› added 1 year ago

60

TIL rapper Mos Def began his career as an actor. Before the release of his critically acclaimed album 'Black On Both Sides' in 1998, he had already starred in multiple sitcoms, had a Visa commercial with Deion Sanders, and played a small role in the short film 'Ghosts' alongside Michael Jackson

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

8aKO4 TIL of The Essex, an American ship which was attacked by a sperm whale in 1820. The 20-man crew set out in the surviving life boats for several months, resorting to drawing lots to decide who would be sacrificed and consumed. 8 men survived. The story was the inspiration for the novel 'Moby Dick'.
JYjd1 TIL coffee is roasted until it "cracks." First crack (about 385 °F) = light roast, second crack (about 435 °F) = dark roast. If roasted past the second crack, the beans will fully carbonize and may combust.
78JwM TIL about Jawhar al-Siqilli, an Italian sodlier-slave in Fatimid hands who gained his freedom after 40 years of slavery and worked his way up to becoming the viceroy of Egypt, there he founded the city of Cairo and the al-Azhar university, the oldest university in the world.
PYDVe TIL Nike's Slogan "Just Do It" was inspired by double-murderer Gary Gilmore who said in his last moments facing down a firing squad "Let's Do It"
KO5B4 TIL that in order to stop the existence of brothels, various US states forbid a large number of women from living together in one house. In Ohio, it's illegal for more than 5 women to live together; in Tennessee, it's illegal for more than 8; and in Pennsylvania, it's illegal for more than 15