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TIL a condemned ship filled with animals sailed over Niagara Falls as part of a tourism stunt. In 1827, William Forsyth, an investor in the Falls, concocted the idea to draw in more tourism. The ship held Buffalo, bears, raccoons, a dog, and a goose. Some 10,000 people watched it sail over the edge.

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p8bAe TIL a patient was diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder triggered by excessive internet role play. Doctors concluded that cyberspace's anonymous interactivity may offer the possibility to explore one's identity while also putting at risk identity coherence.
NXPpJ TIL that in 1984, actress Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson on Law & Order SVU, appeared in Ronnie Milsap's music video for "She Loves My Car", which was the first country music video to appear on MTV.
9YeNB TIL that Suzanne Somers was fired from 'Three’s Company' for asking for equal pay with her male co-star, John Ritter, who was earning five times her salary.
rNOxd TIL Ohio was technically not admitted to the United States until 1953; before that it was still part of the Northwest Territory. In 1803 the State filed a petition to join the union, but their constitution was never ratified. In 1953, a bill was passed admitting Ohio, but backdated to March 1, 1803.
6EgOJ TIL that 12,000 bears are farmed for their bile in Asia which is used in traditional Chinese medicine and generates $2bn per year. Farming always involves surgery on the bears to insert a catheter or to cut a hole through the abdomen by which the bile leaks. Bear bile has no medicinal effect.