› added 12 years ago

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TIL Péter Zwack, escaped the Communists in 1948, was granted US entry just because he had the Zwack recipe for Unicum, the National Shot of Hungary. After 40 yrs went back, bought the factory from the State, became Hungarian Ambassador to the US. The State owned factory had been using a fake recipe.

Y7BQG TIL: North American Water and Power Alliance. A 1950s plan to get water from Alaska and Canada to the US South West using canals, reservoirs and nuclear power pumping stations. Estimated cost of $100B in 1975 ($500B today's dollars).
rRVmw TIL that the current Georgia state flag is modeled after the first Confederate national flag. In 1956 the state senate voted to incorporate the Confederate battle flag as a statement to preserve segregation. It was only changed to its current version in 2003 after years of refusal by the senate.
wLZ16 TIL that for $255,500 you can buy a package that lets you celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney from 8pm - 2am, then fly on a private jet that arrives in Los Angeles at 8:30pm Dec. 31st, where you can celebrate New Year's Eve all over again.
EgEgp TIL the Liberty class cargo ship was mass produced by the United States to help win WWII. Made with antiquated, but easily manufactured technology they were built in record time. Of the 2710 ships made, only my 4 remain. Three are museums, while the fourth is a land locked canning facility.
QJErk TIL that The Killers scrapped almost every song they were working on for the album Hot Fuss after hearing Is This It by The Strokes. The one song they didn’t scrap? Mr Brightside