› added 12 years ago

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TIL that Fats Waller, jazz musician, was kidnapped by four armed men and forced to play the piano during a huge party ; he later realized he was playing for Al Capone’s birthday, who absolutely loved his music. Some say he played for three days, and went back home with a tip of thousands of dollar.

oRJAE TIL that there’s a specific phobia of the color yellow known as xanthophobia; its exact causes are not fully understood but can be influenced by past experiences, learned behavior, or underlying cognitive factors
xQ65 TIL 242 people died and at least 630 others were injured in a nightclub fire in Brazil in 2013. Everything could’ve been avoided if outdoor pyrotechnics hadn’t been used indoors and if people trying to get away hadn’t been trapped by security guards demanding their bills to be paid.
nWdKr TIL that in 2006, paleontologists officially named a dinosaur Dracorex hogwartsia, meaning "Dragon King of Hogwarts." The skull’s spiky appearance reminded them of the dragons described in the Harry Potter books. However, later research suggested it likely wasn’t a separate species.
e0o75 TIL in 1947 a woman with hives went to Johns Hopkins to cure her hives. She received an experimental drug Compund 1694 and not only her hives cleared up she reported that her trolly rides were free from nausea. Doctors immediately test the drug for motion sickness and Compund 1694 became Dramamine.
6vbZ TIL one million moms threatens to boycott JCPenny over mother’s day ad that featured two moms… JCPenny’s responded by featuring 2 dads. for father’s day ad.