TIL: an Italian former porn star, Carlo Masi, quit porn to do research in applied mathematics, got his PhD, taught real analysis, became a professor, and then got sacked for being a former porn star. He sued and won against the university.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by fromnighttilldawn t3_127f8f7 in todayilearned
TIL Thomas Jefferson was so impressed by macaroni and cheese during a visit to Paris that he wrote down the recipe and instructions on pasta extrusion, imported a pasta maker, macaroni, Parmesan, and made it at his home. He served it at a state dinner in 1802.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by NegativeBee t3_126twy6 in todayilearned
Submitted by ComfortableTrash5372 t3_126qpoz in todayilearned
TIL about Blackout Cake, sometimes called Brooklyn Blackout Cake, which is a chocolate cake filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chocolate cake crumbs. It was invented during WWII by a Brooklyn bakery, Ebinger's, in recognition of the mandatory blackouts to protect the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by jdward01 t3_125odoh in todayilearned
Submitted by AstridFugelstad t3_125hil9 in todayilearned
Submitted by 500owls t3_1255b5s in todayilearned
TIL Benzodiazepines were originally marketed in the 1960s for the relief of anxiety, stress and insomnia and became very popular with women of the time. The gendered cultural meanings of Valium, a well-known benzodiazepine, was cemented in the 1966 Rolling Stones’ song “Mother’s Little Helper”.
ncbi.nlm.nih.govSubmitted by foodude84 t3_1251i4w in todayilearned
TIL that of the two 1988 films starring Tom Cruise, one of them (Rain Man) won the Oscar for Best Picture, while the other (Cocktail) won the Razzie for Worst Picture. Cruise remains the only actor to achieve both distinctions in the same year.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by HeyThereCharlie t3_124zgm5 in todayilearned
TIL Simeon Stylites lived on top of columns for 37 years. Simeon did this as a form of asceticism because when he lived in a cave people kept making pilgrimages to him and asking him religious questions. Ultimately his column life drew in even bigger crowds who would climb ladders to talk to him.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by jamescookenotthatone t3_124kuqk in todayilearned
TIL of Columbia, the personification of the United States for over 200 years, and was even the alternate name for the United States. She is the reason for the District of Columbia, British Columbia, etc. She was replaced by Lady Liberty, and was gradually forgotten after WWI.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by SamtheCossack t3_1242le0 in todayilearned