/f/todayilearned
TIL in 1989, many major airlines showed edited versions of the film Rain Man, omitting a scene involving a character's refusal to fly (while mentioning several prominent airliner crashes). However, the scene was shown intact on Qantas—the only airline mentioned as having planes that "never crashed."
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Boomtown_Rat t3_yqpdpx
TIL of the "world's rudest waiter," Edsel Ford Fong, who greeted visitors with an admonition to "Sit down and shut up!" He was known for calling patrons "retarded" and "fat", criticizing people's menu choices and then telling them what they should order, amongst others.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Boomtown_Rat t3_yqo3ka
TIL In 1971, the Guinness World Records listed Clara as the "Most Indefatigable Cruise Passenger". For 14 years, she lived on RMS Caronia, which cost her $396 in daily fare. Without accounting for inflation, Cunard Line received $4 million from her in tickets.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by thenerdknuckle t3_youd5a
TIL about "The Pearl": An underground pornographic magazine issued monthly between 1879 and 1880. Its contents were three serial erotic tales simultaneously, devoted to sex in high society, incest, and flagellation. It was shut down by the British authorities for violating standards of obscenity.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by DasherPack t3_ynww49
Submitted by AKSupplyLife t3_ypv4jg
TIL British Airways Flight 9 flew through a cloud of volcanic ash causing all four engines to stop. Captain Eric Moody told the passengers that, “We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are all doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.”
theaviationgeekclub.comSubmitted by Firesondiego t3_yok1a0
TIL In 1943, a Luftwaffe pilot came across a crippled B-17 trying to make it home after a bomb run. Instead of shooting it down, the German pilot escorted it home. The pilots met up 50 years later and became friends, and both died within a few months of each other
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Free-Permit-1188 t3_yog3fc
TIL that in 1518, in the small French town of Strasbourg, a young woman named Frau Troffea started dancing uncontrollably in the street. Her dancing continued for days & on the 3rd day, her shoes were soaked with blood. She attracted 30+ people to join her, which catalyzed the Dancing Plague of 1518
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by DilankaMcLovin t3_yo8976