› added 11 months ago

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TIL the US Postal Service has a podcast and they cover True Crime stories such as their investigation into Patrice Runner, a fake psychic who impersonated an also fake but real European psychic to con people out of $175 million in several countries.

VBjeD TIL Although she was known for playing "dumb blondes" actress Jayne Mansfield was very intelligent. She claimed to have an I.Q. of 163 and in addition to English spoke four other languages: French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
w6WJ TIL Germany has a program targeted at pedophiles who have yet to commit crimes. The goal is to help them find treatment, because many don’t want to harm others.
W7yAB TIL British comedian Freddie Starr was accused of eating a hamster by the tabloid newspaper The Sun. Although a complete fabrication, the rumour boosted Freddie's career and led to more tour dates. The rumour had been started by Freddie's manager as a practical joke.
8eBxV TIL Originally Abraham Lincoln wanted a complete separation of white and black Americans. He proposed voluntary emigration to Central America, with the first destination being “Île à Vache, a.k.a. Cow Island”, which did not get clearance from Haiti, and failed spectacularly due to lack of housing
p8gJb TIL there is a special mud collected by one family from a secret location that is used by the MLB and NFL to prepare all game balls. After Roy Chapman was killed by a baseball pitch in 1920, the MLB made it a rule to prepare all new balls with mud to remove their shine and improve grip.