› added 9 years ago

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TIL that in 1999, 47 black residents of a Texas town were arrested on drug charges solely on the uncorroborated word of one undercover agent who was a member of the KKK. Many were sentenced to long prison terms; some served years before release. For doing this, the officer got 10 years probation.

wnYo TIL that while Stalin was often depicted as physically massive and majestic (he had several painters shot who did not depict him “right”), he was only 5 feet 4 inches. Harry S. Truman described him as “A little squirt”
VMMkG TIL a TripAdvisor World City Survey ranked Moscow as worst for helpful locals and hotel quality, Punta Cana (Dominica) as worst for traveling alone, and Mumbai as worst for the overall experience.
4BNX TIL every baseball used in the MLB since the 1950s has been treated with “rubbing mud” that is gathered from a secret location by the Bintliff family. The mud is used to help remove the slick finish on the ball and give the pitcher more grip.
oBLAo TIL Speculoos are spiced gingerbread shortcrust cookies that are traditionally made and eaten on St. Nicholas Day and throughout the Christmas holiday season. They’re traditionally embossed with designs using wooden molds, special rolling pins, or cookie stamps.
QNDvM TIL about the 1936 Literary Digest Presidential Poll which was so wrong it destroyed the magazine's credibility. It projected Republican Alf Landon to defeat Incumbent Franklin Roosevelt easily. Roosevelt ended up winning 48 states and the popular vote by 24 percentage points