› added 5 years ago

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TIL of the Man in the Iron Mask. An unidentified prisoner held for 34 years, until his death in 1703, who was forced to wear a mask to ensure no one knew his true identity. His cell had multiple doors so no one could listen; if he spoke of anything other than his immediate needs he would be killed.

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5VnWk TIL: In 2004 hidden documents surfaced implicating LAPD officers in the murder of Notorious B.I.G.
yQg08 TIL that in 1964, Isaac Asimov speculated that by 2014, cars with "robot-brains" would drive us to our destinations without human assistance. Though he did predict the advent of the autonomous car, his belief that it would hover two feet above the ground failed to materialize.
YpgWG TIL in 2012 a schizophrenic inmate named Darren Rainey died after he was put in a 180 °F (82 °C) shower for two hours. His skin reportedly "fell off at the touch". Two officers who were on duty at the time later received promotions and nobody has ever been charged.
m1XvR TIL cooking has a million-year history
MeWRW TIL When Rick James attended a dinner party in Hawaii with Salvador Dali, Dali insisted on drawing him, sketched him on a napkin and gave it to him. The priceless memento became an inky blob the next morning when he smoked a joint and went swimming with the napkin still in his swim trunks.