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TIL the jazz standard "Pennsylvania 6-5000," popularized by Glenn Miller, was inspired by the Pennsylvania Hotel's telephone number from where Miller led His Orchestra in 1940.

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mxyWY TIL: the US Gov't made a deal with the Italian Mafia to ensure that no German or Italian saboteurs snuck in through the New York port/docks by providing information to the US Navy. They also guaranteed no dockworkers would strike, therefore ensuring a constant line of supplies leaving to the front.
o5ME TIL that art used to be an Olympic sport.
ADbKx TIL of the most famous person ever to have literally been in a pickle, Horatio Nelson. He died at sea, so the surgeon on board pickled his body in brandy to preserve it for the long trip to England. 2 weeks into the journey, gaseous pressures burst the cask lid, making Nelson "rise from the dead."
dQjK TIL New Jersey lifeguards can retire when they’re 45 years old with a lifelong pension of up to $61,000.00/year. And when they die, the payments continue on to their dependents
wLy7Y TIL The German word "Hamsterkäufe" is a behaviour, where people accumulate food and supplies to prepare for shortages, thus often creating the shortages in the first place.