› added 3 years ago

105

TIL that when US Defense Secretary Robert McNamara visited South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, he didn't know that Vietnamese was a tonal language. So, he thought that he was saying "Long live a free Vietnam!" but actually said "Vietnam, go to sleep!"

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

JDMl TIL that The Biggest Loser, The Amazing Race and Survivor have created more successful couples than The Bachelor/Bachelorette
rNBvW TIL the US House of Representatives and the British/Irish House of Commons used to play matches of chess against each other via telegraph
Z88KD TIL of A dovecote or dovecot /ˈdʌvkɒt/ (Scots: doocot) a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in Western Europe and were kept for their eggs, flesh, and dung.
5Y9bR TIL That “Genuine” leather does not mean “real” leather and is instead a grade of quality, it also happens to be the lowest quality leather available.
5Y1MD TIL that before 1600 people tended not to eat breakfast.