› added 11 years ago

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TIL the drinking straw was first invented by Sumerians over 5000 years ago to avoid drinking the solid byproducts of fermentation in their beer.

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MMrV TIL there was a man born with no depth perception, but while attending a 3D movie, his brain repaired the condition.
woOwo TIL that in 1939, African-American singer Marian Anderson was denied permission to perform at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Hall had a white performers-only policy. Anderson responded by giving an open-air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
D17be TIL Clyde Barrow (Bonnie and Clyde) once wrote a letter to Henry Ford, thanking him for the reliability and performance of his V-8 automobiles.
BrWnW TIL that this is the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre where the British gunned down 1500 peaceful Indian protesters in 10 minutes. Colonel Dryer, the man who ordered the massacre said he “wanted to punish Indians for disobedience.”
ep6mJ TIL that the day after John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. Hinckley's Röhm RG-14 six shot revolver was given to the ATF which was able to trace the gun's origin in just 16 minutes to being purchased at Rocky's Pawn Shop in Dallas, Texas, on October 13, 1980.