› added 1 year ago

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TIL Luke Helder, who in 2002 planted pipe bombs in various places to draw a smiley face across America, is still being held indefinitely at a federal mental health facility after being declared incompetent to stand trial

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NXL48 TIL that Termite queens have the longest known lifespan of any insect. They are known to live thirty to fifty years. They are considered delicacies in many parts of the world, owing to their rarity and rich, fatty flavor. Documentarian Andreas Johnsen sampled one and said it tasted like foie gras.
KXQR TIL that in 1967, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry was chased by the race organizer shouting “Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers” while her boyfriend and other male runners provided a protective shield.
p8BNe TIL that a magazine called Continuum constantly published articles denouncing the HIV/AIDs as a hoax from 1992 until 2001, before ceasing its publication because all its contributors died from AIDs-defining clinical conditions.
ep7a4 TIL that one of the oldest national anthems, the Spanish National Anthem Marcha Real, has no official lyrics at all. It's just the music. And while it is played people just hum "na na na" to the music.
J1PxV TIL that, during an argument over control for the Island of Hísing, two rulers agreed to go to the island & roll dice to decide. They both repeatedly rolled double-sixes. Eventually one of the dice broke in half, showing two of its sides at the same time, allowing one of them to win by rolling a 13.