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157

TIL that electricity was installed in the White House in 1891 during the presidency of Benjamin Harrison. He was so afraid of being electrocuted that he and his family never operated the light switches, always making his servants do it for them. He often slept with the lights on.

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bGDa TIL that, according to the Department of Energy, commuter rail only has about 10% better actual fuel economy than cars, and buses are the worst at more than 20% lower given its sparse ridership.
X0ZO6 TIL that a stingray in an aquarium has either cloned herself or has been impregnated by a shark
Egob7 TIL that McVitie's Digestive got its name from the high amount of sodium bicarbonate in it. The inventor theorized that eating the biscuits after a large meal would be beneficial to one's health. Now, they print a disclaimer on them that says, “The biscuit's ingredients lack digestive aids”
Me8VA TIL about the Balearic Slingers. Little is know about these Light infantry mercenaries who fought against and then for the Roman Empire. Highly skilled and feared for their ability to strike down enemies up to 400 metres away, using ammunition made from stone, hardened clay or lead.
p8Xl8 TIL that in the UK, kestrels were once called “windfuckers”.