› added 5 months ago

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TIL that 18th century British churches employed "sluggard wakers" to whack the heads of parishioners who fell asleep during the service

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GAZG4 TIL that historian George Smith, upon discovering an ancient Mesopotamian parallel to the Biblical Flood story, was so overcome with excitement that he began running around the room and removing his clothes, to the astonishment of those present.
gp69 TIL that 69% of Americans Have Less Than $1,000 USD in Savings, as of September 2016
DORD TIL Jonathan Banks, Mike from Breaking Bad, was in a 1970’s sex education video
e0yXE TIL In the 90s, "Cheers" lookalike bars were built in airports across the county, complete with animatronic patrons inspired by Norm and Cliff, which triggered George Wendt and John Ratzenberger to sue for copyright and trademark infringement.
pkwO TIL when de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO and ordered all US troops out, Secretary of State Dean Rusk asked him for clarification, “Does your order include the bodies of American soldiers in France’s cemeteries?”