In 1900, when submarines were being introduced to navies, Admiral Arthur Wilson called them underhanded, threatening to hang enemy sub crews as pirates. So, in 1914, when Max Horton commanded Britain’s first sub engagement against the Germans, he ordered his crew to fly a Jolly Roger.
James Stewart (Republican) and Henry Fonda…
James Stewart (Republican) and Henry Fonda (Democrat) maintained a 50 year friendship by never discussing politics after a political argument reportedly dissolved into a fistfight. Instead they spent their time together building and painting model airplanes.
In the 1920’s newly hired engineers…
In the 1920’s newly hired engineers at General Electric would be told, as a joke, to develop a frosted lightbulb. The experienced engineers believed this to be impossible. In 1925, newly hired Marvin Pipkin got the assignment not realizing it was a joke and succeeded.
When considering what to name Idaho…
When considering what to name Idaho, a man named George M. Willing suggested Idaho claiming it was an indigenous word meaning “Gem of the Mountains”. The name stuck. Afterwards it came out that it wasn’t an indigenous word and Willing made it up.
In 2004 police discovered a movie theater..
In 2004 police discovered a movie theater in the Paris Catacombs. It was equipped with a giant cinema screen, seats, projection equipment, film reels, a fully stocked bar and a complete restaurant with tables and chairs. Its power source and the identity of those responsible remain unknown.
In Japanese culture, shaving your head…
In Japanese culture, shaving your head is a common form of public apology or an acknowledgement of failure.
It would take at least 500 survivors…
It would take at least 500 survivors to repopulate the earth (without creating major issues because of inbreeding) after an apocalypse.
Over 10% of Canada’s population…
Over 10% of Canada’s population are descended from impoverished British children that were sent to work on Canadian farms between 1869 and 1939.
The submarine resembling a Lotus Espirit…
The submarine resembling a Lotus Espirit, from the Bond film The Spy who Loved Me, went unclaimed for 10 years in a prepaid storage unit. When its lease ran out, a buyer bought the unit for less than $100, including the submarine. In 2013, the submarine was sold at auction for £550,000.
The Stubborn Children Law (repealed in 1973)…
The Stubborn Children Law (repealed in 1973) enacted by Massachusetts Bay Colony (1646), Connecticut (1650), Rhode Island (1668), and New Hampshire (1679), allowed a disobedient son “of sufficient years and understanding” (at least 16) to be put to death.