› added 11 years ago

75

TIL the musicians of the Titanic were legally considered independent contractors rather than crew, so their families received no survivor benefits.

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via reddit.com

MeJv0 TIL that Alan Smithee was the official pseudonym film directors used when they wanted to disown a project.
OoXo7 TIL Cyanide comes from bamboo
VMpZp TIL that a Marine called customer service when his M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle failed during a gunfight with the Taliban. After several minutes the weapon was back in service.
rRKLx TIL the Burke & Wills expedition of 1860, Australia’s own Lewis & Clarke. Burke, Wills and 17 others set off to cross Australia South-North, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, a 3250km journey one way. Both men died. Only one, an Irish soldier named John King completed the journey back.
neNxr TIL in 1974, a then largely unknown Queen were booed and heckled at a music festival in Australia. Freddie Mercury told the audience, "When we come back to Australia, we will be the biggest band in the world!" Queen would return after debuting their smash hit Bohemian Rhapsody just two years later.