Fact of the day thread

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Today's fact. The first Siamese cat to arrive in America was a gift sent to President Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife, Lucy, in 1879 by the American consul in Bangkok.
 
Today's fact. LEGO is derived from the Danish phrase "leg godt," meaning "play well." The company was initially named Billund Maskinsnedkeri.
 
Today's fact. Before creating the Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine wrote the jokes for Bazooka Joe gum wrappers.
 
Today's fact. People once believed that the blood of freshly executed individuals had health benefits, and they would pay executioners a small fee to drink it while it was still warm.
 
Today's fact. In 1822, a stork shot by a hunter in Germany was discovered with a Central African spear lodged in its throat. This find provided scientists with the first evidence of long-distance bird migration.
 
Today's fact. Some libraries went to great lengths to ensure their books stayed on the shelves. At Marsh's Library in Dublin, Ireland, visitors in the 1800s who wanted to read rare books were locked in cages until they finished reading.
 
Today's fact. An urban legend suggested that Zima could not be detected by a breathalyzer, which increased its popularity among the young and easily swayed.
 
Today's fact. In 1866, Cathay Williams made history as the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Army. Due to the prohibition on women joining the military at that time, she enlisted as a man under the pseudonym William Cathay.
 
Today's fact. The Walkman, introduced by Sony in 1979, revolutionized how people listened to music in the 1980s. It was the first portable cassette player, allowing users to take their music anywhere, and became a cultural icon of the decade.
 
Today's fact. In 1916, Adeline and Augusta Van Buren became the first women to journey across the country on individual motorcycles. Despite being frequently arrested for wearing pants, they successfully completed their trip.
 
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