› added 6 years ago

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TIL of Albert Spaggiari, a French criminal known as the mastermind of the 1976 Société Générale bank heist, which at the time was the worlds greatest bank heist. He was eventually caught but made a dramatic courtroom escape and remained free for the rest of his life

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9wAnm TIL that, inspired by the Maginot Line in France, the British built a defensive network in Hong Kong. Called the Gin Drinkers Line or Oriental Maginot Line, it was designed to hold off a Japanese invasion for six months. Hit by understaffing and a malaria outbreak, it only lasted two days.
ZAMQ TIL despite having a net worth of over $50 Billion, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad still drives a ‘93 Volvo. He also recycles tea bags and takes salt & pepper packets from restaurants when dining.
kOxn5 TIL when the Unknown Warrior was laid to rest 'among the kings' in Westminster Abbey, the guests of honor were a group of about one hundred women. They had been chosen because they had each lost their husband and all their sons in the war.
EaKP TIL a Chinese business man bought a non-functional aircraft carrier from Ukraine, allegedly to use it as a floating hotel/casino. It took more than 4 years to tow it to China. Later the Chinese government bought and modernised the carrier, making it its only aircraft carrier its navy owns today.
BgELy TIL That Alcohol is considered one of the most harmful recreational substances, lower only than Crack, Heroin, and Meth. But much Higher than LSD, DMT, and MDMA.