› added 8 years ago

428

TIL there is a boulder in the woods of Germany that contains a wifi router full of PDF survival guides that can only be accessed if you build a fire next to it.

W718N TIL The author of Peter Pan also wrote a 19th century book on quitting smoking - Before he conceived of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie decided it was time to grow up and quit smoking. He justifies this decision in My Lady Nicotine. The bodily and spiritual ruin, the economic impact.
x6lOk TIL Phil Ochs' performances at Carnegie Hall got him banned for life. His first show ended prematurely due to a bomb threat. Ochs then cut his thumb open breaking into the box office to give away tickets to disappointed fans. At Ochs second/final show he played to 3am and the power was cut.
W71jY TIL the unique, vibrant shade of blue known as "Voronet blue" used for paintings at the Voronet Monastery (Sistine Chapel of the East), Romania, contains a paint substance still unknown today. In 1488 builder Stephen the Great ("the athlete of Christ") finished the monastery in 3 mths, 3 wks, 3 days
QvWd TIL Facebook introduced a new newsfeed then cancelled it - the user experience was so good that users no longer spent so much time on Facebook, reducing ad profits.
Z8Z1B TIL: Ken McElroy, known as "the town bully", was shot to death in broad daylight on main street in Skidmore, Missouri in 1981. He was struck by bullets from at least two different firearms, in front of an estimated 30-46 people. To date, no one has been charged in connection with McElroy's death.