› added 12 years ago

195

TIL the world’s tallest man has saved two dolphins by using his long arms to reach into their stomachs and pull out dangerous plastic shards.

Read more news.bbc.co.uk

via reddit.com

0waw5 TIL a 'barrel' of crude oil is not today's standard 200L/55G barrel of commerce, but was originally the 40 gallon whiskey barrel before settling on, in 1866, the 42 gallon (159L) wine tierce established by English King Richard III in 1485, which we still use today
dDnkd TIL of Air Force Maj. Harold Hering was discharged for asking in a missile training class, "How can I know that an order to launch came from a sane president?" A year later, James Schlesinger, Secty of Defense, ordered his command to check with him if Pres. Nixon issued any "unusual orders."
XEaBQ TIL that D-Day was mostly planned by British Commanders, the most prominent being Lieutenant-General Frederick E. Morgan, with Bernard Montgomery placed in charge of all ground forces (including the US Army)
oB8xY TIL that in 1979, George Lucas created the Lucasfilm Computer Department with two branches. The Games Group became LucasArts. The Graphics Group became Pixar
x6lP1 TIL Tomatoes are native to the Americas, so there was no such thing as tomato sauce in Italy until at least the 16th century.