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TIL that Christopher Hitchens once agreed to be waterboarded for an article in Vanity Fair. He was given two metal objects, to drop as a non-vocal signal to show that he wanted to stop, and a safe word- “red”. It only took a few seconds for him to throw the objects down and end the experiment.

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9wZy7 TIL the Philippine NCAA basketball championship predates the U.S. by 14 years; the first tournament in the Philippines was held in 1924-25 and March Madness wasn't held until 1938-39.
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R7BO1 TIL of Baron von Steuben. A Prussian Military Officer who served as Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Von Steuben wrote the Army's Drill Manual, and is credited for turning the Continental Army into a formidable force.
8ajV8 TIL the USDA requires Salisbury Steaks to be a minimum of 65% meat, of which up to 25% can be pork.
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