› added 3 years ago

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TIL cocktails originated from horses who had their tails docked. In the 1800's they docked tails of horses that were not thoroughbred - 'cocktailed horses'. It later referred to a vulgar, ill-bred person, and finally an 'acceptable diluted alcoholic drink, not purebred, and raised above its station'

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OoKpX TIL the North River Tunnels in NYC, built 120 years ago which connect Manhattan to New Jersey and the West, is one of the most important tunnels for trains going under the Hudson. Yet it is falling into disrepair and funding to improve it or build new tunnels has not come through.
wL4A1 TIL That the Danish city Aarhus changed its name to Århus in 1948 because it was thought to be progressive. In 2010 it was changed back to Aarhus to strengthen the international profile of the city.
l7LZA TIL that a Sig Alert was developed in 1955 because the LAPD refused to notify radio stations of traffic disruptions, requiring stations to call in, thus tying up the phone lines and requiring officers to constantly repeat the same information.
l7WNV TIL the SNL Christopher Walken sketch "The Continental" was based on an actual 1952 TV show of the same name. Renzo Cesana as the host would create a romantic rendezvous with female viewers, speaking directly to them in a suave manner.
6JeJ TIL that, to stop the theft of trees in public parks near Christmas time, some cities spray would-be Christmas trees with fox urine. It freezes and is odorless outdoors, but would be unbearable and irremovable if taken into someone’s home.