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TIL that, until 1992, electrical appliances sold in England were not required by law to have a plug attached. Appliances were mostly sold with only a raw wire, and users were expected to wire the plugs themselves.

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4X116 TIL after conquering China, by 1241 the Mongols were expanding their empire to the west, using Chinese rockets (self-propelled flying bombs) in battles across Eastern Europe. And with them came secret of black powder - the recipe was first written down around 1250 by English scholar Roger Bacon.
b6Ex0 TIL A french waiter claimed to have invented Crêpes Suzette on accident when he was preparing a dish for future King Edward VII. The story goes that the cordials on a dish of crepes had accidentally caught on fire, but after a taste test he decided the taste had been improved and served it anyways.
N79XP TIL that though many people think Meat Loaf never identifies what "that" thing is in "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," six things he won't do are actually pointed out in the song.
J1rxk TIL: Martin Luther King Jr. Was a Star Trek Fan. He admired "Star Trek" for its vision of a diverse and harmonious future. When actress Nichelle Nichols considered leaving the show, King persuaded her to remain, emphasizing her role as a vital representation for African Americans.
VMgaQ TIL that someone changed fine print in their credit card agreement before mailing back, bank stamped it, mailed him a certified copy along with a credit card, and later a lawsuit was filed over those modified terms