› added 1 year ago

354

TIL Julie Moss was a surprise front runner of the 1982 Ironman Triathlon but collapsed several times and lost bowel control near the end as millions watched on TV. She was surpassed by a rival and crawled to the finish line. Her "agony of defeat" moment caused a surge in popularity for the sport.

J1jWk TIL after English King James II converted to Catholicism he was forced into exile in 1688 and his descendants were barred from royal succession. Today there is an art historian in Germany who would be King of England (instead of King Charles III) if James had stayed in the Church of England.
9wLwX TIL in 1973 a British couple survived 117 days lost at sea on an inflatable raft after their boat sank when it was struck by a whale. They survived by "almost continually" bailing water out of their raft, while collecting rainwater & killing turtles, birds and fish with their bare hands for food.
L5oV TIL Fred Rogers from Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood wrote 200 songs for the show, including “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”
a8wGM TIL Dr. Richard M. Bucke, Medical Superintendent for the London Asylum for the Insane 1877-1902, advocated gynecological surgery on women as a treatment for insanity. In over 200 surgeries on women including 16 hysterectomies, he claimed 71 of his patients were cured or their mental health improved
wLL96 TIL that Prince was Prince's real name(Prince Rogers Nelson), but after a contractual dispute with W.Bros. he changed his stage name to an unpronouncable symbol earning himself the name "The Artist Formally Know as Prince" and "forcing a mass mailing of floppy disks with custom font."