› added 7 years ago

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TIL about John Harrison, a self-taught, working class carpenter and clockmaker. He invented the maritime chronometer, which finally made sea travel safe and reliable.

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e0G7L TIL Capt. Joe Hazelwood, responsible for the Exxon Valdez disaster that spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound and cost $7B to clean, was only found guilty of a misdemeanor (negligent discharge of oil), and was fined $50,000, and sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service.
jNWAR TIL Cato the Elder(a notoriously uptight grouch) expelled a man from the roman senate for embracing his wife in public and in front of their daughter. Cato went on to say that he never hugs his own wife, except during thunderstorms, and added that "thunderstorms make him a really happy man"
Z8RZQ TIL C.S. Lewis was Irish, once saying “I'm Irish not English. Did you ever know an Irishman who didn't puff and blow?” when informed his heavy breathing was interfering with a radio broadcast.
JVZv TIL in 1950 all Northrop Corporations Flying Wing aircraft contracts were canceled abruptly without explanation. Shortly thereafter, also without explanation, the Air Force smelted down all prototypes using portable smelters brought to Northrop’s facility, in plain sight of its employees.
b6Bj4 TIL the original Pilot Episode of Gilligan's Island used music written by John Williams (the famous composer). The pilot wasn't aired and had roles changed and recast with a new theme song when the show aired