› added 9 months ago

40

TIL that Robert Fulton, developer of the first commercially successful steamboat, was involved in multiple polyamorous relationships. One lover, Joel Barlow, wrote him letters in baby talk threatening to cut off his penis. Fulton asked his wife to join a foursome with the Barlows, but she declined.

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8aeMX TIL Pinball was banned beginning in the early 1940s until 1976 in New York City. New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia was responsible for the ban, believing that it robbed school children of their hard earned nickels and dimes.
LkD40 TIL - Shirley Temple was among the highest profile advocates about breast cancer awareness. In 1972 it was common for doctors not to tell women their diagnosis and to initiate mastectomy without their knowledge or consent because they were thought unable to deal with the news of their affliction.
oBQb7 TIL Hanoi Hannah was a radio host for the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam war. Hannah would broadcast exact locations of US Army units, and address soldiers directly, In attempt to denounce and frighten the US Military.
OGZD4 TIL The US has a perpetual lease for Guantanamo Bay and sends Cuba a check for about $4500 per year but the Cuban government, since 1953 has refused to accept. However one time in 1959 the check was accidentally deposited causing confusion.
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