› added 9 years ago

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TIL: the inventor of intermittent windshield wipers tried to sell his idea to the auto industry and was turned away. When they began showing up on new cars, he sued, and won.

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Vxw8 TIL the famous scene from the film Heat, where De Niro’s criminal and Pacino’s detective talk face to face over coffee, was based on the true story of a Detective Adamson tracking down a criminal McCauley in the 1960s. The two met for coffee and had a conversation almost word for word as in the film
DkgP TIL Comcast charged a customer $60,000 in fees for cancelling a contract for services that were never installed and ten months past due. The fees were apparently credited after a media outlet’s involvement.
VMXN8 TIL in the popcorn industry, two shapes of kernels are commercially important. "Butterfly" kernels are light and fluffy, their many appendages absorbing butter and salt well. "Mushroom" kernels are typically much sturdier then the butterfly ones, and are often used in making confectionery popcorn.
WkPpN TIL of Roberto Solis who was sentenced to life in prison in 1969 for murdering an armored truck driver. He became a successful poet in prison which led multiple well known writers to petition for his release. After he was released he robbed an armored truck for $3 million and is still on the run
R50Lj TIL that the extreme lifelong behavioral problems of Nancy Spungen (gf of Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols) are thought to be caused by brain damage via birth asphyxia from umbilical cord wrapped around her neck