› added 11 months ago

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TIL that the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake was so powerful that it generated “seiches” (standing waves in enclosed bodies of water) of up to 1.5 meters to form as far away as Sognefjorden, Norway.

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l797a TIL about the story of José Saramago: born in a family of landless peasants, registered with the wrong surname, had to work as a mechanical locksmith, became famous at 50 years old after writing a book and nowadays its one of Portugal's most admired celebrities.
n6VB TIL just months after the Hiroshima bombing, Kix cereal offered an atomic-bomb-shaped ring in exchange for a box-top and 15 cents. Each contained a glowing sample of polonium.
wor5W TIL that in 2011 a man foreclosed on Bank of America. After BofA mistakenly tried to foreclose on his house despite him not having a mortgage, they owed him fees and damages. When they refused to pay, police escorted the homeowner to the local BofA branch and began seizing computers, desks, and cash
xV7gg TIL During the Cold War the US considered airdropping enormous condoms labeled “Medium” onto the Soviets, to demoralize them against an anatomically superior American Army.
xVoNo TIL an area of Canada nearly x2 the size of Texas was almost renamed "Bob" after politicians in the Northwest Territories asked residents for a new name. The campaign to name the territory Bob began as a prank but thousands supported it.