› added 6 years ago

100

TIL that in 1846, Hunt invented the lockstitch sewing machine, and suggested to his daughter that she manufacture the device. When she pointed out to him that this machine would put many poor women in the garment industry out of work, hunt dropped the idea and never patented his invention.

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DDlj Til: US law does not require employers to grant any vacation or holidays, and about 25% of all employees receive no paid vacation time or paid holidays
kLN5 TIL when a 7ft NBA player named Reggie Harding attempted to rob a Detroit gas station with a mask, the attendant said “I know it’s you, Reggie.”, to which he replied “No, man, it ain’t me”
Jdo1 TIL that for 50 years, the Nazi-style salute was the official salute for the American flag.
M7b7a TIL tattooing was a fad among Victorian aristocrats, especially women. They hid their ink, since it was still associated with criminals. King Edward VII, his sons, and Winston Churchill's mother all had tats. The fad spread to the US, where one paper said ~75% of upper class women were tattooed.
1axn7 TIL the lead singer on this Stealers Wheel track was Gerry Rafferty, he of Baker Street and One More Down The Line fame. Mind blown.