› added 13 years ago

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Today I learned a Russian woman came to American in escape of military conscription as result of WW1, started a furniture business with $500 savings, and turned it into the largest home furnishing store in North America. She worked until 103 yr old, and she could neither read or write.

Read more nytimes.com

via reddit.com

e0Pnb TIL that Charles Schulz, creator of the comic strip Peanuts, hated the name of his comic, which was chosen by his syndicate (he wanted to call it Li'l Folks). As a result, most Peanuts collections and animated specials, such as A Charlie Brown Christmas, don't actually use Peanuts in the title.
0wemM TIL Roy Orbison (of "Pretty Woman" fame) was a huge fan of Monty Python, with a gift to impersonate, and recite entire sketches.
BrLdW TIL that the music video of the song "Basket Case" from Green day was filmed in a mental asylum called "Agnews Developmental Center." It was also originally filmed in black and white but was later colored in(however the patients of the asylum were not colored in and stay B&W)
dDXNB TIL Wendy's in Japan is colloquially referred to as "Fakkin". The company disapproves of its use because of its similarity to the pronunciation of the English word "f*cking".
XELMj TIL about Mary of Woodstock, who was made a nun at 7, went to live by herself in comfortable private quarters, and travelled widely around the country with no husband or kids. Every year she was given the equivalent of $250,000, twice the usual allowance for clothes, and 5,120 gallons of wine.