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TIL During Prohibition, bootlegger William S. McCoy became famous for never watering down his beer or booze as opposed to many who did so to stretch profits. As a result, people starting calling his products, “the real McCoy.”

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Egb4X TIL In 1805 British Naval Officer Robert Pigot captured a French pirate vessel and sailed it up the St. Mary’s River between Georgia and Spanish Florida. He engaged Spanish pirates, recovered two British ships and took the Spanish vessel, all while U.S. spectators watched from the riverbank.
xVJWk TIL Gouldian finch young have unusual mouth markings that biologists find intriguing. One study showed the markings might help finch parents judge the health and age of their chicks. Another study revealed the glowing bumps outside of the beak reflect light, serving as a built-in beacon for feeding.
PYjyE TIL (US-Style) Biscuits are generally of a better quality in the South because they require soft-wheat, which is grown and sold in the South almost exclusively. Soft wheat is better for biscuits but worse for bread - the opposite is true for the hard wheat of the North and West of the US.
JYwGQ TIL of the killing of Joey Stompanato who was a bodyguard and mafia enforcer for Mickey Cohen. He dated actress Lana Turner who he physically abused. On April 4th, 1958 after threatening the life of Turner, her mother, and daughter he was stabbed to death by Turner's 14 year old daughter.
R7JN6 TIL about the Southern Bread Riots. Mostly women, protesting huge surges in food costs during the Civil War, rioted in Richmond, VA with chants of "bread or blood!" Food prices had soared to prices ten times higher than normal in many instances. Among the items stolen was 500 lbs of bacon.