› added 5 years ago

91

TIL Popeye was actually a member of the U.S. Coast Guard until he enlisted in the Navy in the 1941 cartoon "The Mighty Navy" and other related shorts due to World War II. He would remain in his U.S. Navy uniform until 1978 with the exception of retaining the standard issue Navy "Dixie Cup" cap.

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X0MP6 TIL that Gillette assisted the U.S. Army in military intelligence by producing copies of German razor blades for secret agents venturing behind German lines, also manufactured razors that concealed money and escape maps in their handles, and magnetic double-edge blades that can be used as a compass.
YpgbB TIL about the Gympie Gympie bush (or “Suicide Tree”). It delivers a sting described as “like being burnt with hot acid and electrocuted at the same time”. One man was stung and after 3 weeks of agony, was driven “as mad as a cut snake”. Another shot himself after using the leaves as toilet paper.
R6WQ TIL that in Thailand, there is a prison program where prisoners fight foreign MMA fighters for their freedom. After winning 8 fights the prisoner is freed, if you lose a fight, you go back to general population where you never have a chance to fight again.
Y5VW TIL Quebec has a government backed maple syrup cartel that rules with an iron fist by crushing dissenters while investigating, charging and pursuing independent maple syrup producers who question the Cartel’s control of 70% of the global supply.
w8O1 TIL an atheist man started a faux pet-rescue service that would pick up your pets in the event of the rapture