› added 1 week ago

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TIL that the space shuttle's STS-13 mission was renamed due to a new numbering system for launches. The crew made a mission badge featuring a black cat and the number 13 anyway, and it eventually landed successfully on Friday the 13th.

Read more nasa.gov

via reddit.com

0wDdR TIL that the street scenes in Elf were actually filmed in the middle of New York City with REAL New Yorkers due to their small movie budget. Also, the funny line "You smell like beef and cheese; you don't smell like Santa" was completely off the cuff and unscripted.
M5RW TIL historically syphilis was called “French disease” by the Italians, “Italian disease” by the French, “Spanish disease” by the Dutch, and “Christian Disease” by the Turks
ewnE TIL that during the Cold War, the US Army deployed Atomic Bazookas.
jk5R TIL The Tin Man started as a real man. The wicked witch cursed his ax to chop off his limbs, which he kept replacing with tin, until eventually he was made entirely out of tin. However he forgot to replace his heart.
b6DDQ TIL about Washington Harrison Donaldson, the real-life inspiration for the titular Wizard of Oz. He was a circus magician, gymnast, and ventriloquist who disappeared in a hot air balloon never to be seen again.