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TIL that the phone system's three rising tones (Special Information Tone, or SIT) comes in 8 varieties that are similar but can be distinguished by electronic equipment. It was designed so equipment could identify the error, even without understanding the spoken message.

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nenpd TIL Al Capone was the first person to open a soup kitchen to feed the poor during the Depression. At a time of 25 percent unemployment, Capone's kitchens served three meals a day to ensure that everyone who had lost a job could get a meal. Soon, every city and town had a soup kitchen.
kOdb5 TIL: Bill Watterson never licensed Calvin and Hobbes. Anything sold with Calvin and Hobbes on them, such as the Bumper stickers depicting Calvin urinating on something are unlicensed knock-offs. He once said: "Only thieves and vandals have made money on Calvin and Hobbes merchandise."
Q5K6 TIL John Popper and his high school friend Chris Barron were in a band called Trucking Company. Popper left Trucking Company to start Blues Traveler. Trucking Company then added a few band members and changed their name to Spin Doctors.
gMZxX TIL that Aaron Lewis messed up the national anthem at the Major League World Series in 2014, but it was also him that mocked Christina Aguilera for messing up the national anthem in 2011 at the Super Bowl
4XpwX TIL that sperm counts have declined by 59% in males living in developed countries. No single reason has been established, though fertility scientists blame stress, obesity, chemical exposure, and smoking.