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TIL the German parliament decided to suspend compulsory military service from 1 July 2011. However, the end of compulsory military service applies only in peacetime, and it can be reactivated in the event of tension or defence.

Read more bundestag.de

via reddit.com

pYZnb TIL when Texas native Stevie Ray Vaughan was in NYC in 1982 working on David Bowie’s album “Let’s Dance”, Vaughan was frustrated with the city’s BBQ. With the help of his manager, Vaughan was able to get some BBQ, packed in dry ice, delivered from Sam’s BBQ in Austin, Texas all the way to NYC.
oB1OW TIL that selfie sticks are banned from all Disney theme parks
wL8gW TIL that Erik The Red who discovered Greenland, called it Greenland in spite of its ice cover, because people would be attracted to go there if it had a favorable name, and used it as a trick to lure settlers to Greenland
nO5d TIL: “Go fever” is a term used by NASA to describe a few of their major disasters (Apollo 1/Challenger/Columbia). It describes a culture that develops when costs have mounted, and dissent is suppressed or ignored (due to group members not wanting to be seen as committed to the team’s progress).
mxdNP TIL in 1977, the Church of Scientology tried to assassinate an author who was critical of them.