› added 5 years ago

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TIL about Japan’s 5pm bell, or national emergency broadcast system, that plays music each day at a specific time for over 90% of the country. The music is actually a daily test to ensure the system can inform residents of any major disasters (i.e. tsunami, industrial accident).

Read more japantimes.co.jp

via reddit.com

mx1ep TIL that the Chinese use drones equipped with flame-throwers to fight trash stuck in power lines.
rNKAo TIL avenue Victor Hugo in Paris, named after the famous french author, was named after him before he was dead. In fact, he lived on that avenue at that time. He would cheekily have mail addressed to him by using "Victor Hugo, en son avenue", meaning "Victor Hugo, in his avenue"
pYaxN TIL that the United States Postal Service doesn’t own or operate any aircraft. Instead, they contract with companies like FedEx and UPS to help transport mail and packages
R5VxQ TIL that the premise of the movie Sunshine, a crew of space voyagers trying to revive fading sun with an artificial explosion, had been used in literature as early as in 1931.
978G TIL archeologists in Bulgaria uncovered a grave of a 13th century staked “vampire”. At the time of the man’s death, vampires were perceived as a real threat in many Eastern European communities.