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TIL prohibition agent Izzy Einstein bragged that he could find liquor in any city in under 30 minutes. In Chicago it took him 21 min. In Atlanta 17, and Pittsburgh just 11. But New Orleans set the record: 35 seconds. Einstein asked his taxi driver where to get a drink, and the driver handed him one.

v10OK TIL the Queen piece in chess was originally a Visier, akin to prime minister. In Europe, according to one theory, it changed to a queen during the 13th century as prominent European Queens (Eleanor of Aquitaine/Blanche of Castile) better reflected the role of a King's source of power and influence.
rRgG0 TIL King Richard Lionheart had more than two thousand Muslim prisoners of war from the captured city of Acre beheaded in front of the Ayyubid armies of sultan Saladin on 20 August 1191.
8aYe4 TIL The very first strike ever recorded in history started in 1152 BC. During the reign of Rameses III in Ancient Egypt, while building a royal necropolis, the workers felt they were being underpaid, so they organized a massive strike. Their wages were actually increased and workers returned to work
l6RV TIL that there’s more people speaking french in Africa than in France
v1ngK TIL that Adelicia Acklen saved her fortune because she was friends with a Confederate general and friendly with a Union admiral. The general agreed not to burn her Louisiana cotton and the admiral allowed her to ship it to New Orleans. She sold it to the Rothchilds of London for $960,000.