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TIL that frankincense smoke is psychoactive and incense may act as a weak drug during religious ceremonies.

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5Rg8 TIL that slaves were forbidden from owning drums, as they were used to communicate. New Orleans was the only city where slaves could legally own them. Hundreds of slaves were allowed to gather each Sunday to trade, sing, dance, and play music. This led to the birth of Jazz.
M7oYb TIL about Christine Jorgensen, whose gender transition became the subject of a front-page news story in the 50s. She used her fame and platform to advocate for the rights of transgender people.
yBYa TIL that film-maker Casey Neistat spent the entire promo budget for The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty on the Philippines-typhoon-aid, with permission of 20th Century Fox.
Y7Rbv TIL that the full administrative name of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was "The Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of St. Stephen"
GAL8Q TIL Autumn colour vibrancy depends on temperature variation balance. Sunny days with cool, crispy (not freezing) nights result in best colors. Daylight produces sugars, cool nights break down chlorophyll (green), non-freezing Temp traps the sugar in the leaves, and sugar concentration leads to color