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TIL that the Empire State Building's opening coincided with the Great Depression in the United States, and as a result much of its office space was vacant from its opening. The lack of renters led New Yorkers to deride the building as the "Empty State Building".

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nWGy9 TIL in 1982, 7 people in the Chicago area died after ingesting Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide. James William Lewis sent an extortion letter to Johnson & Johnson, demanding $1 million to "stop the killings." While he was convicted of extortion, he was never charged with the murders.
p0Dp TIL the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa (one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history) was so powerful that it ruptured the eardrums of sailors 64km (40mi) away, created tsunamis over 40 metres high, and was so violent that it was heard 3,110km (1,930mi) away in Australia
KOWyG TIL Quigley Down Under and Lightning Jack are directed by the same person, one an American Cowboy in Australia, the other an Australian Cowboy in America.
v1edr TIL In the Netherlands sex is seen as a human right, disabled citizens can get grants for legal prostitutes up to 12 times a year. Reports show this has significantly reduced depression and suicide rates among the disabled, many of whom have previously never had the chance to have sex before.
OoaX7 TIL that Native Americans started the practice of reloading bullet cartridges during the Indian Wars. US military authorities found out and ordered all US soldiers to stomp on their fires cartridges after being fired. Frontiersmen took advantage of this and sold overpriced shells to the natives.