› added 12 years ago

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TIL a man was completely paralyzed but conscious for 23 years after being misdiagnosed with a coma

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Med5B TIL in 1848, Phineas Gage had an accident where a 43inch iron rod pierced through his cheek and came out of his skull. He survived mostly unscathed but he became a completely different person, going from a hardworking, pleasant man to a surly, aggressive alcoholic who was unable to hold down a job.
OjYX TIL Sean Connery single handedly beat 4 men in a night club while Michael Caine held his coat
R5REw TIL about William Sitgreaves Cox a junior officer aboard the USS Chesapeake who was court martialed for leaving his command when he assisted his wounded captain below decks. Since all other senior officers were wounded, he had become the commanding officer by default, unbeknownst to him.
rRZGo TIL after losing the 1996 US presidential election, Bob Dole was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 1997. He began his acceptance speech with "I, Robert J. Dole, do solemnly swear... Sorry, wrong speech"
Me1jm TIL The Hunchback of Notre-Dame was written by Victor Hugo as part of a campaign to preserve Gothic Architecture around Paris. Prior to the novel, the cathedral was in bad shape and at risk of eventual demolition. As a result of tourism from the book, Paris started restoration work instead.