› added 5 years ago

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TIL of Uncle O’Grimacey, a McDonaldland character introduced in 1977 to promote the Shamrock Shake.

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Yp5MW TIL the sci-fi technology of the "mass driver" or electromagnetic catapult is real. The first prototype was built in 1977 for only $2,000, and the device was theorized by a sci-fi writer in 1937.
pMw8 TIL in 1959 Apartheid South Africa, the words “European” and “Non-European” were replaced by “Whites” and “Non-Whites” at Johannesburg Airport, because Americans tended to use the Non-European doors in order to distinguish themselves from actual Europeans.
6EBbZ TIL about Pont du Gard, built by the Romans in 1st century AD to carry water. It is over 50km long and the whole aqueduct descends in height by only 12.6 m over its entire length. The aqueduct formerly carried an estimated 40,000 m3 of water a day to the fountains, baths and homes of Nîmes, France
wamW TIL Nicotine is unusual compared to most drugs, as its profile changes from stimulant to sedative with increasing doses, a phenomenon known as “Nesbitt’s paradox”
XE0LD TIL about the China National Highway 110 traffic jam; a massive traffic jam that slowed down thousands of vehicles for more than 100 km and lasted for more than 10 days. Drivers were able to move their vehicles only 1 km per day and some drivers were stuck in the traffic jam for 5 days.