› added 10 years ago

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TIL that the Israeli postal service receives more than 1,000 letters addressed to “God” every year. Instead of disposing or archiving them, the undeliverable mail department opens them, and puts them between the cracks of the Western Wall.

Read more theguardian.com

via reddit.com

XE1bj TIL of Valentin Dikul - a soviet circus performer who broke his back in an accident when he was 15 and was told by doctors he’d never walk again. He then designed his own training system, fully recovered and performed amazing feats of strength in the future e.g., back squatted 450kg/990lbs at 60 yo.
b9WjE TIL that in 1999 Brad Pitt rented out a Mexican resort and filled it with friends. He then had the power cut at midnight, the resort raided by the government, and one of his friends "arrested" on drug charges, all as an elaborate prank.
jN1Kv TIL Rearward-facing airplane seats would be safer than forward-facing seats because the forces during a crash would be distributed over the entire seat back rather than a single lap belt. They’re not used, however, due to passenger comfort and the increase in costs.
e0ek5 TIL: During WW2 black U.S soldiers stationed in England were drinking in a pub with local people when U.S Military police arrived to stop them getting served and arrest them for not segregating. The white local people in the pub defended the black men, which eventually led to a riot and gunshots.
KY8mQ TIL that the formation of the Norwegian black metal scene included multiple murders, a suicide, and over 50 church burnings by 1995.