› added 2 years ago

467

TIL that there are more possible iterations of a game of chess than there are atoms in the observable universe.

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awLQJ TIL in Russia the first day of school is called "Knowledge Day" falls on Sept 1st and is a national holiday. Kids and parents celebrate by bringing their kids to school carrying balloons and presents for their teachers, it's especially special for first graders.
0do4L TIL that there was an anchorite (religious hermit living in strict isolation, typically sealed into a cell in the walls of a church) living in a monastery/convent in Rome as recently as 1990
b9dR0 TIL The extra shoelace hole in your shoes is to be used for a "lace lock" to prevent blisters and foot movement
X0j4Q TIL that in South Korea there are shamans who worship US General Douglas MacArthur. They will sometimes Don sunglasses and a pipe while claiming to be possessed by his spirit.
aQvy TIL that whenever the final joke on an episode of “Seinfeld” didn’t receive enough laughs from the live audience, the cast and crew would come out on stage and pitch ideas for how to make the ending funnier, so that the episodes always ended well.