› added 10 months ago

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TIL Johnny Cash was born J.R. Cash, as his parents compromised on his name. His mom wanted John, his dad wanted Ray. When he joined the Air Force, they wouldn't let him use just initials, so he adopted the name John R. Cash. He used "Johnny Cash" after being signed to Sun Records.

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Oo6BY TIL about synchronous fireflies. They only appear a few places in the world. The males all flash at the same time signaling to the females they are the right species. The light display is so popular, over 20,000 people apply to a lottery to get into Shenendoah National Park every year to see them
119V TIL the Haya people of Tanzania have been forging steel for over 2,000 years.
MEnm TIL that in 1881, Navy engineers invented the first ever air conditioner with a lot of ice and a series of fans in order to cool President Garfield’s bedroom during the summer months after he was confined to his bed after being shot.
Bgaab TIL that the earliest working type of escalator was patented in 1892 by Jesse W. Reno, and was actually introduced in 1896 as a novelty ride at Coney Island, a theme park in New York.
4X9oX TIL I learnt that there is only a film of Queen Victoria. Filmed during Her Last visit to Ireland. The only "Victorian" film.(1900). Now upscaled to [4K, 50 fps]