› added 2 weeks ago

3

TIL that the slingshot (catapult in the UK) was only invented in the mid-1800s, as it relies on strong elastic materials that didn’t exist before that time.

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MBk0 TIL a teenager killed four pedestrians while drunk driving and was given no prison time by claiming affluenza: a mental illness from being too wealthy
XEvgP TIL that Phil Collins performed at Live Aid on both sides of the Atlantic, at London's Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's JFK Stadium
x0wg Today I learned that an FBI agent sold secrets to the Soviets and Russia for 22 years, and when caught said, “what took you so long?”
Wkood TIL that rent parties played a major role in the development of jazz and blues music. Tenants would hire a musician or band to play and pass the hat to raise money to pay their rent and the musicians.
6y7m TIL that in 2005, despite producing only 1/50th the number of cars as Volkswagen, Porsche attempted to buy VW on the open market. It rapidly amassed 74% of the outstanding shares of its larger German counterpart before running out of money and ultimately being purchased itself by none other than VW.