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TIL the format of the Lincoln–Douglas debates. One candidate spoke for 60 minutes. Then the other candidate spoke for 90 minutes. Then the first candidate was allowed a 30-minute reply.

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VnkB TIL Betteridge’s law states, “Any headline which ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no.”
x6jW7 TIL in the 1893 case of Nix v. Hedden, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that, for purposes of the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883, tomatoes are vegetables. The Supreme Court relied on the fact that tomatoes are usually used as vegetables since they're normally served with dinner and not dessert.
a8GLo TIL John Wilkes Booth thought it was God's will that he assassinate Abraham Lincoln. He also believed slavery was God's greatest blessing to the nation, since he believed he viewed slavery the same way as the original framers of the constitution.
p8ja8 TIL that in the 1960's Philip Morris increased the addictiveness of Marlboro cigarettes by chemically free-basing the nicotine, which enhances potency without changing actual nicotine levels. ABC news accused PM of spiking Marlboro's with extra nicotine, and PM sued them for 10 billion USD.
QyGp TIL The music most of us think as ‘circus theme song music’ is actually entitled Entry of the Gladiators