› added 8 months ago

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TIL when the Eiffel Tower was proposed, anglers in Paris feared that the tower would discharge lightning into the Seine and kill all the fish

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69WJ7 TIL anyone in the world, any age, can receive a personalized letter from Santa Claus in Canada for free if they write him and mail the letter to: Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada. Schools classrooms can get a poster sized letter with all students name on it too.
GA7Y5 TIL about thick water, which is used to help people with difficulties swallowing stay hydrated
N7oYJ TIL that Joseph-Ignace Guillotin did not invent the guillotine. He opposed executions and when he was unable to have them abolished, he suggested "decapitation by means of a simple mechanism." as the most humane method. When the device was finally invented, it was given his name.
KYEVJ TIL about the Phoebus Cartel, an oligopoly that carved up the early light bulb market for profit and to reduce the operating life of light bulbs from about 2,500 hours to under 1,000 hours to force people to buy more bulbs. It’s an early example of planned obsolescence to drive profits.
OoZdY TIL about the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special - which only aired once - included a singing debut from Princess Leia, Chewie's wife Malla and family, Bea Arthur as a singing cantina bartender, and a loose plot with the crew trying to get home for Life Day