It's True! (Part Seven)

More True Facts and Trivia adapted from various sources including That's a Fact, Jack! and True Facts that Sound Like Bull$#*t

You asked for more trivia and true facts so happy to continue this series. Thank you for the comments and suggestions. One reader in particular asked for some historical trivia, so some is included here. Without further ado:

• Bran Castle in Transylvania is called Dracula's Castle. In Romania, a storybook castle once held Vlad III, better known as Vlad the Impaler as a prisoner and was the inspiration for Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, Dracula.

Want to go out for a bite?

• A Group of Polish Troops Adopted a Bear Cub into Their Unit During World War II. While on their way to join up with British troops, Polish Soldiers came across an orphaned bear cub in Iran. They adopted the cub into their unit, named him Wojtek (Polish for joyous soldier) and gave him the rank of private. He started out drinking milk but soon started drinking beer like his human companions and eating cigarettes.

Hey, Boo Boo, I don't think the Ranger's gonna be happy about this

• Robin Williams once appeared as a Bronco's Cheerleader during an NFL game. In 1979, during a Bronco's/Patriots game. Williams emerged at Mile High Stadium wearing a short skirt and knee-high boots with the other cheerleaders.

Is that from Mindy's closet?

• Julia Child, the celebrity chef once worked for the CIA. Prior to becoming a culinary star, she worked for the office of strategic services (OSS), which was the predecessor for the CIA. Her team was tasked with solving the problem of sharks accidentally setting off underwater explosives and developed a shark repellent to coat the explosives with. She later called it her "first recipe".

"Bon Appetit!"

• After the Civil War Battle of Shiloh, some wounded soldiers started to emit a greenish-blue glow. The battle had over 23,000 casualties, but the soldiers who had the glow seemed to recover faster. Doctors dubbed the phenomenon "Angel's Glow". It was a mystery for 140 years until in 2001, a high school student named Bill Martin discovered it was caused by a bacterium called photorhabdus luminescens. The bacterium absorbed other pathogens that the men picked up on the battlefield.

• Whiskey Vending Machines were briefly a thing in the 1960's. A whiskey vending machine was featured in London where patrons could get a whiskey soda for two shilling and sixpence. The idea caught on and soon gin and tonics and rum toddies machines were offered. The idea fizzled out, however as worker productivity declined.

Just the afternoon refresher needed to get through the workday

• One small Canadian town took in over 7,000 stranded passengers on 9/11. In the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, hundreds of planes were diverted to Canada. A small Canadian town, Gander (pop. 10,000) took in 38 stranded flights and local residents opened their homes to over 7,000 passengers. In addition to private homes, passengers were invited to stay in schools and churches. Pharmacies offered free prescriptions for those in need, locals donated food and clothing, and passengers were permitted to call home for free.

• There are 12 Replicas of the Statue of Liberty in France. The replicas are located in cities like Paris, Bordeaux, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, and Barentin.

So that's where the spare parts come from

• Only one person in history has been hit by a meteorite and survived. On November 30, 1954, Ann Hodges was fast asleep in her Alabama home when an 8.5-pound meteorite crashed through her roof, banged against her console radio and smashed into her side.

• There were female gladiators in Ancient Rome. They were extremely rare compared to their male counterparts and called a gladiatrix.

• Before alarm clocks, people were employed as knocker-uppers. As late as the 1970's, these folks would literally knock on people's windows to wake them up in time for work. Some used a long stick, soft hammers, rattles or even pea shooters to reach their client's windows.

Who's that creeping in my window?

• During World War II, Americans called hamburgers "Liberty Steaks" and sauerkraut was re-dubbed "Liberty Cabbage". Hamburger and sauerkraut sounded a little too German for Americans' liking.

• In Victorian times, men with mustaches used special cups. Dubbed "mustache Cups" these drinking vessels had guards on them to prevent a man's mustache from dipping in their warm cup of tea.

• Shrapnel was named after its inventor. British Army officer Henry Shrapnel was the first person to invent an anti-personnel shell that could transport a large number of bullets to its target before releasing them.

• There's an orchestra made up entirely of typewriters. Since 2004, the Boston Typewriter Orchestra has been playing concerts, making and performing music by only using vintage typewriters. The various sounds of clacking, sliding carriages, bells and spinning rollers contribute to the orchestra's unique sound.

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  All tapped out