› added 10 months ago

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TIL that one of Britain’s top post-war writers, Benjamin Zephaniah, declined an OBE appointment (Order of the British Empire), stating the honors were "a legacy of colonialism." Besides being a renowned poet, Zephaniah also appeared in “Peaky Blinders” for about 9 years as Jeremiah Jesus

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O7D7 TIL one of Nintendo’s early business ventures was setting up “love hotel” chains, a short stay themed hotel, built for couples to engage in sexual activity privately.
XjLj TIL the Led Zeppelin song “Gallows Pole” is a version of a centuries-old folk song. Traditionally the main character bribes the executioner to let them go. In the Zeppelin version the executioner takes the money but carries through with the execution.
DQ0OY TIL that the official residence of the UK Prime Minister, 10 Downing St, originally started out as being numbered 5 Downing St and was not renumbered until 1779.
8adLX TIL that aluminum foil reacts with acids like tomato sauce and can actually start to dissolve if the two are paired with a different metal like stainless steel or cast iron, essentially creating a rudimentary battery.
rRMRo TIL that Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" is partially based on the fringe artist Legendary Stardust Cowboy; Bowie apparently LOVED his bizarre songs and even covered one of his songs.