› added 7 years ago

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TIL of John Solomon Rarey, a 19th century horse whisperer who tamed a horse named Cruiser which was known as "the fiercest horse ever seen". After meeting Rarey, Cruiser was said to be as gentle as a lamb. When Rarey died in 1866, Cruiser's bad temper returned.

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xVBr7 TIL: That China controls a huge share in the American media, movies, Theaters. They own 13% of American movie screens. This gives them control on what is released, and as well as a voice in the production of movies. They are also heavily invested in Sony Pictures.
VJjD TIL there is a long-standing and heated territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark over an uninhabited island. Interestingly, if the island is split in half as recently proposed, it would double the number of land borders of each country.
aw57Z 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'
LQxYr TIL Regarding the "40% chance of rain" forecast, the breakthrough piece of knowledge I acquired a few years back, that there is a 100% chance of 40% of the area getting rain, is wrong. It means that within a given period of time, there will be a 40% chance of measurable rain in the forecast area.
J45j TIL the word “dude” was 19th century slang for a dandy and was likely shortened from “doodle” as in Yankee Doodle Dandy.