› added 2 weeks ago

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Today I Learned that In 6th-century BCE Acragas(modern Agrigento, Sicily), Perilaus of Athens created the Brazen Bull, a torture device for tyrant Phalaris. Disgusted, Phalaris trapped him inside, roasting him alive. Removed before death, Perilaus was then thrown off a cliff.

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e0rdb TIL In 1958 nuclear weapons were proposed as a tool for petroleum extraction. The plan was to detonate 100 nuclear bombs in the Alberta Oil Sands, thus adding heat and decreasing viscosity, the bitumen could then be easily pumped out. The project was put on hiatus due to risk of Soviet espionage.
Gjdg TIL Hans Christian Andersen struck a friendship with Charles Dickens but wore out his welcome when his visit to Dickens’ home stretched out to five weeks
v4YL TIL Bhanbhagta Gurung saved his pinned unit from a sniper with his rifle. Gurung didn’t wait for orders and rushed to the nearest foxhole taking out the enemies with grenades, his bayonet, and Kukri; Taking 5 enemy positions single handed, against light machine guns.
XAjX TIL L. Ron Hubbard’s ( the creator of scientology) eldest son L. Ron Hubbard, Jr. rejected his father and scientology and changed his name to Ronald DeWolf.
rN1wy TIL that the first American Artist to cover a Beatles song was Del Shannon with his 1963 cover of "From Me to You". Del Shannon's cover also became the first Lennon–McCartney composition to make the American charts when it entered the Billboard Hot 100 on June 29th, 1963