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8

TIL William Golding was a teacher before writing Lord of the Flies

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dDY0Q TIL that Richard Feynman, winner of the 1965 Nobel Prize in physics, tried marijuana and ketamine in John Lilly's sensory deprivation tanks as a way to study consciousness.
b6LYE TIL early vampire myths began with bloated, blood-leaking corpses and rabies-like symptoms but later symbolized parasitic aristocrats (Dracula), “vampire-like” capital (Marx), and predatory bourgeoisie (Nosferatu). Real-life “vampire” murderers who drank blood also fueled the legend.
bGMj TIL the top speed of the Bugatti Veyron is limited not by the engine, but rather its tires exploding.
NrRJ TIL Wilhelm II , the German Kaiser one of the most hated men who ever lived, while absconding to Holland received a letter from a small boy telling him how much the boy loved him in spite of what others thought. Kaiser was so touched he called the boy to Holland and ended up marrying his mother.
e0B6g TIL that the Cullinan - the biggest diamond ever found - was shipped by ordinary mail while a fake stone was shipped by sea heavily protected by security personnel