› added 9 years ago

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TIL that there is a small town outside Fort Worth, TX named White Settlement. In 2005, a record number of voters turned out to oppose changing the name to something less racist-sounding and then proceeded to call for the mayor’s resignation for even proposing the change.

Read more nytimes.com

via reddit.com

lwdG TIL: Jim Jarmusch was dismayed to discover all the money he paid for the rights to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” went to the record company, with nothing going to Hawkins himself. When the film (Stranger Than Paradise) earned a profit, he tracked down Hawkins to give him some money
jN6Mj TIL monkeys and penguins have prostitutes
5QMR TIL that J.R.R.Tolkien was involved in the excavation of an ancient ring, it’s believed the ring inspired The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
awPn0 TIL the Italians almost made a jet fighter prototype in WW2 developed from their N1 experimental craft, though under a mixed piston/jet power. A single prototype was under production and it is unknown what happened to it or if it was completed at all
x6A6g TIL about the submarine USS R-14, who in during a rescue mission in 1921 had its fuel contaminated with seawater, cause the loss of battery power and radio communication. Its crew were able to make the 161 mile return trip to homeport by creating sails out of hammocks and blankets.