› added 13 years ago

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TIL Walt Disney gave his housekeeper Disney stocks every year for the holidays. She died a multi-millionaire.

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VXm TIL U.S. bridges and roads are being built by Chinese firms not American because it’s “faster and cheaper”.
Wav9 TIL of Sokushinbutsu - the buddhist act of self-mummification, a process which takes up to 10 years, the oldest mummy found is 550 years old
rRxY1 TIL Until late 19th Century wife selling auctions were held in England. Only the wealthiest could afford divorcing while others preferred just selling. It was also the backdrop for Thomas Hardy's 1886 novel 'The Mayor Of Casterbridge."
nWpEd TIL Due to a metal shortage during World War II, Oscars statuettes were made of painted plaster for 3 years. Following the war, the Academy invited recipients to redeem the plaster figures for gold-plated metal ones
oRlKo TIL about Florence Lawrence the "first movie star". She was buried in an unmarked grave after killing herself with ant poison in 1938. Her career never recovered after she was injured in a fire on set in 1915. Universal refused to pay her medical bills.