Today I learned 6 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.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ogyxfu/til_reagan_had_8_government_shutdowns_two_lasted/

Today I learned 6 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

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ofhyx9/til_in_2017_icelands_president_said_that_if_he/

Today I learned 6 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

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1offux0/til_alan_turing_feared_losing_his_savings_if/

Today I learned 6 months ago

TIL Adam Vinatieri is the only NFL player to score over 1000 points for two different teams

Adam Vinatieri - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1odm1td/til_adam_vinatieri_is_the_only_nfl_player_to/

Today I learned 7 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

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ob523x/til_in_2003_russ_decker_wisconsin_state_senator/

Today I learned 7 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.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1oavduu/til_ethiopia_became_the_first_country_in_the/

Today I learned 7 months ago

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

Kentucky Bend - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1o9imc0/til_there_is_a_small_part_of_kentucky_that_can/

Today I learned 7 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

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1o997st/til_that_abraham_lincoln_had_a_grandson_abraham/

Today I learned 7 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

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1o1gu9y/til_that_in_1911_in_what_is_known_as_the/

Today I learned 7 months ago

TIL that DJ Mustard's given name is Dijon

Mustard (music producer) - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1nwn7df/til_that_dj_mustards_given_name_is_dijon/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL Ferrari, Kowalski, Smith are all occupational surnames refering to blacksmiths. It is the most common occupational name in Europe.

Ferrari (surname) - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndj97n/til_ferrari_kowalski_smith_are_all_occupational/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL “Macho Man” Randy Savage played for the STL Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds before becoming a wrestler

The Telegraph

Macho Man Randy Savage died 14 years ago, played in minors for Cards

Before he was Macho Man, he was Randy Poffo, a minor leaguer for the St. Louis Cardinals.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndhssr/til_macho_man_randy_savage_played_for_the_stl/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL that fleas were used as biological weapons. During WW2, the Japanese army dropped fleas with Y. Pestis in China.

Flea - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndgfr3/til_that_fleas_were_used_as_biological_weapons/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL that Pope Innocent VIII was the first known recipient of an attempted blood transfusion. After falling into a coma in 1492, his doctor paid 3 young boys a ducat each to become blood donors. The physician then attempted to give their blood to the Pope by mouth. The Pope and the 3 boys all died https://sahistory.org.za/dated-event/first-successful-non-direct-blood-tran… #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndg7fl/til_that_pope_innocent_viii_was_the_first_known/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL that green products sell better when marketed as helping people rather than helping the planet https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652619334456 #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndfu09/til_that_green_products_sell_better_when_marketed/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL about Stargazers, a family of fish that eyes on the top of their heads. They usually catch food by hiding in the sand and leaping upwards when the prey passes overhead.

Stargazer (fish) - Wikipedia

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndddov/til_about_stargazers_a_family_of_fish_that_eyes/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL that about 90–95% of the body’s serotonin is made in the gut, not the brain. Intestinal cells and gut microbes regulate its production, and while it mainly controls digestion and inflammation, it also influences brain signaling, mood, and risk for conditions like depression and anxiety. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-024-01743-1 #til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndcn39/til_that_about_9095_of_the_bodys_serotonin_is/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL: Tom Cruise filmed the motorcycle cliff jump stunt in Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One over 500 times in practice before performing the real jump six times for the movie. It’s considered one of the most dangerous stunts ever attempted on film.

Tom Cruise Explains 'Mission Impossible 7' Motorcycle Stunt on Day One of Filming

Tom Cruise filmed the "Dead Reckoning" motorcycle stunt on the first day of filming so that if he died other parts of the movie wouldn't be wa...

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1ndcfzp/til_tom_cruise_filmed_the_motorcycle_cliff_jump/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL Sean Connery had such a bad time on the set of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" in 2003 that it made him decide to retire from acting and publicly complain about "the idiots that make hollywood films these days"

ScreenRant

Sean Connery's Final Movie Appearance Was 20 Years Ago Today: Why It Made Him Retire

Sean Connery was tired of Hollywood idiots.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1nd99x1/til_sean_connery_had_such_a_bad_time_on_the_set/

Today I learned 8 months ago

TIL nonviolent civil resistance is far more effective in producing change than violent campaigns

Harvard Gazette

Why nonviolent resistance beats violent force in effecting social, political change

Harvard Professor Erica Chenoweth discovers nonviolent civil resistance is far more successful in effecting change than violent campaigns.

#til #todayilearned https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1nd82nu/til_nonviolent_civil_resistance_is_far_more/