TIL of Tibs the Great, who kept the British Post Office headquarters in London completely mouse-free during his 14 years of service, from 1950-1964. In 1952 there was "public outrage" that the Post Office cats had not had a pay rise since 1873, and the issue was later raised in the House of Commons.
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 10:58AM by who_died_of_ennui
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KN2jHZ
https://ift.tt/37G0BRB
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 10:58AM by who_died_of_ennui
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KN2jHZ
Wikipedia
Tibs the Great
British Post Office's "number one cat"
TIL scientists discovered a dinosaur tail perfectly preserved in amber. It is full of feathers.
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 11:30AM by AberdeenBumbledorf69
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KvyfAH
https://ift.tt/2JdxdbS
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 11:30AM by AberdeenBumbledorf69
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KvyfAH
National Geographic News
First Dinosaur Tail Found Preserved in Amber
To scientists' delight, the incredible appendage from 99 million years ago is covered in feathers.
TIL that Sir David Attenborough reached 1 million followers on Instagram in four hours and 44 minutes, breaking the world record, previously owned by Jennifer Aniston, who reached 1 million followers in five hours and 16 minutes
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 01:27PM by CharlieMoore123
via reddit https://ift.tt/3mLAHQu
https://ift.tt/3mWUi1z
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 01:27PM by CharlieMoore123
via reddit https://ift.tt/3mLAHQu
TIL Scientists developed a brain implant that can "read people's minds and turn their thoughts to speech." Entire spoken sentences can be generated using electrical signals from brain activity. It is not yet perfect, but can be helpful for people with diseases which cause speech loss.
https://ift.tt/38z07f8
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 03:18PM by amansaggu26
via reddit https://ift.tt/3nK3AOD
https://ift.tt/38z07f8
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 03:18PM by amansaggu26
via reddit https://ift.tt/3nK3AOD
TIL despite inventions from the lightning rod to bifocals Ben Franklin refused to patent any of his, stating, "... as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously."
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 04:10PM by JustAManFromThePast
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pvZJoT
https://ift.tt/1xZUprV
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 04:10PM by JustAManFromThePast
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pvZJoT
Wikipedia
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] – April 17, 1790) was a British American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading writer, printer, political philosopher, politician, Freemason…
TIL about "Myst Island" a proposed theme park at Disney World. A limited number of guests would get ferried to an 11-acre island designed like Myst. They'd spend hours there, exploring areas and discovering clues non-linearly. Theoretically, no 2 guests would have the same adventure.
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 04:58PM by howmuchbanana
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pjfteK
https://ift.tt/2KwXItp
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 04:58PM by howmuchbanana
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pjfteK
/Film
Disney Almost Created A ‘Myst’ Theme Park
The Creator of Myst confirms the long-running rumor that Disney almost created a Myst theme park on an island that is part of Walt Disney World Resort.
TIL that Tolkien wrote yearly letters to his children as if they were from Father Christmas. They started off as simple Happy Christmas letters but grew more complex including a polar bear sidekick, the man on the moon, goblins, snow-elves, pictures, and he even developed an Arktik language.
https://ift.tt/37LlhYc
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 05:55PM by Danaged
via reddit https://ift.tt/3ryJ31M
https://ift.tt/37LlhYc
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 05:55PM by Danaged
via reddit https://ift.tt/3ryJ31M
Wikipedia
The Father Christmas Letters
book
TIL about Sanada Masayuki, the head of Sanada clan in the 16th century, sent his older son to join the Tokugawa army and his younger son to the opposing army at the Battle of Sekigahara, the turning point in feudal Japan, to ensure the survival of the clan, regardless of the outcome.
https://ift.tt/1suvLmZ
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 02:02PM by aguafr3sca
via reddit https://ift.tt/3aAOR4y
https://ift.tt/1suvLmZ
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 02:02PM by aguafr3sca
via reddit https://ift.tt/3aAOR4y
Wikipedia
Sanada Masayuki
daimyo
TIL that in September 1945 Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett defied US restrictions and snuck into Hiroshima by train. Burchett was the first to tell the world about the effects of radiation on the victims of the bombing, which the US denied both before and after his story was published.
https://ift.tt/1QNbpPV
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 08:32PM by brg36
via reddit https://ift.tt/3rofbVw
https://ift.tt/1QNbpPV
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 08:32PM by brg36
via reddit https://ift.tt/3rofbVw
Wikipedia
Wilfred Burchett
Australian journalist
TIL that Charles Lazarus, the founder of Toys R Us, died at age 94 one day before the company began liquidating their stores due to bankruptcy.
https://ift.tt/2FAopuj
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 05:42PM by derstherower
via reddit https://ift.tt/2LZy1Cd
https://ift.tt/2FAopuj
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 05:42PM by derstherower
via reddit https://ift.tt/2LZy1Cd
Wikipedia
Charles Lazarus
American businessman and founder of Toys "R" Us
TIL that a 12 inch tall, 9 year old terrier with a heart condition named George saved the lives of 5 children who were being attacked by pit bulls by charging and fighting them. Gorge died of his injuries. He was posthumously given several medals.
https://ift.tt/1TWknwC
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 10:16PM by PaintingRemote3085
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pwSvkv
https://ift.tt/1TWknwC
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 10:16PM by PaintingRemote3085
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pwSvkv
Wikipedia
George (dog)
New Zealand dog (died 2007)
TIL that The Beatles refused to play if the audience was segregated
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 11:30PM by WaxerUK
via reddit https://ift.tt/34HWlPs
https://ift.tt/3nN6GRV
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 11:30PM by WaxerUK
via reddit https://ift.tt/34HWlPs
BBC
Idris Elba meets Paul McCartney - An exclusive interview looking at Paul McCartney's career and new album - BBC Sounds
An exclusive interview looking back over Paul's career and his latest album, McCartney III
TIL that during World War II in Australia, there was a dog whose hearing was so acute that it could warn airforce personnel of incoming Japanese planes 20 minutes before they arrived, and before they showed up on radar. "Gunner" could also differentiate the sounds of allied and enemy aircraft.
https://ift.tt/1HihuOB
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 12:02AM by blihk
via reddit https://ift.tt/2M3Dubk
https://ift.tt/1HihuOB
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 12:02AM by blihk
via reddit https://ift.tt/2M3Dubk
Wikipedia
Gunner (dog)
dog
TIL the main cause of "soft errors" in computer memory is cosmic rays. Systems buried in caves have a negligible rate of cosmic-ray induced soft errors; computers on mountains have a far higher error rate than at sea level; and the rate of errors in aircraft can be over 300 times the sea level rate
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 09:00PM by malalatargaryen
via reddit https://ift.tt/3hqm705
https://ift.tt/1njzzjt
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 09:00PM by malalatargaryen
via reddit https://ift.tt/3hqm705
Wikipedia
Soft error
In electronics and computing, a soft error is a type of error where a signal or datum is wrong. Errors may be caused by a defect, usually understood either to be a mistake in design or construction, or a broken component. A soft error is also a signal or…
TIL of Cymburga, a 15th Century Polish princess who became the female ancestor of all later Habsburgs. She was "renowned both for her beauty and for her ability to drive nails into oak planks with her bare fists."
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Submitted December 23, 2020 at 10:25PM by 1945BestYear
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KP1MFi
https://ift.tt/3mKAY6k
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 10:25PM by 1945BestYear
via reddit https://ift.tt/2KP1MFi
Wikipedia
Cymburgis of Masovia
Cymburgis of Masovia (German: Cimburgis von Masowien), also Zimburgis or Cimburga (Polish: Cymbarka mazowiecka; 1394 or 1397 – 28 September 1429), a member of the Polish Piast dynasty, was Duchess of Austria from 1412 until 1424, by her marriage with the…
TIL: Tim Burton did not direct "Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas." Henry Selick, director of "James and the Giant Peach" and "Coraline," carried out the task, due to Burton having prior commitments to "Batman Returns."
https://ift.tt/1TpWqrP
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 01:43AM by kingsizeslim420
via reddit https://ift.tt/38xYhve
https://ift.tt/1TpWqrP
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 01:43AM by kingsizeslim420
via reddit https://ift.tt/38xYhve
Wikipedia
The Nightmare Before Christmas
1993 animated film directed by Henry Selick
TIL of Coca-Cola's failed "Magican" campaign. They sold cans that contained spring loaded tabs to dispense cash prizes. Prize cans contained a foul smelling liquid instead of cola to prevent drinking. Though harmless, one child drank it and Coca-Cola ended the campaign 3 weeks later due to backlash.
https://ift.tt/1ULwvQz
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 06:59PM by ImMikePossibly
via reddit https://ift.tt/2WEBQia
https://ift.tt/1ULwvQz
Submitted December 23, 2020 at 06:59PM by ImMikePossibly
via reddit https://ift.tt/2WEBQia
Wikipedia
MagiCan
Special soda cans used by Coca Cola for a promotion, c. 1990
TIL that the early 19th-century American interpretation of Santa Claus was part of a movement to tone down the wild Christmas celebrations of the era, which included aggressive home invasions under the guise of wassailing (caroling), substantial premarital sex, and public displays of sexual deviancy
https://ift.tt/1PBgM1y
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 02:55AM by malalatargaryen
via reddit https://ift.tt/3hr4Q6Z
https://ift.tt/1PBgM1y
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 02:55AM by malalatargaryen
via reddit https://ift.tt/3hr4Q6Z
Wikipedia
Santa Claus
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendarycharacter originating in Western Christian culture who is said to make lists of children throughout the world, categorising them according…
TIL I learned the first American soldier to land on the beach durning the invasion of Normandy was shot twice and not only survived, but lived to be 90 years old.
https://ift.tt/2KnHfYJ
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 03:22AM by Durty_Rick_Sanchez
via reddit https://ift.tt/3aDD71j
https://ift.tt/2KnHfYJ
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 03:22AM by Durty_Rick_Sanchez
via reddit https://ift.tt/3aDD71j
reddit
TIL I learned the first American soldier to land on the beach...
Posted in r/todayilearned by u/Durty_Rick_Sanchez • 1,061 points and 49 comments
TIL that Festivus (Dec. 23rd) from "Seinfeld" was a real thing created in 1966 and not invented by the show. Daniel O'Keefe created it to celebrate his first date with his wife 3 years before. His son Dan introduced Festivus to the rest of us when he wrote the episode "The Strike."
https://ift.tt/37IIaMa
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 05:13AM by Cinemaphreak
via reddit https://ift.tt/3aG5pIG
https://ift.tt/37IIaMa
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 05:13AM by Cinemaphreak
via reddit https://ift.tt/3aG5pIG
Wikipedia
Daniel O'Keefe (writer)
American writer; inspiration for Seinfeld "holiday"
TIL the entrance of the Lascaux cave in southwestern France, famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings, was discovered in 1940 by 18-year-old Marcel Ravidat and his dog, Robot. Robot fell into a hole, and Ravidat explored it with his friends, finding walls covered with depictions of animals.
https://ift.tt/3piRhci
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 08:06AM by who_died_of_ennui
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pi2MRe
https://ift.tt/3piRhci
Submitted December 24, 2020 at 08:06AM by who_died_of_ennui
via reddit https://ift.tt/3pi2MRe
Wikipedia
Lascaux
Caves in southwestern France famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings