› added 5 years ago

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TIL that builders of Japan's Nijō castle created squeaky floors to prevent ninja assassins from sneaking in. The floors were designed so that just the lightest step produced a clearly audible sound, warning guards that danger is approaching and forcing a ninja to abandon his plots for the night.

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8el8L TIL: John Michell in 1783, published a paper speculating the existence of black holes, and was forgotten until the 1970s
xVvvb TIL of Fred the Undercover Kitty, a cat who was enlisted by the NYPD to help catch a criminal posing as a veterinarian in 2006. Fred was awarded a Law Enforcement Appreciation Award and a Mayor's Alliance Award for his service.
a8OGA TIL when Coney Island's Steeplechase amusement park burned down in 1907 the park's owner placed a sign the next day that read "On this site will be built a bigger, better, Steeplechase Park. Admission to the burning ruins — Ten cents"
PRBn TIL the city of Whynot, North Carolina has it’s name because as residents were arguing over a name for the city, some bloke stood up and said “Why not name the town Why Not and let’s go home?” And so they did.
Ddnj TIL anyone born in any place that was once controlled by France (e.g. all of the land in Lousiana Purchase) is eligible for almost immediate French Citizenship (skipping the 5 year residency requirement).