› added 5 months ago

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TIL that Sir John Tenniel, famed Alice illustrator and Punch cartoonist, drew the 1851 Happy Families card game for Jaques of London. Shown at the Great Exhibition, it was a hit. Nearly lost in the Blitz, it survived thanks to designs preserved in the factory's safe.

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7BdO TIL that octopuses are very intelligent, and that in 1875 an octopus at the Brighton Aquarium would escape its tank when the guards weren’t around, eat the lump fish in another tank, then go back to its own tank before the aquarium opened
4kybw TIL that the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, mandates that most positions within the federal government should be awarded on the basis of merit instead of political patronage
DQQRv TIL the painting Las Meninas is one of the most analyzed works in western art. Critics have called it the “theology of painting” and “true philosophy of art”. It’s influenced many artists including Goya and Sargent. Picasso was so obsessed with the painting he executed 58 different interpretations.
kJ5md TIL In-N-Out Burger will open one day pop up stands in countries where they don't plan to open a permanent location solely to obtain copyright there. They've done this multiple times in Australia where guests can wait hours and burgers can sell out in 30 minutes.
l7ZEV TIL Beef was rarely eaten in ancient China, as cows & bulls were used mostly for transportation. Only nobility could eat beef- but only if the animal died naturally or from old age.