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TIL of operation Abscam: an FBI sting operation in the late 70s which resulted in the resignation of 1 US senator and 5 US congressmen and the expulsion of a 6th congressman for corruption. Congress made it impossible for the FBI to run similar sting ops in the future (Civiletti Guidelines, 1981)

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nleY TIL That after a test preview for Apollo 13, an audience member said he hated the movie because it had a “typical Hollywood ending” and that the crew should have not survived.
4kNdw TIL Vincent van Gogh had a known habit of sucking on his brushes to swap colors. It is widely believed that the lead poisoning led to his severe mental decline, resulting in his famously cutting off his ear, and ultimately shooting himself in the chest.
dDkMZ TIL about Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate. It is a street in York, England, known for its short length and unusual name. The street's name was first recorded in 1505 as Whitnourwhatnourgate, and later appears as Whitney Whatneygate. It seems to mean "neither-one-thing-nor-the-other street".
LEXd TIL that in 1930, tar pitch was placed in a funnel to prove that it was a liquid, and the 9th drop is estimated to drop in late 2013.
5VY5p TIL that while impressed by his book "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica", the UK's science academy couldn't publish Isaac Newton's book due to being nearly bankrupt from spending all of its money printing the "History of Fish". Thankfully, scientist Edmond Halley's funded the printing.