› added 8 years ago

89

TIL that Kwanzaa and Festivus were both made up in 1966

Read more officialkwanzaawebsite.org

via reddit.com

mx4oM TIL in the 1920s, a strange disease known as encephalitis lethargica spread throughout the world, effecting 5 million people. It killed 1 million, and many of the survivors were left unable to move or speak, but were conscious and aware. No cure was ever found, and it disappeared by 1926.
4kML6 TIL Courtney Love called out Marilyn Manson and the band Korn for sleeping with underage girls in 2005
KbBR TIL that in an episode of Seinfeld, Elaine tries to get her boyfriend to change his name, as it was the same as famous serial killer, Joel Rifkin. Elaine suggests he change his name to “OJ” after OJ Simpson. 7 months after the episode aired, OJ was put on trial for double murder.
Z8NG4 TIL A beluga whale named Hvalimir was found in a Norwegian harbor in 2019 with a camera harness attached leading to speculation of it being a Russian spy whale. Russia did not deny claims that it is a possible escapee from their Navy. It now resides peacefully in the harbor seeking human contact.
jNEKn TIL: J. R. R. Tolkien used the name "Bag End" as a calque of "cul-de-sac", to poke fun at the British use of French terms.