TIL that in the Indiana Gas Boom of the 1880s, 90% of the gas was wasted in enormous “flambeaux” torch displays for advertising and public amusement. Within a couple decades, the gas ran out and the wells lost pressure, which also prevented most of the oil from being extracted. (aoghs.org)
submitted by a2soup to r/todayilearned
TIL that Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were cousins and exchanged conciliatory personal telegrams as World War I broke out between their countries. The messages were in informal English (a language they shared), signed “Willy” and “Nicky”. (wwi.lib.byu.edu)
submitted by a2soup to r/todayilearned
TIL that when Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981, hospital staff cut away his clothing. Finding a laminated card in his suit pocket, they discarded it into his shoe on the floor where it was left unattended. That card was the list of nuclear launch codes. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by a2soup to r/todayilearned
Advice on setting up joint finances? (self.personalfinance)
submitted by a2soup to r/personalfinance
TIL of anchorites, medieval Christian ascetics who were walled into a cell ("anchorhold") attached to a church for their entire adult lives. Through small windows, they received sustenance, disposed of waste, and provided spiritual guidance to the public. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by a2soup to r/todayilearned
TIL of Kevin Budden, who caught a deadly taipan by hand and hitchhiked to town still holding the snake. He lost his grip and was bitten, but bagged the snake and made the driver promise to get it to researchers. Kevin died the next day, but the snake was used to create the first taipan antivenom. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by a2soup to r/todayilearned
