› added 11 years ago

86

TIL BBC World Service was originally called “The BBC Empire Service”

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Y7E6W TIL that the company Hoover in 1992 offered 2 free flights to customers if they bought products for at least a 100 dollars. The flights were worth 600 dollars each and Hoover underestimated the customers fervour to obtain them and tried to go back on their offer and caused public outrage.
5YPwD TIL a Soldier by the Name of Peter Lemon, won the Medal of Honor when he single handedly fought of 2 waves of the Vietcong while he was HIGH on Marijuana
x6A6g TIL about the submarine USS R-14, who in during a rescue mission in 1921 had its fuel contaminated with seawater, cause the loss of battery power and radio communication. Its crew were able to make the 161 mile return trip to homeport by creating sails out of hammocks and blankets.
R7oWQ TIL Alex Trebek sleeps naked. In 2011, a burglar broke into his hotel room where Trebek and his wife were sleeping. Alex put on a pair of underwear and chased the burglar before he tore his Achilles tendon during the chase.
lorNr TIL The Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York, and other long suspension bridges like it, are built with the curvature of the earth in mind. The two towers are 41 mm farther apart at the top than at the base, which makes the bridge not fall over.