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TIL that in 1875 Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, doing so in approximately 21 hours 40 minutes. Webb’s end came at Niagara Falls in 1883. He was attempting another first to swim the whirlpool rapids but was crushed by the sheer weight of the water

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0v9R TIL a movie was created in the 80’s with a murder scene so realistic the director was jailed until the actors could be located.
wY1Y TIL Coca-Cola hired paramilitary hitmen to murder union leaders in Columbia
J1YN8 TIL Mankind constantly analyzes radio waves from outer space in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Since this analysis started, almost all of the signal sources have been identified. 37 signals, however, remain unexplained. Hence the name of the Co that created Basecamp.
R5ga4 TIL the Ancient Egyptians had an annual "feast of drunkenness" commemorating the time humanity was saved by beer
GYgKG TIL that the 21-gun salute stems from a tradition of old war ships firing all cannons harmlessly out to sea, until all ammunition was spent. Therefore showing they were disarmed and lacked hostile intent.