› added 2 years ago

61

TIL that when he was 18 years old and Crown Prince, Frederick the Great was forced by his father to watch the beheading of his close companion (and possible lover) Hans von Katte after the two attempted to escape together to England.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

KOAeB TIL That when Crystal Pepsi was released, Coca-Cola released a competitor called Tab Clear, however Tab Clear was intentionally marketed poorly in order to hurt Crystal Pepsi's image by product association. The "born to die" strategy was successful and both campaigns were dead 6 months later.
JlBm TIL The first vibrator was steam powered and was called the “Manipulator,” which was invented by American physician George Taylor, M.D. in 1869 because Doctors were complaining of wrist fatigue from giving “pelvic massages” to female patients who suffered from female Hysteria
78WmL TIL that Icehotel Jukkasjärvi, the world's first ice hotel, first opened in 1990 in Sweden. The entire hotel is made out of snow and ice blocks from the Torne River. The ice is used for Icebar designs and even the glasses. Interestingly, everything melts away and returns to the Torne River.
LLoQ TIL A film crew was dropped by helicopter on St. Helens on May 23 (five days after it’s eruption) to document the destruction. Their compasses, however, spun in circles and they quickly became lost.
E1p80 TIL about the Freedom House Ambulance Service, how two young Black men from Pittsburgh (the “Unemployables”) became two of the world’s first paramedics. They operated unofficially and as volunteers, and became the model for all EMS. Later, they were entirely forgotten.