› added 4 years ago

82

TIL that the phone system's three rising tones (Special Information Tone, or SIT) comes in 8 varieties that are similar but can be distinguished by electronic equipment. It was designed so equipment could identify the error, even without understanding the spoken message.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

m4ZY TIL that Edward Teach “Blackbeard” plundered over 40 ships, while Bartholomew Roberts “Black Bart” plundered over 400 ships.
EOQo TIL of a general whose dying request was to have his skin used for drums so he could continue leading his troops to war. He was also blind and never lost a battle.
5YXOB TIL about the Fermi Paradox, which states that given how large our universe is, evidence of alien life should have been found by now, leading some scientists to believe that alien civilizations have purposely been keeping us in the dark.
wLNnM TIL: "I Fought the Law" singer/musician Bobby Fuller was found dead in a parked car, outside his LA home. No evidence of foul play or suicide was found. Neither were ruled out. For those who believed it to be murder, suspects cited have ranged from the Mafia and Charles Manson to the local P.D.
AQJB TIL that when Wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to earn $100,000 in salary, longtime rival Bill Russel demanded his own salary be raised to $100,001. His salary was immediately raised.