› added 3 years ago

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TIL about Operation Mincemeat during WW2 where the British dressed up a dead body as a royal marine and placed on his person misleading evidence that the allies would invade Greece, not Sicily. The body was found by the Germans, who rerouted their resources, and the allies attacked and won Sicily

R9V7 TIL that in the 1800’s Allan Pinkerton became Chicago’s first detective, developed investigative techniques still used today, became head of Union Intelligence, foiled a plot to kill Abraham Lincoln, chased Jesse James, and created the first database for criminal identification.
gMrY8 TIL of Robert the Doll who inspired chucky that people apologize to after they take its picture as it brings them bad luck.
51en TIL a formation of larch trees in the shape of a swastika was discovered in Germany in 1992. The formation, only visible in the fall, went unnoticed for 60 years. After that discovery, other forest swastikas were found in Germany and beyond.
gM18 TIL in 1977, a drunk Sid Vicious burst into the wrong studio, confronted Freddie Mercury who was sat alone and snarled ‘Ello’ Fred! Still bringin’ ballet to the masses?’ to which Mercury replied politely 'Ah Mr Ferocious…. We are doing our best, dear’ and shoved him through the door.
PY8WJ TIL that a study was once done in which a man wore goggles that inverted his vision. His eyes gradually adapted to this change, and after 10 days his vision seemed rightside-up again and he was able to function normally.