› added 10 years ago

226

TIL that a stockbroker named Nicholas Winton brought 669 Czechoslovakian Jewish children to England, saving their lives. He refused to take credit for his deed until his wife found a scrapbook of the children that he saved and gave it to the BBC. He turns 104 this year.

5Adp TIL Hawaii is the most geographically isolated land mass in the world. Over 90% of the native terrestrial plants and animals are unique to the islands. This level of endemism surpasses all other places on Earth— even the Galapagos Islands.
E1Wy0 TIL of Mary Ann, who was suspected of murdering as many as 21 people, including 11 of her 13 children.
8aNXZ TIL within the first 5 years of the "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" campaign (begun in 1983), the U.S experienced its lowest number of alcohol-related fatalities since the DOT began keeping records, and more than 68% of Americans reported trying to prevent someone from driving after drinking
Nmw6 TIL New College (f 1379) has a hall made with oak beams. A century ago it was found the beams were infested w/ beetles; Finding replacements would be difficult, however, in the 1300s New College had planted groves of oak trees w/ the sole purpose to replace the beams when they became full of beetles
6EDwJ TIL Salvador Dali was a cheapskate who liked to appear generous to his friends by inviting them to fancy restaurants. When it was time to pay the bill, he would write out a check then doodle a sketch on the reverse, knowing that the restauranteur would never cash a check bearing one of his sketches