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30

TIL two families escaped East Germany in a home made hot air balloon

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5YyO8 TIL the American Service-Members' Protection Act, nicknamed the "Hague Invasion Act" and passed in 2002, instructs the US military to use any means necessary to free US officials imprisoned for war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
N9VQ TIL a reporter for the Morning Bulletin in Australia once wrote an article about 30 000 pigs escaping from a farm. The paper had to issue a retraction the next day when it transpired the reporter had misheard the farmer. In fact, 30 sows and pigs had escaped.
oRvOE TIL some of the acts at Woodstock weren't paid very much. Jimi Hendrix and Blood, Sweat & Tears were highest paid at $18,000 and $15,000 respectively - but at the low end acts like Joe Cocker ($1375), Santana ($750), and Melanie ($750) were payed much less. Sha Na Na was only paid $700!
Y7x1P TIL that bees and beetles have a more 'highly evolved' method of flight than other flying insects and animals. They use a single nerve signal to turn on/off a "flight engine" that beats their wings, while other insects & animals must consciously beat their wings.
xVXP1 Black women are three times more likely to die from complications of childbirth than white women in the U.S.