› added 7 years ago

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TIL there was an anti-gang unit in the LAPD that had ties to the Bloods. Over 70 officers were implicated in misconduct like shooting civilians, robbing banks, beating suspects (or worse), stealing cocaine, and framing civilians. Some believe the unit was involved in the murder of Biggie Smalls.

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M7418 TIL in 2006 a man bought a record, on a New York street for $0.75, that turned out to be an extremely rare 1966 Velvet Underground acetate; one of only two copies known to exist. He sold it at auction for $25,200.
PYBZG TIL Due to US prison regulations, there is a whole manufacturing industry dedicated to clear plastic TVs, radios and CD players without speakers (headset only) and even snacks (The Whole Shabang )
9wKGB TIL that Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia, a Venetian noblewoman, was the first woman who earned the degree of "doctor of philosophy". However, Catholic church and the University of Padua refused to get a degree in theology, which she originally wanted. She died six years later.
nerdG TIL that the pressurized bodies of early airships were called “envelopes,” a term that persisted in aviation to later describe the ideal flight performance of an airplane. When early NASA test pilots reached higher altitude, they called it “pushing the envelope” which is where we get the phrase.
Z8dAG TIL of Henry Grimes, a jazz bassist who disappeared in 1970 and was presumed dead. He was found by a social worker in 2002, destitute and with no bass. After people loaned him instruments and money, he made a remarkable comeback, eventually winning a lifetime achievement award in 2016.