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TIL, In 1242, all of Western Europe could have been destroyed had the Mongol horde’s leader, Ögedei Khan, not died of alcohol poisoning during a hunting trip; forcing the horde to return to Mongolia to choose a new Khan.

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8eJ7K TIL that the Great Chinese Famine (1959-1961), one of the deadliest famines in history, was significantly worsened by the socialist policies of the Chinese government, leading to an estimated 15-45 million deaths.
WDxo TIL: At the time of WW1, the King of Britain, Russia, and Germany were all first cousins. When asked about WW1, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany sarcastically remarked, “If my grandmother [Queen Victoria] had been alive, she would never have allowed it.”
rn5x TIL there are castles for sale in France cheaper than old two bedroom apartments in Australia.
5Yg7P TIL that Gayla Peevey (the ten year old who became famous from singing "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"), was actually given a hippopotamus for Christmas, which she donated to the local zoo.
Y71QZ TIL, To reduce cleaning costs, Amsterdam Airport printed pictures of flies inside urinals, thinking men would aim at the flies while using the bathroom, reducing the amount of urine landing outside the urinals. Their plan worked.