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13545

TIL in 1915, San Diego hired a “rain maker” who used a secret mix of chemicals to “attract rain” for $10,000, payable if he filled their reservoir. It rained for most of January, destroying bridges, dams, and causing 20 deaths.

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oYjA TIL that Alan Greenspan once tried to have his dissertation banned from New York University. When a copy was obtained by Barron’s, it was found to be “a discussion of soaring housing prices and their effect on consumer spending; it even anticipates a bursting housing bubble.”
M7Q88 TIL In 1920, the worlds largest lightbulb manufacturers (including GE) formed the "Phoebus Cartel". The cartel lowered operational costs and standardized the life span of incandescent light bulbs at 1,000 hrs (down from 2,500 hrs). These were the primary lightbulbs sold up until the 21st century.
gMMMA TIL The tallest building in Vermont is only 11 floors tall, and was constructed in 1971.
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