Post * DmBp — Curious Curator

› added 9 years ago

80

TIL that the 19th century Catholic Church declared “Americanism” a heresy, which included the beliefs in separation of church and state, secularism, etc. This played into American fears at the time that Catholics were too loyal to the Pope and were thus undemocratic, illiberal, and unassimilatable.

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OwaX TIL Police officers are blue because they were originally surplus US army uniforms after the civil war

7r1QP TIL Antarctica doesn't have any permanent citizens and has no indigenous population. Only 11 children are known to have been to be born there.

OGEm4 TIL that during one July, 2007 segment of Fox & Friends they described the children's TV host Fred Rogers as evil for supposedly encouraging generations of children to grow up with a sense of self-entitlement. They also used titles such as "Blame Mr. Rogers," and "Was Mr. Rogers Wrong?"

yVMw TIL that the pilot of the only enemy aircraft to ever bomb the lower 48 was invited back to the town he tried to burn and made an honorary citizen.

aPoN TIL that hat making in the past involved prolonged exposure to mercury vapours, causing poisoning which symptoms are sensory impairment (vision, hearing, speech), and a lack of coordination. this inspired terms like “Mad as a hatter” and of course, the mad hatter of Alice in wonderland.