› added 11 years ago

82

TIL Salvador Dali would avoid paying tabs by drawing on checks. The drawing would be too valuable to cash the check.

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Y76NB TIL smallpox killed more people in the 20th century than all the wars combined.
96Q TIL that Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu a hill in New Zealand, translates to “the place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as ‘landeater,’ played his flute to his loved one” and is arguably the longest place name.
b6kpp TIL that George Washington had to borrow money to travel to New York City for his presidential inauguration. Despite owning 60,000 acres and 300 slaves he had very little cash and part of the reason he took the job was the salary.
XEPgr TIL Koala Bear fingerprints are almost indistinguishable from human fingerprints. A forensic scientist suggested that koala bears were unlikely to be at the scenes of crimes, but police should be aware of the possibility.
QJE6p TIL Xerxes the Great ordered the Hellespont strait be whipped 300 times after a bridge being constructed over the strait collapsed during a storm. The second attempt to build the bridge was successful.