› added 8 years ago

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TIL even the US President doesn’t necessarily have access to all Top Secret information unless there is a demonstrated “need-to-know.”

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1jW8 TIL in 1980, Detroit gave Saddam Hussein a key to the city out of recognition of donations he made to local churches.
MZWV TIL that the earliest voice recording (made in 1860) could not be played back until 2008
mxVXE TIL the Black Plague in the 13th century was thought to be contagious through air because of the bad stench it made, so incense and perfumes were used to "cure" it.
xVnxb TIL of Botrytized Wines, known for their sweetness. They gain the character from being made from moldy grapes infected by a specific fungus. The rotten skin increase water evaporation and highetens the sugar concentration.
QN8yL TIL in 1761 after a shipwreck, 60 slaves were abandoned on an island with the promise of being rescued. They were later forgotten. 15 years later they managed to rescue the remaining survivors: 7 women and an 8 month old baby. They managed to keep a fire burning for 15 years.