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TIL The song "Midnight Special" is about a steam locomotive that used to pass the Louisiana State Prison and its light would shine into the cells. Prisoners developed a superstition that having the light shine on you would bring fortune and freedom.

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a8LVo TIL that Max Schmeling was the only boxer to knock Joe Louis out in his prime, despite the fact that Schmeling was a decade older than Louis, at the time they fought.
5YbGr TIL Costco’s Chief Operations Officer once told co-founder Jim Sinegal they needed to raise the price of their $1.50 hotdog-soda combo. Jim responded “If you raise the effing hot dog, I’ll kill you. Figure it out.” Costco ended up building its own hot dog-manufacturing plant to keep the prices low.
MeQdb TIL in 2000 Portugal decriminalized ALL drugs. If police find someone w/a supply larger than 10 days worth of personal use they aren’t arrested but brought before a “dissuasion panel” made up of experts who evaluate the person & prescribe treatment. both HIV infections & deaths by OD have plummeted.
m1Odo TIL the Solomon Islands Parliament Building was built as a US$ 5 million gift from the United States government, in memory of the US servicemen who died in the Battle of Guadalcanal
oRBd8 TIL the only non-Native Governor of a Native American Pueblo was Solomon Bibo, a Jewish immigrant from Prussia who immigrated to the New Mexico Territory, married a woman from the Acoma Pueblo tribe, and was supported by the tribe to be recognized as Governor. He served from 1885 to 1889.