› added 2 months ago

11

TIL that the word "gymnasium" is derived from the word "gumnazo" in Greek, meaning "exercise naked." This is because ancient Greek men would go to the gym nude.

Read more pbs.org

via reddit.com

EgKxP TIL a 22-year-old high school JV girls basketball coach in Virginia lost her job after she played in a game by posing as a 13-year-old on the team who was out of town. Upon being reported, the team forfeited the game and the players (both JV & varsity) voted to cancel the rest of their seasons.
wLmL1 TIL that George Washington ordered a ceasefire during the Revolutionary War to return a lost dog to its owner, Sir William Howe, a British general. The dog was found wandering the battlefield and was fed and cleaned before being returned to Howe.
LkV4P Today I learned that manual shift is still the majority in the rest of the world, except in the US, while automatic is close to 96%.
J17Lj TIL that anchor chains are just as vital as anchors in securing large ships, like naval vessels, in place. The length, weight and type of chain used is an important consideration to keep ships from moving excessively. A vessel in 60ft of water will generally use between 300ft and 420ft of chain.
DE7D TIL John Ssabunnya was abandoned in the jungle as a toddler when his mother was murdered in 1988. He was found in 1991 living feral with a group of monkeys.