Today I Learned (TIL)

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/BrumDawgMillionare on 2025-02-22 17:09:05.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/DatabaseWide7348 on 2025-02-22 16:58:40.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/pocketbutter on 2025-02-22 16:38:01.

Original Title: TIL in 1878, the Loretto Chapel was constructed with a wooden spiral staircase of unusually masterful craftsmanship. No builder was officially credited for the staircase, but legends say that a mysterious carpenter arrived and built it overnight, then left without collecting pay.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/DrivetoElysium on 2025-02-22 15:55:17.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/FullOGreenPeaness on 2025-02-22 15:50:23.

Original Title: TIL that the can-can was originally considered scandalous, and attempts were made to suppress it and arrest performers. The dance involves high kicks, and women’s underwear at the time had an open crotch.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/the_clustering on 2025-02-22 15:34:51.

Original Title: TIL the famous evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman married an already married man leading to massive controversy in early U.S. After their divorce 7 years later, she stated she actually wasn't married to him because she had fainted while saying her vows during the ceremony.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/licecrispies on 2025-02-22 14:24:22.

Original Title: TIL that in 1984 the San Francisco Giants introduced an "anti'mascot" named Crazy Crab which was so disliked that the costume had to be reinforced with fiberglass shell for safety, due to fans pelting it with beer bottles and batteries.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Capital_Tailor_7348 on 2025-02-22 14:07:02.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/SuspiciouslyB on 2025-02-22 10:20:30.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/ChupdiChachi on 2025-02-22 08:58:26.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Oohoureli on 2025-02-22 08:25:13.

Original Title: TIL that actor Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner, Danger Man) turned down the role of James Bond because it conflicted with his strong Catholic views on sex and violence. He also refused to carry a gun in Danger Man, and objected to a scene where he would have to lie on a bed with an unmarried woman.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Sturovo on 2025-02-22 05:21:49.

Original Title: TIL that in 1942, the Indian Confederation of America, representing 27 tribes across the U.S., Canada, and Central America, named Stalin as an Indian Chief for his role in the successful defense of Moscow.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/ParticleMan321 on 2025-02-22 04:11:18.

Original Title: TIL about the Case of Prohibitions, a 1607 court ruling by Chief Justice Edward Coke that overturned a decision of King James I to his face. The King was greatly offended and said it was treason to assert an authority above the king, except god. Coke replied: the King is “under God and law.”

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Thrustmaster537 on 2025-02-22 03:42:06.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Ribbitor123 on 2025-02-22 02:19:00.

Original Title: TIL about the 'sexy hand-axe’ theory in evolutionary psychology. This proposes that elegantly-made symmetrical stone hand-axes, which characterise the Acheulean Period of human development, were used as a status-signalling device to attract women.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TriviaDuchess on 2025-02-22 01:58:55.

Original Title: TIL the town of Embarrass, Minnesota, gets its name from the French word Embarras, meaning a difficult obstacle to overcome. It is also one of the coldest places in America, with a growing season a month shorter than that of Fairbanks, Alaska.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/seekerguru-00 on 2025-02-22 01:19:30.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/TriviaDuchess on 2025-02-22 01:14:48.

Original Title: TIL in 1248, Ottokar II of Bohemia was 15 years old. Several nobles convinced him to lead an attack against his father, King Wenceslaus driving him from his castle. A few months later, Wenceslaus retook power and imprisoned Ottokar. But two years later they made up and conquered Austria.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/UsefulEngine1 on 2025-02-21 21:47:38.

Original Title: TIL that on the Ides of March 1953 there was an attempt to contact extraterrestrials via mass telepathic transmission of a welcome message. Later the message became the basis for a song by the group Klaatu which was then covered by pop group The Carpenters

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/JalerDB on 2025-02-21 19:31:46.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/PerfectPitch-Learner on 2025-02-21 18:50:10.

Original Title: TIL in 2016, Mozart sold more CDs than Beyoncé. This was due to the release of a box set commemorating the 225th anniversary of Mozart’s death including 200 discs per set. Each disc counted as a separate sale, propelling Mozart ahead of contemporary artists in CD sales the year.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/blackcyborg009 on 2025-02-21 18:08:27.

Original Title: TIL the currency symbol for Peso (₱) is only used in the Philippines. Other countries using the Peso as a monetary unit (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Uruguay) are using the dollar sign ($)

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/OperationSuch5054 on 2025-02-21 17:21:16.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/Ainsley-Sorsby on 2025-02-21 17:05:25.

Original Title: TIL H.Kramer, author of the most popular work on witchcraft in early modern Europe and largely responsible for the witch hunting craze, was initialy condemned by theologians in his native Germany. They deemed his practices unethical and illegal, and his work inconsistent with catholic views.

The original post: /r/todayilearned by /u/nitrokitty on 2025-02-21 16:29:02.