› added 11 years ago

107

TIL that Andrew Jackson’s political opponents referred to him as jackass. He adopted the name and used it as his campaign symbol. It would eventually become the symbol of the entire Democratic Party.

Read more m.wisegeek.com

via reddit.com

KrvB TIL That in Kansas, Greyhounds aren’t legally considered dogs. This exempts them from protections against animal cruelty.
od6A TIL the oldest living tree is a Norway Spruce that is 9,550 years old, which makes it roughly 3,500 years older than the invention of writing.
R6WQ TIL that in Thailand, there is a prison program where prisoners fight foreign MMA fighters for their freedom. After winning 8 fights the prisoner is freed, if you lose a fight, you go back to general population where you never have a chance to fight again.
5x99 TIL that the main reason why Will Smith agreed to do the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was because he was bankrupt and owed the IRS 2.8 million dollars.
4XYRN TIL after only 4 years of primary school, German children are placed on one of four tracks: Hauptschule for less academic students, Realschule for intermediary students, Gymnasium for academic students, or Gesamtschule (comprehensive school). Only Gymnasium entitles one to attend university