› added 7 months ago

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TIL 4 Federal Indian boarding schools are still in operation.

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l4rr TIL of the Native American “Shame Pole”, a totem pole erected to embarrass people for not payment of debts or ridicule misdeeds. In 2007 one such pole was erected in Alaska depicting the CEO of Exxon to highlight an unpaid debt of $5m owed from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
xV5x1 TIL urine indicator dyes for pools are a myth. There is no such thing as a chemical that turns urine in swimming pools blue or red.
VMJE0 TIL before the discovery of x-rays or the popularity of xylophones, alphabet books struggled with examples for "X is for...". Some used Greek figures like Xerxes and Xantippe, but others were lazy and just said "X is a letter, like this X".
P1KJe TIL that since 2010 there is a church called united church of bacon. They have over 25,000 members and even have their own bacon commandments.
0d8xy TIL the bedchamber sword of 18th century Indian ruler Tipu Sultan became the most expensive Indian or Islamic object ever sold at auction when it sold for $17.4 million last year. Its hilt is decorated with gold calligraphy and "the sword of the ruler" is inscribed in Persian on its blade.