› added 9 years ago

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TIL that the national gun homicide rate is down 49% since 1993, and 56% of Americans believe the number of crimes involving a gun is higher than it was 20 years ago.

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rR0B4 TIL The industry standard microphone for live vocal performances (ie, concerts) is the Shure SM58, first released in 1966 and retailing for only $100.
9YgA6 TIL before alarm clocks were cheap or reliable, "knocker-uppers" specialized in waking people up in the morning by shooting dried peas with blow guns at their windows. They would not leave until they made sure that their clients had actually awoken.
6E7lQ TIL the United States Government was in full support of the movie Independence Day [1996] offering real military uniforms and even jets until the film makers refused to remove Area 51 from the movie. The government withdrew all support.
awM9J TIL Chevy had an option on almost all of its cars in the 60s called "Liquid Chain". It would spray a traction enhancing substance on the tires to aid traction in snow.
LQ0Yv TIL cats are polydactyl (extra toes) because of the Sonic Hedgehog Protein. Which is a protein named after the blue video game hedgehog.