› added 9 months ago

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TIL that the largest urban area by population outside of Asia is São Paulo, Brazil

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KW9w TIL in 1958, then Vice President Nixon unknowingly smuggled 3 lbs. of marijuana through U.S. Customs for Louis Armstrong.
woj4o TIL of Kamo Ter-Petrosian, an infamous leader of a Bolshevik gang. Kamo would often test newcomers by ambushing them and putting them through a fake execution. When a recruit revealed himself to be a spy, Kamo had him shot, then tore out the man's heart and showed it to other recruits as a lesson.
ny9P TIL that when the African Grey parrot N'kisi first met Jane Goodall, he recognized her from a photograph and asked “Got a chimp?” It is claimed that this was a possible display of a sense of humor.
0d9OR Today I learned that the Five Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique from Kill Bill is somewhat based on reality. It’s called Commotio Cordis, where sudden cardiac arrest can result from a single (not necessarily heavy) blow to the chest at a very particular moment in the heart’s rhythm.
Lk6RP TIL Oliver Stone’s original story for Platoon was called Break, based on his own experiences in the Vietnam War and set to music from The Doors. He sent the script to Jim Morrison hoping he would play the lead. Morrison never responded but he did have the script with him when he died in Paris.