TIL a man once posted himself from London to Australia in a wooden box to avoid the expensive airfare. Broke former Olympic athlete Reg Spiers built the box to travel cheaply as air freight and spent 63 hours in transit. He arrived safely in Perth.
https://ift.tt/2HhuiYM
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 10:56AM by oceanicplatform
via reddit https://ift.tt/33Aueiy
https://ift.tt/2HhuiYM
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 10:56AM by oceanicplatform
via reddit https://ift.tt/33Aueiy
BBC News
The man who posted himself to Australia
In 1964 Australian athlete Reg Spiers sent himself from London to Australia in a wooden box - he was transported as freight in the cargo hold of a plane.
TIL that Shakuntala Devi, an Indian mental calculator,was asked to give the 23rd root of a 201-digit number; she answered in 50 seconds. Her answer was confirmed by calculations done at the US Bureau of Standards for which a special program had to be written to perform such a large calculation.
https://ift.tt/2Q4QhKD
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 04:36PM by pislion
via reddit https://ift.tt/2p0tfcu
https://ift.tt/2Q4QhKD
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 04:36PM by pislion
via reddit https://ift.tt/2p0tfcu
Wikipedia
Shakuntala Devi
Shakuntala Devi (4 November 1929 – 21 April 2013) was an Indian writer and mental calculator, popularly known as the "human computer". Her talent earned her a place in the 1982 edition of The Guinness Book of World Records.
TIL The Simpsons episode “22 Short Films About Springfield” was a backdoor pilot for a proposed series. 'Tales from Springfield' would have told three different short stories per week, focusing on secondary characters and telling stories about the Simpsons family members’ past or future.
https://ift.tt/2rw6rCr
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 05:49PM by jamescookenotthatone
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Q1KuoS
https://ift.tt/2rw6rCr
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 05:49PM by jamescookenotthatone
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Q1KuoS
VULTURE
The Lost ‘Simpsons’ Spin-offs
When The Simpsons debuted 25 years ago as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, it was hard to expect that it would become one of the most successful and longest-running franchises in movie and TV history. While The Simpsons spun off [...]
TIL In 1929, W. Forssmann performed the first human heart cath on himself. He tricked the OR nurse, put himself under local anesthesia, inserted a catheter into his arm, then walked to the X-ray room to see if it reached his heart. He was fired from the hospital, but awarded the Nobel Prize in 1956.
https://ift.tt/2sY2qmb
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 06:30PM by Hischoll
via reddit https://ift.tt/2q2ucSf
https://ift.tt/2sY2qmb
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 06:30PM by Hischoll
via reddit https://ift.tt/2q2ucSf
Wikipedia
Cardiac catheterization
insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart
TIL "Libations," the practice of pouring out alcohol in memory of those who have "passed on" was common in Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. "Pouring one out for the homies" is a custom over 3,000 years old and is mentioned in the Bible, the The Iliad, and The Odyssey.
https://ift.tt/36TbVXU
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 08:59PM by hotelNoiseComplaint
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Q8jAMb
https://ift.tt/36TbVXU
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 08:59PM by hotelNoiseComplaint
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Q8jAMb
VinePair
Libations And The Ancient History Of Pouring One Out | VinePair
Tupac wrote a song about it, but they were "pouring one out" as far back as the Old Testament and Ancient Egypt.
TIL: During WWII, Meth was an over the counter drug and the German military's heavy use helped the soldiers cover ground the French thought would take them 2 weeks, in 3 days..
https://youtu.be/1E98Sx3mTQU
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 07:06PM by wolsmi
via reddit https://ift.tt/34XmFDd
https://youtu.be/1E98Sx3mTQU
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 07:06PM by wolsmi
via reddit https://ift.tt/34XmFDd
YouTube
How crystal meth helped the Nazis conquer large parts of Europe
During WW2 German soldiers were taking a "medicine" called Pervitin, this stimulant contained pure methamphetamine, which we know today as crystal meth.
"The Wehrmacht found out that Pervitin reduces fear, it reduces your need to sleep, and it makes you…
"The Wehrmacht found out that Pervitin reduces fear, it reduces your need to sleep, and it makes you…
TIL the actor who played Furio on the Sopranos once discovered a painting in a museum had been mislabeled. He bought it for $70k and it ended up being worth $10 million.
https://ift.tt/33vcLYZ
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 09:53PM by AnonymousJoe12871245
via reddit https://ift.tt/2K2NQV1
https://ift.tt/33vcLYZ
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 09:53PM by AnonymousJoe12871245
via reddit https://ift.tt/2K2NQV1
NY Times
Princeton Shows a Rediscovered Guercino Painting
A portrait of St. Sebastian purchased by the “Sopranos” actor Federico Castelluccio turned out to be the work of an Italian master.
TIL that Shaggy from Scooby Doo's real name is Norville Rogers and he was once a track star and gymnast, both of which hint at his "uncanny skills in quickly evading villains."
https://ift.tt/1UWINFK
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 04:26PM by IllicitBehavior
via reddit https://ift.tt/2WZenaY
https://ift.tt/1UWINFK
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 04:26PM by IllicitBehavior
via reddit https://ift.tt/2WZenaY
Wikipedia
Shaggy Rogers
Fictional character in Scooby-Doo
TIL, at her request, Elizabeth Taylor's funeral was delayed 15 minutes. So people would be able to say about her, "She was even late for her own funeral".
https://ift.tt/2K7AyGN
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 10:49PM by hr00ns
via reddit https://ift.tt/32u8xiY
https://ift.tt/2K7AyGN
Submitted November 10, 2019 at 10:49PM by hr00ns
via reddit https://ift.tt/32u8xiY
PEOPLE.com
Elizabeth Taylor's Funeral Delayed 15 Minutes at Her Request
She was a Hollywood original to the end. Elizabeth Taylor was laid to rest Thursday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park…
TIL Pocahontas (c. 1595-1617) was born Matoaka. The name "Pocahontas" (meaning "the naughty one" or "spoiled child"), a childhood nickname. In her last days, she went by Rebecca Rolfe. The marriage between John Rolfe and Pocahontas was the first recorded interracial marriage in American history.
https://ift.tt/1AnK362
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 01:32AM by suspect309
via reddit https://ift.tt/2NAK7jN
https://ift.tt/1AnK362
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 01:32AM by suspect309
via reddit https://ift.tt/2NAK7jN
Wikipedia
Pocahontas
Algonquian princess
TIL that in 1980, the Supreme Court ruled that the US unjustly took 73 million acres of tribal land from the Sioux, including the sacred Black Hills. The Supreme Court the US to pay recompense totaling over $1 billion. The Sioux have never taken the money, instead demanding the return of the land.
https://ift.tt/1S6VCes
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 04:15AM by Ganesha811
via reddit https://ift.tt/2NxaSp0
https://ift.tt/1S6VCes
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 04:15AM by Ganesha811
via reddit https://ift.tt/2NxaSp0
Wikipedia
United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians
United States Supreme Court case
TIL: Comedian/Actor Joel McHale took an Uber from Rochester, NY to Manhattan. His flight out was canceled and needed to get to his appearance on Jimmy Fallon, so he spent $700 on a (350 mile, 5-6 hour) Uber ride and paid $200 in tips, as well as paid the driver additional money for his gas back.
https://ift.tt/2p4JghC
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 05:34AM by icntevn
via reddit https://ift.tt/34PxsiG
https://ift.tt/2p4JghC
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 05:34AM by icntevn
via reddit https://ift.tt/34PxsiG
reddit
TIL: Comedian/Actor Joel McHale took an Uber from Rochester, NY to...
Posted in r/todayilearned by u/icntevn • 694 points and 51 comments
TIL Rowan Atkinson was able to keep a plane in the air whilst waiting for his pilot to regain consciousness from passing out.
https://ift.tt/2jDw6j9
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 02:10AM by TylerTheJoji
via reddit https://ift.tt/2O1LOW6
https://ift.tt/2jDw6j9
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 02:10AM by TylerTheJoji
via reddit https://ift.tt/2O1LOW6
Wikipedia
Rowan Atkinson
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson CBE (born 6 January 1955) is an English actor, comedian and writer. He is best known for his work on the sitcoms Blackadder (1983–1989) and Mr. Bean (1990–1995). Atkinson first came to prominence in the BBC's sketch comedy show Not…
TIL because both Schwarzenegger and DeVito agreed with the studio to take 20% of the film's box office returns ($216 million), so it made Twins (1988) became the biggest paychecks of their whole acting career
https://ift.tt/1GSDQ9k
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 07:01AM by Elver-Galarga7
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Cuy3tJ
https://ift.tt/1GSDQ9k
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 07:01AM by Elver-Galarga7
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Cuy3tJ
Wikipedia
Twins (1988 film)
1988 American buddy film directed by Ivan Reitman
TIL diet soda triggers an insulin response just like regular soda and may cause weight gain and increase risk of type 2 diabetes
https://ift.tt/2K7RLzM
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 12:58PM by AV8r-2018
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Czz9EQ
https://ift.tt/2K7RLzM
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 12:58PM by AV8r-2018
via reddit https://ift.tt/2Czz9EQ
Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic
Just How Bad is Diet Soda for You?
It’s a direct correlation with your weight
TIL of pocket parks, mini-sized parks with room enough for one swing, that neighborhoods build in order to banish registered sex offenders who are not allowed to live within 2000 ft of them.
https://ift.tt/2NC6PrA
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 10:56AM by maybe_i_am_bob
via reddit https://ift.tt/36WH50W
https://ift.tt/2NC6PrA
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 10:56AM by maybe_i_am_bob
via reddit https://ift.tt/36WH50W
NY Times
Neighborhoods Seek to Banish Sex Offenders by Building Parks
Because of limits on where such offenders can live, the measure is effective for a community, but may be counterproductive to public safety over all.
TIL that the 1/4 inch headphone jack was introduced in 1877, making it the oldest elctrical connector still in use today.
https://ift.tt/2NBYnsz
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 11:10AM by Ben_Zedd
via reddit https://ift.tt/33LJ1r7
https://ift.tt/2NBYnsz
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 11:10AM by Ben_Zedd
via reddit https://ift.tt/33LJ1r7
Wikipedia
Phone connector (audio)
family of connector typically used for analog signals
TIL that Glenn K. Tripp, a D.B Cooper copycat, hijacked a plane for a $600k ransom. He had his drink spiked with Valium by a flight attendant, and after a 10 hour standoff, lowered his ransom to 3 cheeseburgers and a head start on a getaway.
https://ift.tt/2hp8HEN
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 03:33PM by MaxxPL
via reddit https://ift.tt/36PyM6N
https://ift.tt/2hp8HEN
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 03:33PM by MaxxPL
via reddit https://ift.tt/36PyM6N
Wikipedia
D. B. Cooper
unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 728 airplane in November 1971
TIL that for the James Bond movies, Goldfinger and Thunderball, Aston Martin produced two Aston M DB5 prototypes. The one was auctioned for $4.6M in 2010. The other car, which appeared in the comedy "The Cannonball Run," was stolen from its Florida-based owner in 1997 and has never been recovered.
https://ift.tt/2q36pBt)
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 03:02PM by 874399
via reddit https://ift.tt/2X3gAlB
https://ift.tt/2q36pBt)
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 03:02PM by 874399
via reddit https://ift.tt/2X3gAlB
TIL Hitchbot, a hitchhiking robot, made it all the way across Canada, Germany and the Netherlands but failed to do the same in the U.S. because it was immediately beheaded in Philadelphia.
https://ift.tt/2w98NJx
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 04:00PM by aanaphora
via reddit https://ift.tt/2NYGKCc
https://ift.tt/2w98NJx
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 04:00PM by aanaphora
via reddit https://ift.tt/2NYGKCc
CNN
HitchBOT, the hitchhiking robot, gets beheaded in Philadelphia
This is why we can't have nice hitchhiking robots.
TIL: In a case of mistaken identity, an inmate spent 17 years in prison until they found his doppelganger who has the same cornrows, facial hair, and first name.
https://ift.tt/2xB0xyc
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 04:26PM by 2balls1cane
via reddit https://ift.tt/33xDzb3
https://ift.tt/2xB0xyc
Submitted November 11, 2019 at 04:26PM by 2balls1cane
via reddit https://ift.tt/33xDzb3
NBC News
Kansas inmate freed after doppelganger found 17 years later
Richard Jones spent 17 years in a Kansas prison before attorneys discovered doppelganger Ricky Amos and linked him to the crime.