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TIL Slinkys were used in the Vietnam war as mobile radio antennas. They would sling the Slinky over branches and extend the range of their radios

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NpZQ TIL the machine largely regarded as the world’s first motorcycle, built in 1867, had a twist-grip throttle - an idea that has not been bettered since.
D11AD TIL that Porphyria, a collection of diseases where symptoms include severe sun sensitivity, prominent canine teeth and peculiar behaviour, is thought to be the basis of the vampire legend
y4ep TIL in 1990, Mr. Rogers sued the KKK for impersonating his voice in prerecorded messages. These messages said “AIDS was divine retribution” and included radio skits simulating lynchings of black children on a playground. The tapes were circulated among elementary and middle school children.
grmAW TIL that the person who published the first map with the word America, later tried to change the continent's name to Parrotland.
neVMY TIL that a Calvin and Hobbes comic from 1992 referred to the start of the universe as the Horrendous Space Kablooie, saying that "The Big Bang" was too boring. The term Horrendous Space Kablooie (or HSK) has since become popular among scientists, and has been used in books and university courses.