› added 13 years ago

100

TIL that Top Gun was such an effective advertisement for the Navy that the Navy had recruitment booths right there in theaters.

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wLNr8 TIL about the phrase "If it's black, fight back. If it's brown, lay down". It tells you how to behave if attacked by a bear. Often "If it's white, say goodnight" is added, regarding the dangerousness of polar bears. Though apparently it depends on the situation, it can be used as a rule of thumb.
70Xr TIL that Irish soldiers that helped England during WW2 were labeled deserters and traitors by Ireland and were not allowed to get government jobs when they returned home. They did not receive pardons until 2013.
WkZ8B TIL in 1922 Raymond DeWalt invented the Radial Arm Saw, with the first saw blade driven directly by a motor. Naming it the "Wonder-Worker," he then started the DeWalt company which still exists today. Once a versatile staple of home workshops, the Radial Arm Saw is in extremely limited use today.
9dp6 TIL that in Bangalore, India, the government shames property tax defaulters by sending drummers to makes noise and wave banners outside of their properties until they pay their taxes.
wLXbE TIL It took 4 hours for pigeon to transfer 4GB over 60miles - in the same time the ADSL had sent only 4% of the data.