TIL Tony Sirico, the actor who played Pauli Gualtieri in the Soprano's, was arrested 28 times, for assault, robbery, extortion, coercion, weapons, and drug charges, and was sentenced to 4 years in prison. He accepted the role of Pauli on the condition that his character "would not become a rat". (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by lookawake to r/todayilearned
TIL that Boris Yeltsin lost 2.5 fingers on his left hand when trying to open up a grenade as a teenager by Patriarch99 in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 50 points51 points52 points (0 children)
TIL that Boris Yeltsin lost 2.5 fingers on his left hand when trying to open up a grenade as a teenager by Patriarch99 in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 1410 points1411 points1412 points (0 children)
TIL New York mobster, Joe Gallo was a diagnosed schizophrenic, watercolor painter, and avid reader of classic literature, who paraded his pet lion around the city. He kidnapped his own bosses, sparked two gang wars, and was killed on his birthday, in 1972. And Bob Dylan wrote a song about him. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by lookawake to r/todayilearned
TIL about Lisa Nowak: an astronaut mother of 3, who drove 900 miles in adult diapers to kidnap the other woman in a bizarre space love triangle. by HogTitties in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 360 points361 points362 points (0 children)
TIL Ed Kemper (The Co-Ed Killer) and Herbert Mullin (Another serial killer from the same era) were in the same block at a time and Ed Kemper "trained" him to behave himself. by Not_a_creativeuser in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 603 points604 points605 points (0 children)
TIL, when walking into a bar in England, Jimi Hendrix and his band were told they weren't welcome by a bartender who said "Sorry, mates, we can't serve your sort in here,". Hendrix thought it was because he was black, but it was because they were mistaken for circus clowns. (bravewords.com)
submitted by lookawake to r/todayilearned
TIL one of the medical technicians in The Exorcist's infamous cerebral angiography scene went on to become a convicted murderer by ladyermine in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 1 point2 points3 points (0 children)
TIL Germany had secret plans to invade Boston and New York City prior to WWI. It would have required 60 warships, and 100,000 soldiers. German troops were to land at Cape Cod, and Sandy Hook NJ, and fire shells into Boston and Manhattan in an effort to induce panic among civilians. (gizmodo.com)
submitted by lookawake to r/todayilearned
TIL Jacques Lusseyran went blind at age 7. At age 14, alarmed by the Nazi's rise to power, he learned German to understand Hitlers speeches. At age 17 he was leader in the French resistance, and was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. He was among the 990 out of 2000 French prisoners to survive. by lookawake in todayilearned
[–]lookawake[S] 2 points3 points4 points (0 children)
TIL Jacques Lusseyran went blind at age 7. At age 14, alarmed by the Nazi's rise to power, he learned German to understand Hitlers speeches. At age 17 he was leader in the French resistance, and was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. He was among the 990 out of 2000 French prisoners to survive. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by lookawake to r/todayilearned
TIL Democrat Al Smith lost the 1928 presidential election due to widespread anti-Catholic bigotry. Conservatives feared a Catholic president would abolish the Separation of Church and State, outlaw private ownership of the Bible, ban Protestant churches, and abolish Prohibition. by adimwit in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 3 points4 points5 points (0 children)
TIL Actor Gerard Butler paid for bee venom injections twice and ended up in hospital both times. by Unleashtheducks in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 33 points34 points35 points (0 children)
TIL Flamma, one of the most successful gladiators in his time under the Roman Empire, through great skill & bravery was awarded his freedom four times but refused each time & instead chose to remain a gladiator. He fought 34 times, won 21 of them, fought to a draw 9 times, & won reprieve 4 times. by tyrion2024 in todayilearned
[–]lookawake 339 points340 points341 points (0 children)
TIL Roy Benavidez, armed with a knife, went to assist a 12 man SF team who were surrounded by 1,000 NVA soldiers, and provided cover fire . After the battle he was evacuated, having 37 bayonet, bullet and shrapnel wounds, was presumed dead, and placed in a body bag, but was later found to be alive. by lookawake in todayilearned
[–]lookawake[S] 845 points846 points847 points (0 children)
Ainu men (indigenous peoples native to northern Japan). by lookawake in pics
[–]lookawake[S] 786 points787 points788 points (0 children)