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TIL James Smithson sent the US $500,000 (1.5% the federal budget) in the 19C to found an institution "for the creation and diffusion of knowledge." The Smithsonian is today the world's largest museum complex; all are free of charge and open to the public, and James Smithson never visited the US.

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OGDK1 TIL Vladimir Lenin ruled the shortest time in the Soviet Union, only 1 year and 22 days.
nbKW TIL A man built an amusement park for his disabled daughter w free admission for everyone w special needs
nBBd TIL that Adam Savage, host of Mythbusters, wanted to disprove creationism on an episode of Mythbusters, saying, “I’m sick of fifty percent of this country thinking creationism is reasonable. It’s appalling.”
ON1e TIL Louisiana French is in decline. One million people spoke it in 1968, now only 150k-200k speak it.
v1yvr TIL that the Norweigan resistance during WW2, after having their entire sardine catch requisitioned by the Nazis, took revenge by spiking the sardines with croton oil which is an extremely powerful laxative. Britain was so impressed by this that they followed suit by also spiking German supplies