robin Williams had contract clause requiring all his movies to hire homeless people

Versions of claim about the comedian

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL that the last B-52 was built in 1962 and that with retrofits and repowering, the USAF expects the remaining 75 planes will be flying in 2050, when they are approaching 100 years old.

National Security Journal

The 'Super' B-52J Stratofortress Bomber Is Coming

The B-52J upgrade will keep the bomber flying for 100 years with new Rolls-Royce F130 engines, boosting fuel efficiency by 30% and extending its ra...

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL that Frederic Tudor known as the Ice King created the ice trade out of thin air. People ridiculed him for trying to sell winter to the tropics. His most profitable trade was sending ice to India. Packed with dense sawdust a 3 month trip with 180 tons still yielded 100 tons of delivered ice.

Frederic Tudor - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL Long Binh air base during the Vietnam War which is larger than Manhattan

Long Binh Post - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL that 10 Downing Street is the official home of the First Lord of the Treasury. The reason it is associated with the Prime Minister is because traditionally the PM has been given that commission of First Lord.

First Lord of the Treasury - Wikipedia

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Today I learned 2 months ago

TIL about the Herero and Nama genocide which happened in 1904-6 in which Germany exterminated the peoples of Namibia. They did it to compete with Britain and argued they shouldn't be stripped of their colonies because Britain did similar things.

Herero and Nama genocide - Wikipedia

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