› added 13 years ago

298

TIL, Armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute

Read more usmilitary.about.com

via reddit.com

KJ46 TIL despite its reputation, the black widow spider’s bite very rarely kills humans and has accounted for 0 deaths despite nearly 2,000 bites annually.
OGKEa TIL: In 2007, Bokito the gorilla escaped and attacked a woman who made eye contact with him at The Diergaarde Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam. This inspired insurance company "FTBO" to design "Bokito Kijker" (or "Bokito Viewers"), special glasses that made it look like the wearer was averting their gaze
LjZv TIL the word “mortgage” comes from French, meaning “death pledge”
avXN TIL that during US-backed Pinochet’s violent takeover of Chile, a popular singer was beaten, tortured and had his hands broken. While he lay on the ground, his captors mockingly suggested he play guitar. With that he sang “We Will Win” before he was shot 44 times.
WL4N TIL that during medieval inquisitions , after you were accused, but before anything else happened , you were required to name anybody who hated you , if even one of the people who you named was actually your accuser, you were immediately set free , and you could name as many people as you wanted.