› added 10 years ago

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TIL Philadelphia’s mayors were initially unpaid, and often strongly objected to being selected - sometimes opting to pay a large fine rather than serve.

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E1w77 TIL a Belgian mayor hired a DJ to play a music set as a way to drive out some visiting gypsies with loud music. The plan backfired as the gypsies just came out to party, the mayor received international bad press and, since no one had bothered to pay necessary composers’ rights, a 100 euro fine.
mK7O TIL sliced bread was originally advertised as “the greatest forward step in the baking industry since bread was wrapped”
dmNj TIL Atheists are banned from holding public office by the constitutions of 7 states. Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, & North Carolina: “The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.” ART IV,Sec 8
dNvQ TIL that during the Fukushima nuclear disaster, more than 200 retirees volunteered to replace younger workers at the facility. The volunteer group figures they have less than 20 years to live and will be dead before any radiation induced cancer develops.
kJ104 TIL: a 22 year old missing persons case was solved in 2017 when someone spotted the missing man's car in a pond just a few yards from a neighbouring house in Google maps