› added 8 years ago

62

TIL that, starting during their golden age in the early 17th century, the Dutch had a monopoly on trade with Japan that lasted until 1854. During this time, the Dutch were Japan’s only source of information on the Western world.

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X0Ad6 TIL that Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were cousins and exchanged conciliatory personal telegrams as World War I broke out between their countries. The messages were in informal English (a language they shared), signed “Willy” and “Nicky”.
9Y4QX TIL about Saturators. Saturators were popular in communist Russia. They would dispense sodas, water, carbonated juices, etc. However instead of cans, the drink was dispensed into a reusable glass tied to a chain which you had to wash before each use.
8ayML TIL that Arizona has a lake with some spooky attractions
M7Ow0 TIL there are only 3 places in the world which follow the GMT + XX:45 timezone: Nepal, Eucla in Australia, and Chatham Island in New Zealand.
1aXLP TIL the CIA may have written Winds of Change by Scorpions to fell communism.