› added 11 months ago

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TIL: In 1952 British politician Christopher Mayhew, in a rare and 'unbroadcast' BBC Panorama special, once demonstrated the effects of mescaline hydrochloride, leading to a series of predictably comical incongruities.

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R7kPl TIL "Smart Aleck" was a real person, Alec Hoag, a pimp who stole from his prostitute wife's customers while they were "distracted" with her. He was caught, but bribed police to stay free. He became so successful that he felt he didn't have to bribe police anymore, at which point he was arrested.
YXOB TIL that Grand Central Terminal in NYC has a ‘Whispering Gallery’, where people can stand at opposite diagonal corners and whisper to each other across the room.
xVG6o TIL Hear 'n Aid was a charity record by 40 heavy metal musicians. Aware that the funds raised from similar events such as Band Aid were squandered due to corruption and disorganization which led to "food rotting on docks", Hear 'n Aid instead used funds to purchase and ship agricultural machinery.
mxJrP TIL the world isn’t getting worse entirely. The world has greater access to water, electricity, and food, and female education has increased from 65% to 90% from 1970 to 2015. It’s difficult to feel positive in the world sometimes. This cheered me up a little.
7r5gM TIL former President Harry S. Truman started his mornings with a 5 a.m. shot of Old Grand-Dad bourbon that — in Truman’s words — 'got the engine running.' He accompanied his morning whiskey fix with toast, eggs, bacon, and milk.