› added 2 years ago

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TIL about The Sundial Cannon. A primitive alarm clock that focuses the sun to ignite gunpowder at a predetermined time.

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xORo TIL When a power outage struck southern California in the 1990s, Los Angeles residents reportedly called 911 to express alarm about strange clouds hovering overhead; they were seeing the Milky Way for the first time
loVv1 TIL that Marble Hill actually was part of Manhattan until they built a canal where the current Harlem River is. I also learned that St. Stephen's Church used to overlook the original estuary, Spuyten Duyvil Creek.
JYkM8 TIL in 2005 a Swedish ISP was sued by an anti-piracy group (supported by Paramount, EMI, and Sony) for copyright infringement. An internal investigation revealed that the incriminating material had been planted by insiders hired by the anti-piracy group. A deal was struck and the case was dropped.
XVgP TIL in 2009 the US mint offered free delivery on purchases of the new $1 coins, and many people exploited this to earn thousands of “free” airline miles buy using their credit cards to buy the coins, then using the coins to pay the credit card
Y7OYx TIL grapefruit can be detrimental by inhibiting an enzyme in the body involved in processing medication, such as blood pressure medication, and some psychiatric medications