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148

TIL the US navy simulated a naval battle against the Iranian navy and lost… Badly.

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vGVx TIL the CIA was responsible for overthrowing the democratically elected government of Iran in 1953.
gMnjX TIL when the 1957 Lotus Seven was introduced, it came as a self-assembly kit to avoid car taxation of the day. As the tax rebate didn't apply to kits that came with an assembly manual, Lotus bundled theirs with a disassembly manual that was supposed to be followed in reverse.
jNmwn TIL of the Stedinger Revolt. On 29 October 1232, Pope Gregory IX sent a letter authorising a crusade against the excommunicated Stedinger. In his letter, Gregory accused the Stedinger of holding orgies and worshiping demons in Satanic rites. The crusaders massacred 11,000 "their wives and children".
BLGx TIL In 1970 the Oregon Highway Division attempted to blow up a washed ashore dead sperm whale, using half a ton of dynamite, to dispose of its rotting carcass. The explosion threw whale flesh over 800 feet away, crushing cars and almost killing bystanders.
rRkKM TIL The Mandarinfish is one of only two species in the world which can produce its own blue coloring. Other animals that appear to be blue such as peacocks, don’t actually produce a blue pigment, they have colorless cells which reflect light to make it appear blue.