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137

TIL AT&T made a working answering machine in 1939 but suppressed it, thinking public fear of being recorded would lead to widespread abandonment of the telephone.

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yQBQe TIL ants make up 15 to 20% of the terrestrial animal biomass. In rain forests, as much as 25% of it is ants.
PvWw TIL about Whataburger, and What-a-burger. They’re both different restaurants that opened on the same day without the knowledge of each others existence.
4K6o TIL Lego Minifigures will outnumber humans by the year 2019.
p8RWe TIL about "Black Sunday", Disneyland's disastrous opening day. Asphalt poured that morning melted in the 101 °F weather, counterfeit tickets added 3x the park's capacity, a plumbers' strike forced Walt to choose running toilets over water fountains, vendors ran out of food, rides were hijacked, etc.
P6nn TIL Americans spend more money on Lotteries than on movies, video games, books, music and sports tickets – combined.