› added 12 years ago

93

TIL that during World War II, over 1,000 American airmen were shot down behind enemy lines and rescued by Yugoslavian Partisans and Serbian Chetniks.

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6EOZ TIL that in 2003, a German citizen was kidnapped by the CIA and beaten, stripped, violated and tortured - until they found out they had the wrong guy.
0wvQL TIL while writing Star Wars, George Lucas had an Alaskan Malamute (large dog breed) named Indiana. She went everywhere with him, so this inspired Lucas to give Han Solo a "big, furry" sidekick. She also inspired the name for Indiana Jones... who named himself after the family dog.
nkG9 TIL that to counter protest the Westboro baptist church, who were picketing outside the venue, the foo fighters dressed up in costume and performed on the back of a truck across from the protesters.
dDyMj TIL that a man named Robert Anderson is credited for inventing the first Electric car sometime between 1832 and 1839.
LE5v TIL that “Washington Monument Syndrome” refers to the habit of governmet agencies to shut down their most visible and valued services first when facing a budget shortfall, to gain support for tax increases the public would otherwise be against.