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TIL A black cop infiltrated the KKK in 1978. He rose through the ranks to become the head of the local chapter. He was able to gather intelligence by pretending to be a white supremacist on the phone and other forms of correspondence. He sent a white officer in his place for any in-person meetings.

XwQj TIL: From January 1 to Nov 29, 2014 the CDC confirmed 610 measles cases in the US. This is the highest number of cases since measles was considered eliminated in 2000. The infection rate in 2013 was less than 200.
grBw4 TIL A Parisian man lived in an apartment that measured less than 17 square feet (80 square feet under the legal limit) for 15 years. His rent was 330 euros (or $442).
0wVd1 TIL The Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations' was the most expensive single produced at that time. It was inspired by Brian Wilson's mother telling him dogs could tell if a person was good or bad based on their vibrations. Wilson considered the song to be "his whole life performance in one track".
R5ly4 TIL standard greetings likely evolved from handshaking to hierarchical bowing to handshaking, against which a French society was formed to abolish 'le shake-hands' as a vulgar English innovation
kOloW TIL The final episode of Perry Mason was set in a TV studio, offering the entire production crew an opportunity to appear on camera. Most of the behind-the-scenes personnel in the episode had been with the show the entire nine year run. The original author, Erle Gardner, appeared too.