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TIL in 1960, the computer at NORAD warned with 99.9% certainty that the Soviets had just launched a full-scale missile attack against North America. NORAD later discovered that the Early Warning System in Greenland had interpreted the moon rising over Norway as a missile attack from Siberia.

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M71m TIL Emma Thompson used to torment Stephen Fry by surprising him at the top of his stairs naked and locking all the doors on the bottom floor so he couldn’t escape.
d8owE TIL that Swedish band Roxette gained fame in the US thanks to an exchange student, Dean Cushman, who brought their album back home with him from Sweden
oBbEo TIL the Eiffel Tower was originally intended to stand from 1889 to 1909, but was saved due to its use as an army radio transmitter. Its concession was extended for the next 70 years, to 1980, lasting beyond as a tourist attraction and receiving regular modifications such as television broadcasting.
0w5Oj TIL that on June 25th 2009 both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett died a few hours apart, and his death largely overshadowed hers in the media.
g9l8 TIL that once Yo Yo Ma, a famous cellist, played in Steve Job’s living room and Jobs called his performance “the best argument I’ve ever heard for the existence of God.”