› added 7 years ago

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TIL A Charlie Brown Christmas essentially killed the popularity of aluminum Christmas trees single-handedly. Within two years after its release, aluminum trees were no longer regularly manufactured.

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6ymW TIL that in the afternoon of 9/11, Rumsfeld gave the following directive to his aides: “Judge whether good enough hit S.H.” (Saddam Hussein) at same time. Not only UBL" (Osama bin Laden). Need to move swiftly – Near term target needs – go massive – sweep it all up. Things related and not.“
7b4p TIL that because maple syrup doesn’t always look good on camera, many food advertisers replace it with motor oil in commercials.
4RB5 TIL that in 2004 the company Alcoa had to officially declare the proposed site for its new aluminum smelting plant in Iceland “elf-free” before it could begin construction.
KObkB TIL that the top 10% of drinkers account for more than half of all alcohol consumed in the U.S. Which equates to them consuming an average 73.85 drinks per week.
QJN69 TIL of "soft despotism": a state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. It gives people the illusion that they are in control, when in fact they have very little influence over their government.