› added 10 years ago

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TIL of Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, a town in New Zealand. The name means “The summit where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, the climber of mountains, the land-swallower who travelled about, played his nose flute to his loved one”.

x6g9g TIL Despite having no official relations between both countries, Indonesia covertly bought A-4 combat jets in the 80s and sent pilots and technicians to learn how to operate them. The pilots went as far as going to the US to take pictures of themselves at various landmarks to provide a cover story.
R0g1 TIL the tiles used on the space shuttle dissipate heat so quickly you can actually pick up the tile seconds after it has been in a furnace at 2200 degrees
R55Kw TIL that Joshua Thompson sued Michigan AMC movie theater over the high price of concession snacks. He claims he used to take his snacks until the theater banned the practice. Thompson paid $8 for a soda and packet of Goobers, but he spent less than $3 for the same at a drug store nearby.
xVW51 TIL There is a religion in Vietnam called Caodaism. Its followers believe in a single god who sent many prophets. Some of these prophets include Buddha, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Muḥammad, Pericles, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, and Sun Yat-sen. It even has a Holy See and Pope figure!
LvOp TIL: the former Catholic King of the Belgians had himself declared “unable to rule” by the Belgian Government for one day so a law legalizing abortion could be passed without him having to sign it.