› added 3 months ago

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TIL of the Guano Islands Act from 1856 which the US used to lay claim to 100 unpopulated islands

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7ryW7 TIL that the name "Ivan the Terrible" reflects the older English usage of terrible as in "inspiring fear or terror; dangerous; or powerful" and not the more modern connotations in English where terrible means "defective" or "evil".
dDl97 TIL a billionaire bought a California beach, blocked public access to it, and cited 1600s property rights to justify his actions. After years of lawsuits, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling that he violated state law, but the legal battle continues.
l7oxG TIL the Filair Let plane crash: Caused by an escaped juvenile crocodile that had been smuggled in a cabin bag. The passengers were so frightened they all ran away from the croc to the front of the cabin, altering the weight distribution making the plane uncontrollable. All but 1 person on board died
PYpkJ TIL the hat worn by Indiana Jones was bought from 'Herbert Johnson' in London. The store still exists today and sells the exact same hat, now called the 'Raiders Rabbit Poet' for £365 ($460)
neRlG TIL About the underground city of Derinkuyu, located in Turkey. Large enough to hold 20 000 people and containing chapels, storage rooms and stables it was re-discovered accidentally when a Turkish man was trying to expand his home and knocked down a wall leading into the tunnel complex.