› added 6 years ago

193

TIL Peter Jackson has a secret passage in his house that leads to an underground reconstruction of Bag End.

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6E4KY TIL if you try to steal the hood ornament from a Rolls Royce made after 2004, it will instantly retreat into the chassis of the car until the owner rights it. These hood ornaments, called "The Spirit of Ecstasy", cost roughly US $4000 to replace.
D6xv TIL in Pompeii around 2000 years ago, “Beware Of The Dog” mosaics were used near the entrances to houses, much like modern day signs serving the same purpose.
7ramO TIL the scientist John von Neumann (1903-1957) could by the age of 6, divide two 8 digit numbers in his head and converse in ancient Greek. He published over 150 papers during his lifetime, and is considered by many to be among the most intellegent humans to have ever lived.
v8rD TIL Carl Johnson was the Director of the Jefferson County, CDPHE. He reported that soil around the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant contained 44 times more plutonium than the government claimed. In 1977 he reported higher-than-average rates of cancer among the local people. In 1981 he was fired.
RYL1 TIL Texas Instruments has a near monopoly on the graphing calculator field, with over 90% of the sales. Due to this the base model specs and price have not changed in 10 years.