› added 8 years ago

250

TIL that during a battle of the Korean War, a mortar section was running out of mortar rounds. Instead of ordering more rounds, they accidentally ordered hundreds of crates of Tootsie Rolls, having not specified that “tootsie rolls” was a slang term for mortar rounds.

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jNoOX TIL since the Middle Ages a "knacker man" was a person responsible for the removal of animal carcasses from private farms or public highways and rendering the collected carcasses into by-products. It was considered a disreputable occupation. They were also commissioned by the courts as executioners.
P1x4G TIL about the Köln Concert, a 1974 piano recital by Keith Jarrett. The venue’s piano was smaller than specified, was out of tune, and had malfunctioning pedals, forcing Jarrett to improvise around its shortcomings. The concert recording is the best-selling solo jazz and best-selling piano album.
WZVA TIL: Breastfeeding allows a baby to give germs to the mother so that her immune system can respond and can synthesize antibodies for the baby.
7n7Z TIL that the Mayan god of wind and storms was called Jun Raqan, pronounced “Huracan”, hence the word “Hurricane”.
nnjY TIL that black olives sold in cans are actually green olives that are treated with chemicals such as iron salt to oxidize and turn black and look ‘more attractive’.