› added 1 year ago

55

TIL there's another unit to measure temperature, the Rankine scale (°R)

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rNRnw TIL The first Mediterranean description of the New World predates Columbus's expedition by over a century. Galvano Fiamma of Milan described the New world some time between 1339 and 1345, likely learning of it from sailors visiting Genoa.
0weWp TIL nearly all color laser printers code hidden metadata and tracking information into their printouts using hidden yellow dots. Originally designed to prevent counterfeit currency.
BBpd TIL after 9/11 there was a proposal to “to consider taking Saudi out of Arabia by forcibly seizing control of the oil fields, giving the Hijaz back to the Hashemites, and delegating control of Medina and Mecca to a multinational committee of moderate, non-Wahhabi Muslims”
bbWN TIL in 2001 a Los Angeles man, upset at the poor exit signage on the 110 Freeway, modified an overhead sign under the cover of night. Caltrans investigated it, approved of the workmanship, and left it up for eight years.
KOm1G TIL about Henry Savery, a convict and Australia's first novelist. He was to be executed on April 22nd, 1825 in his native England for credit fraud amounting to £30K ( £2.3 million pounds today) Through influential friends this was commuted to transportation, only a day before his execution was due.