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TIL i learned that the death of Buddy Holly made his pregnant wife miscarry after learning about his death on TV. As a result it became later forbidden for news outlets to announce a death before the family of the victim is notified

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4k88o TIL when the United States officially transitioned from analog to digital television on June 12, 2009, "1.75 million Americans were still not ready" resulting in 317,450 calls to the FCC on June 13. Coupons from the Dept. of Commerce were given out, to be exchanged for DTV Converter Boxes.
epebJ TIL That women could not have their own credit cards regardless of marital status until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act passed in 1974. Before then, a man would have to co-sign for a woman, even if she made more money, so credit cards were only available to men for the first 16 years they existed.
95dB TIL there have been an estimated 638 attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro by the United States, including poisoned cigars, infected scuba equipment, a pen rigged with a hypodermic needle containing poison, etc. He stated “if surviving assassination attempts was an Olympic event, I’d win gold”
d8R08 TIL the Gish Gallop is a debate technique where you say as many lies as you can so your opponent wastes time disproving them.
v1Vdj TIL: Ireland held Tailteann mass marriages where couples were allowed to wed and be married for a year to see if they were fit for each other. They could divorce by proceeding to the so called “separation hills” without leaving a mark on their reputation. This was legal until the 13th century.