› added 8 years ago

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TIL In 1833, Britain used 40% of its national budget to buy freedom for all slaves in the Empire.

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GY0kJ TIL The most performed living composer in the world for 8 years, & cited by Aphex Twin, Radiohead, Sigur Ros & others as influential, Arvo Pärt has been nominated for for 11 Grammy Awards & has won twice. His music has been used in many films, including There will be Blood, & Avengers
eppaE TIL about William Cunningham a body snatcher in Ohio who responded to medical students playing a prank on him, by sending them a corpse which was diseased with the deadly and highly infectious smallpox.
OpZg TIL the University of Texas sniper, Charles Whitman, who killed 15 people from a tower in 1966, sought psychiatric help on multiple occasions in the months before his murder spree. He asked in a note that his brain be examined after his death to find what was wrong. A brain tumor was indeed found.
nWlpo TIL unlike most melons, a watermelon will not continue to ripen after it has been harvested. So the ripeness at the grocery store is how it'll be once cut.
rXro TIL Quentin Tarantino offered to direct ‘Casino Royale’ with the film set it in the 50’s, make it in black and white and retain Pierce Brosnan as Bond