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TIL some lawmakers want to change Kazakhstan's name. The most recent suggestion was "Kazakh Republic" (Kazakhstan's original name) for the upcoming 100th anniversary of independence. They argue "stan" countries get confused and the change would create a unique identity for foreign interest.

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7r4YZ TIL The Roland 808 drum machine was commercial and critical flop because it didn't produce a realistic drum sound. However, its 'unusual' synthetic beats and effects made it a cult favourite among EDM and hip-hop artists, which eventually turned the 808 into the icon it is today.
wLemP TIL of Rebecca Chittum, a girl who was switched at birth with another girl and the mistake wasn’t discovered for 3 years. The day that the swap was realized, her biological parents died in a tragic car accident.
jamM TIL that President Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou both spoke fluent Mandarin Chinese. They communicated in the language whenever they wanted to keep their conversations private around guests and the press.
rNNZ1 TIL The professional bowler Chris Barnes once beat a robot optimized to throw strikes
Wkxm8 TIL the towns of Boring, USA, Dull, Scotland, and Bland, Australia Teamed Up to Create the League of Extraordinary Communities.