› added 11 years ago

70

TIL the phrase “to pass with flying colors” originates in ship terminology. When victorious at sea, ships coming into port would fly their nation’s flags – or colors – to give an early communication of how they fared.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

WyoB TIL that Peter Jackson had Bilbo Baggins’ hobbit house dismantled and shipped to his home where he buried it and now uses it as a guest house.
X0EZr TIL Cards used in the Jacquard loom led to computer technology.
MeEGA TIL in the midst of anti-Vietnam War protests, President Nixon left the White House to talk to the protesters face-to-face. When the Secret Service grew concerned for his safety, he told them to wait.
epw9n TIL The Ancient Romans had a goddess for fever whom they worshipped for protection against malaria
wLBMW TIL that Catherine De Medici maintained 80 ladies-in-waiting, whom she allegedly used as tools to seduce courtiers for political ends. They were known as her "flying squadron". She also used them as a court attraction. In 1577, she threw a banquet at which the food was served by topless women.