› added 3 years ago

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TIL that recoilless rifles (aka cannons/rocket launchers) are used to safely trigger avalanches from a distance in a controlled manner.

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R5LK8 TIL of "fat men's clubs," a popular phenomenon in the US from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Many of these social clubs limited their membership to men weighing over 200 lb (91 kg). These clubs declined when obesity began to be seen as a negative trait rather than associated with wealth and kindness
PY8eZ TIL of Yang Jingyu, a Chinese WW2 Commander-in-Chief. After his troops were killed, he fought alone for 5 days. Japanese troops, fearing his famed marksmanship, refused to approach his body for a while after his death. They later reburied him properly with full cemetery ritual and military respect.
88pL TIL Pi appears as the average ratio of the actual length and the direct distance between source and mouth of most rivers.
kOG4W TIL in the early 70s Chrysler would produce unordered cars and store them at the "sales bank". The company then coerced the dealers into buying these cars under threat of such actions as not processing warranty claims or misplacing custom orders.
K9aE TIL in 1943 the Nazis made a propoganda film about the Titanic showing the British as cowards and the Germans as brave. The hero is a German officer who saves third-class passengers and the villan is a British owner of the ship who recklessly crashes the boat while trying to break a speed record.