› added 1 year ago

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TIL on 1924, for the Olympic Games, BRitish athlete Eric Liddell refused to run the 100 metres since it was set on Sunday, instead choosing to run the 400 metres

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via reddit.com

e7PL TIL that a couple took in three orphans and used them to get Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to build them a new house. After the house was built, they kicked the orphans out.
9YbXX TIL that German expertise was critical for Saddam Hussein's development of chemical weapons. For a decade Germans built facilities, factories, and sold 1,027 ton of precursors for mustard gas and sarin. 52% of Iraqi CW equipment had German origin and equated to 150 ton mustard gas and 60 ton Tabun.
AD8Ex TIL that actor Lance Henriksen was illiterate until the age of 30, when he received his first acting role. For his first role, he also put the entire script to tape with the help of a friend, learning everyone's part in addition to his own.
GAgj1 TIL side saddle horseback riding was started ‘as a way for women to ride horses, while protecting their virginity and modesty’
DQdJe TIL the greatest peacetime maritime disaster is the sinking of MV Doña Paz in 1987 with 4386 dead, almost 3 times Titanic's casualties (1496). The greatest wartime disaster is Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945 (9343 dead).