Recent comments in /f/todayilearned
Initial-Apartment-92 t1_jdjli2h wrote
Reply to comment by grieverx99 in TIL that the Hemlock Water Dropwort is the most poisonous plant in the UK. Its poison constricts the muscles, causing death by asphyxia, which also causes a rictus like death grin. Use of this plant in Phoenician Sardinia for executions is the origin of the term "Sardonic Grin". by AspireAgain
Why is this getting so many upvotes? Of course most deaths from nearly any poisonous plant are due to people accidentally ingesting it?
Are most people surprised that it’s not very common to force people to knowingly eat poisonous plants anymore?
Deathbyhours t1_jdjjxxz wrote
Reply to comment by SuspiciouslyElven in TIL that on April 1st, 1906, American newspapers ran prank articles reporting that Chicago had been "invaded by hordes of prehistoric monsters dealing death and destruction", illustrated with doctored photos showing dinosaurs attacking the Windy City. by TJ_Fox
The high-pitched voice was cultivated by public speakers before artificial amplification was available. The higher-pitched speaking voice is understandable farther away than a lower-pitched voice at the same volume.
Elmo would have been a very persuasive frontier politician. “Who’s against slavery!? WE are! YAAAAYYY!!!”
WarperLoko t1_jdjjsz7 wrote
Reply to comment by lancelongstiff in TIL: A Mambo No. 5 cover by Bob the Builder went to number 1 in the UK on 9th September 2001, but was removed from BBC radio playlists after the 9/11 attacks as it was ‘too frivolous’ by gnomageddon7
Now I want to listen to all those songs.
SpectralMagic t1_jdjjhtt wrote
Reply to TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01
Not entirely related, but something I've caught on to that's interesting to me. Supposedly it is illegal in China to use a pun as your business name, but Chinese food restaurants I've seen in Canada all have generic names that sort of follow this rule whether intentionally or not.
Not trying to be a goose, just looking at correlation cause I have nothing better to do
National_Ad9265 t1_jdjjbi0 wrote
Reply to TIL that Barq's Root Beer was first created by Edward Barq in Biloxi, Miss, in 1897. In 1934, Barq and a former employee, who moved to New Orleans, agreed to each distribute their own version of the root beer, with the New Orleans version having a red label and the Biloxi version having a blue one. by jdward01
TIL that barqs was actually barqs and not bangs
sonofoguntubi t1_jdjj452 wrote
Reply to comment by AudibleNod in TIL Marilyn Monroe's likeness does not have any post-mortem protection as she was domiciled in New York at the time of her death and there are no federal publicity rights. by AudibleNod
'Ferb, I know what we're doing today.'
hook_b t1_jdji20p wrote
Reply to comment by _who_is_they_ in TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01
The grass is always greener on the other side, especially in China during 1800's
CaliBigWill t1_jdji0q8 wrote
Reply to comment by snow_michael in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
Sir Francis Drake observed and noted in his ships log that there were a plethora of wild horses living among the indigenous peoples in Northern California and Southwestern Oregon
https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2020/04/27/native-horses-indigenous-history
CaliBigWill t1_jdjhvh1 wrote
Reply to comment by snow_michael in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
https://www.yesmagazine.org/environment/2020/04/27/native-horses-indigenous-history
Sir Francis Drake observed and noted in his ships log that there were a plethora of wild horses living among the indigenous peoples in Northern California and Southwestern Oregon
LeftoverFungus t1_jdjhg6t wrote
Reply to TIL: A Mambo No. 5 cover by Bob the Builder went to number 1 in the UK on 9th September 2001, but was removed from BBC radio playlists after the 9/11 attacks as it was ‘too frivolous’ by gnomageddon7
"Cause I Got High" was pulled for the same reason.
formenonly t1_jdjgwqf wrote
Reply to comment by ExcessiveBulldogery in TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01
I can’t imagine they have much competition.
10YearsANoob t1_jdjg6fl wrote
Reply to comment by lotsaquestionss in TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01
Sometimes Mexican women became "legally white" for a bit just so they can revoke their citizenship if they marry "an oriental." The includes filipinos
snow_michael t1_jdjf0z8 wrote
Reply to comment by ferrariguy1970 in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
No, you didn't
There have been no wild horses in the US since the last ice age
snow_michael t1_jdjex24 wrote
Reply to comment by rededelk in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
No wild mustangs in the US
snow_michael t1_jdjes4e wrote
Reply to comment by dmr11 in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
Cheetah seldom take an adult zebra
And yes, they are a major component (>10%) of cheetah diet in South Africa
snow_michael t1_jdje6wr wrote
Reply to comment by CaliBigWill in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
There have not since the end of the last ice age (c.11000 years ago) ever been wild horses in the US
kappakai t1_jdje67x wrote
Reply to comment by VonPursey in TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01
That’s how a lot of Chinese food is; techniques adapted for local ingredients and preferences. Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Mexico and the US all have their own versions of “Chinese” food that only have a tenuous relationship with their mainland versions. The French basically throw basil in everything. Even Sichuan food in Shanghai is watered down. And Taiwanese food is an amalgamation of many regional mainland cuisines, lightened up and sweetened with some added Japanese influence.
But it’s all also really good.
snow_michael t1_jdjdzq9 wrote
Reply to comment by Amadacius in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
Very accurate comparison - destructive feral species not being properly managed
snow_michael t1_jdjdw0p wrote
Reply to comment by CaliBigWill in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
Columbus never set foot on what today is the US
snow_michael t1_jdjdnrx wrote
Reply to comment by CaliBigWill in TIL the US federal government captures and sells excess wild horses to the public by MoistCoyote
The US has never had wild horses, and feral numbers at their peak were around a million at most
brighter_hell t1_jdjdew5 wrote
Reply to TIL that Barq's Root Beer was first created by Edward Barq in Biloxi, Miss, in 1897. In 1934, Barq and a former employee, who moved to New Orleans, agreed to each distribute their own version of the root beer, with the New Orleans version having a red label and the Biloxi version having a blue one. by jdward01
What do you mean "Barq's has bite?"
Davebobman t1_jdjmad5 wrote
Reply to comment by opiate_lifer in TIL that Chinese Food was introduced into America during the California Gold Rush, starting in 1848. As 30,000 immigrants had arrived from the Canton region of China, the restaurants gave the predominantly male population a connection to home and provided gathering places for the Chinese community. by jdward01
Meanwhile, the Chinese were lured into opium dens by the English.