› added 5 years ago

144

TIL President Woodrow Wilson allowed a flock of sheep to graze on the White House lawn. They saved manpower by not having to mow the lawn, and also raised $52,823 for the Red Cross by auctioning wool.

Read more whitehousehistory.org

via reddit.com

Bkyk TIL of thundersnow, which is exactly what it sounds like: a rare type of thunderstorm where it snows instead of rains. They come with heavy snow, poor visibility, strong winds, and lightning more destructive than a typical thunderstorm.
J1rGl TIL that many cultures believed in the healing power of dog saliva. Ancient Greeks had temple dogs lick wounds, and a French saying goes, “Langue de chien, langue de médecin”-“A dog’s tongue is a doctor’s tongue.” In Assyrian mythology, the dog god Aralez healed warriors by licking their wounds.
d8PkZ TIL that the band Creed got sued by fans in 2003 because of how intoxicated the bands singer was during one of their concerts in the Chicago area
jaxQ TIL that at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, William Wallace defeated British commander Hugh Cressingham, killed him, and used his dried skin to fashion his scabbard, belt, and hilt.
Me7k8 TIL that the Von Trapp family, made famous by The Sound of Music, lost their fortune in the Great Depression, and the children's singing careers were purely a way to earn a livelihood.