› added 7 years ago

158

TIL in WWI a messenger pigeon, Cher Ami, saved an surrounded American battalion that was being shelled by friendly artillery. It carried a message through heavy fire that said “WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALELL 276.4. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT.”

Read more wikipedia.org

via ift.tt

BgNXe TIL the Giro d'Italia used to award the Black Jersey to the rider in last overall place. This move spurred fierce competition among riders determined to be last across the finish line. Tactics included hiding in bars, behind hedges, in farm buildings, and even puncturing their own tires
vvEx TIL because they had banned nuclear power, New Zealand refused to let US warships dock in their waters. This led to a ban on NZ ships at U.S. defense and coast guard bases around the world, and being considered “a friend, but not an ally” for 26 years.
erb TIL that Abraham Lincoln did not trust himself to carry or be around knives because he feared he would spontaneously kill himself.
neP79 TIL the very first sci-fi novel, A True Story, was written in ancient Greek in the 2nd century AD. It featured space travel, aliens, robots, artificial atmospheres and more
857b TIL - Drinking 2 cups of coffee daily has been found to drop the risk of suicide by 50% compared to non-coffee drinkers.