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TIL the eponymous whale of Moby Dick was partly inspired by a real whale named Mocha Dick.

Read more whalingmuseum.org

via reddit.com

aw7mA TIL "who's cutting onions in here" goes back at least as far as Shakespeare. In All's Well That Ends Well, the old lord Lafeu explains his emotion during the final scene by saying "Mine eyes smell onions"
78k6P TIL that there is a museum dedicated to failure, which showcases failed products and services from around the world to provide visitors a fascinating learning experience.
4Rjb TIL that the White House increased the numbers of signatures necessary for a petition to get a response after a petition for an American Death Star got enough signatures
e09P6 TIL of Medieval Chinese "Biaoju" (Security Company). Founded by peasant fighters, ex-military men entering lucrative private sector, and even ex-bandits, they provided bodyguard/escort and detective services to clients (usually travelling merchants) for a fee. The last Biaoju closed in 1920.
yPkV TIL that Ron Howard has given each of his children the middle name of where they were conceived: Bryce (Dallas), Jocelyn and Paige (Carlyle; Carlyle Hotel, NYC), and Reed (Cross; famous London street. Reed was named after the street because according to Howard, “Volvo isn’t a very good middle name.”