› added 11 years ago

102

TIL Tom Lehrer’s (of ‘Element Song’ fame) song 'The Old Dope Peddler’ is sampled in 2 Chainz’s song 'Dope Peddler’. When asked for permission he responded: “As sole copyright owner… I grant you motherfuckers permission to do this. Please give my regards to Mr. Chainz, or may I call him 2?”

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

E87x TIL An inmate on death row pleaded for DNA testing which was denied. After his execution, Virginia refused additional public demand for the test, worried it would confirm that they’d “executed an innocent man.” The evidence was then destroyed.
OQV4 TIL there is an endangered indigenous group of people living in the eastern Amazon forests of Brazil called Awá-Guajá. They are known for smiling all the time.
PYJYn TIL Dr. Phil is NO longer licensed to practice psychology in the US. He had ethics charges for an inappropriate relationship with a patient (1989), a criminal complaint for practicing psychology without a license (California), and violated doctor-patient confidentiality with Britney Spears (2008).
mWRR TIL that in Ancient Alexandria there was a prominent Mathematician named Hypatia. She came to embody the enlightened Alexandian spirit. She was flayed to death with oyster shells by a Christian mob. Her death is considered by many to be the beginning of the end for intellectual Alexandria.
kLK5 TIL there is an island in Norway that lies at 68° north - well within the Arctic circle - that has an extreme temperature anomaly. Summers are warm and winter temperatures rarely pass below the freezing point.