› added 4 years ago

95

TIL "jerry-rigged" is actually spelled "jury-rigged," from "jury" as in "temporary" and "rig" from its sailing origins.

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5VMBk TIL that during the last months of World War II, the Germans, British, and Americans agreed to a limited ceasefire to allow the the Allies to airdrop food to starving Dutch civilians
R15j TIL that scientists now have the ability to grow conductive wires inside real roses, allowing the leaves to be darkened or lightened with a zap of electricity.
aw5g0 TIL more than a dozen vulnerable people were involuntarily injected with plutonium as part of the Manhattan Project, in order to learn the human biological reaction to radiation poisoning
nw8P TIL Lewis Lee Millett deserted the US Army when he thought they would not enter WW2 and joined the Canadian Army to fight. After the US Army joined WW2 he transferred back. In the Korean war he would be awarded the Medal Of Honor for leading the last major bayonet charge in American history.
r06d TIL Gen.George S.Patton received orders to bypass the German city of Trier as it was estimated that 4 divisions would be needed for a successful assault ,but had already taken Trier by the time the message arrived. He responded, ’ Have taken Trier with 2 divisions, do you want me to give it back?’