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9

TIL about "The Game"—a mental challenge where thinking about it means losing, and each loss must be announced. Its origins are uncertain but may date back to 1977.

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Mey5V TIL that in 1985 the New Orleans lifeguards threw a party celebrating having gone an entire season without a single drowning. During the party a man drowned in the back pool while four lifeguards were on duty.
WkWod TIL that the phrase “live in the boonies” comes from the word Boondocks which in turn comes from the Philippine (Tagalog) word Bundok which means mountains, or an out of the way rural area.
4pWR TIL: As to not betray the Hippocratic oath, doctors (also nurses, etc.) are prohibited from administering lethal injections used for capital punishment. The task is left to under trained and unqualified orderlies and technicians, resulting in slip-ups which may lead to extreme pain to the inmate.
QAZp TIL After both of the leaders of his squadron were shot down over Vietnam, Merlyn Dethlefsen flew his damaged fighter back through enemy air defenses to scare off enemy fighters, then knocked out both missile sites defending the target. Saving 70 of the 72 friendly aircraft following him.
4Abw TIL Henry III received a polar bear from King Haakon of Norway in 1252.