› added 12 years ago

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TIL that the rape conviction rate is 58%, higher than the average for crimes. The myth that it’s hard to get a rapist convicted, which keeps some assaults from being reported, is absolutely false.

rYkd TIL A psychiatrist convicted of Marijuana possession escaped from prison after cheating on a psychology test that he designed himself so that he was placed in a lower security prison.
6Eeb8 TIL The makers of Monty Python and the Holy Grail were struggling to raise the 2 million pounds needed, and had just about given up, when George Harrison offered to finance it. The reason he gave was that he wanted to see the movie.
W7XKY TIL Formula 1 race car driver Alex Zanardi cheated death 3 times. In 2001 he was in a horrific crash and lost both legs. In 2020 he had a massive head injury and was in a medically induced coma. Finally, he had severe smoke inhalation from a house fire in 2022.
6bDW TIL Grigori Perelman, a Russian mathematician, successfully proved the Poincaré conjecture (one of the seven Millennium problems) in papers made available in 2002 and 2003. When his work survived review, he was offered a Fields Medal and the $1,000,000 Millennium Prize, both of which he turned down.
0YNj TIL that Catholic monks in Germany 700 years ago were surviving Lent by drinking only bock. They felt guilty that it tasted so good, brought some to the Pope. On the long, hot journey to Rome it spoiled, so the Pope found it tasted horrible and deemed it “excellent Lenten penance.”