kJbpE TIL that upon his 1926 death, the will of a wealthy Toronto lawyer promised a large fortune to the Toronto woman who would have the most children. After a decade of legal fights, 4 women (each with 9 children) would share the prize, of which the Toronto government garnished a significant share.
Eg7M7 TIL the word for geyser is derived from Geysir, the oldest known periodically erupting hot spring in Iceland
Y7bVd TIL that the first use of "cleavage" to refer to a woman's breasts was in relation to Jane Russell in the 1943 film The Outlaw when the MPAA took action against the film. Director Howard Hughes designed a prototype for an underwire bra to give Russell "five and one-quarter inches" long cleavage."
BgYLe TIL that before the 1666 fire, Old St Paul’s Cathedral doubled as London’s gossip hub: “news-mongers” paced its nave for the latest talk. A contemporary playwright said Paul’s Walk was an “open house” where people “go up and down… grumbling together,” amid beggars, thieves and prostitutes.
rNbJM Til Bolivia wasn't always landlocked, but lost its access to Pacific after a war with Chile in late 19th century. The territory is still disputed in modern times.
NXJL6 TIL that many lotions and cosmetic products contain gluten, but can still be considered gluten-free
l7bpa TIL I learned of Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục, brother of South Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm, was excommunicated by the Catholic church and during that time consecrated bishops various schisms, forming the basis of their claims of apostolic succession back to the Apostles of Jesus.
8eOLb TIL that Sea lions & Dolphins were trained by the US Navy as advanced explosive teams
P1D4Z TIL that a restaurant owner in Kentucky intentionally flooded his own restaurant with clean water to protect it from an incoming river flood
epbZg TIL the largest note ever printed by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing was a $100,000 gold certificate from 1934 that was issued only for transfers between Federal Reserve Banks and never circulated among the public.
VBb6G TIL that Japan National Route 339 has a 300 m staircase that’s officially part of the highway
X0bXX TIL A Random 80 Year Old Woman Hosted Saturday Night Live In 1977 Because She Won A Contest Where The Grand Prize Was to Host An Episode