› added 10 years ago

97

TIL An artist carved a black violin (Blackbird) from his grandfather’s headstone (diabase), and used mammoth ivory for the bridge, gold leaf for the interior, Harjedalan (black) rock for the back plate, and ebony for the rest. It took him 2 years to make and weighs 2 kilograms.

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ANoWl TIL the six Tongan castaways were able to keep a fire burning continuously for more than 12 of the 15 months they spent marooned on a deserted island in 1965 after one of the boys named Stephen (who would go on to become an engineer), had managed to use two sticks to start one.
p8aZ8 TIL that in Kentucky, Ohio, and Mississippi "idiots" are prohibited from voting. Ohio's Constitution states: "No idiot, or insane persons, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector". Originally these terms referred to people with mental disabilities.
oRrOL TIL Phil Collins, composer of the soundtrack to Disney's 1999 animated film "Tarzan", performed all the songs not only in English, but Spanish, Italian, German and French as well.
dQ6r TIL the Queen of England can veto any law she doesn’t like and has real powers to dissolve Parliament, choose a new Prime Minister and even declare war.
QJDoM TIL about Traci Lords, ex pornographic actress. Using a fake ID she became the most popular pornstar of the 80's at age 16. Just 2 days after her 18 birthday she retired from the adult industry. When this information was revealed all her films were banned, except the last one "Traci, I love you".