› added 12 years ago

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TIL that St Jude’s Hospital, which has treated thousands of children with cancer, is not religiously affiliated, and instead was founded by actor Danny Thomas because of a promise to the patron saint of lost causes after he found success in Hollywood

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P1Maw TIL In 1942, German submarines sunk a British passenger ship. They surfaced to collect survivors, announced their presence to the allies and sailed under a Red Cross flag. The U-Boats were attacked by allied planes, forcing the submarine to throw all the survivors back into the sea and crash dive.
M74v8 TIL 3 men escaped Alcatraz in a raft made of raincoats. The FBI never found them.
W7d89 TIL that every Texas ranger’s badge is made from Mexican silver
8aPwK TIL Edgar Wright conceived "Baby Driver" in 1995 after he envisioned a bank robbery and car chase set to the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's 1994 song "Bellbottoms", which he used at the film's opening scene. The film features choreography in which the actors' actions synchronize with its soundtrack.
J1LZv TIL about the "Rolleron" - a 'dumb'/passive/non-electrical stability system that was used for the early sidewinders. It acts by having the wind spin up rollers, creating a gyroscopic effect. The rollers were placed on hinges, so as the missile spun the rollers stopped the roll by acting as rudders.