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TIL: The term "Mad as a Hatter" was originated back in the early 1800s in Denton, Tameside (which is in northern England), where hat makers used mercury in their hat making process. The mercury in the hats would cause dementia in wearers due to the mercury leaking into the body.

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NB68 TIL Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz (Lucy and Ricky on “I Love Lucy”) not only saved “Star Trek” from cancellation in 1966, but also helped produce it.
QJ77X TIL in 2005, the US introduced a new $1 coin that you could buy and have shipped for free. people took advantage of this by buying them with a credit card then immediately using the coins to pay their bill to get free airline miles. one man abused this so much that he earned 4 million airline miles
ep7gk TIL that before haunted houses, 16th-century elites hosted “black or hell banquets.” Dating to ancient Rome, Emperor Domitian hosted a banquet where guests were assigned a seat with a personalized gravestone. The menu consisted of food usually offered as sacrifices for the departed.
8O0P TIL in 1987 a barge left New York for North Carolina hauling 3,168 tons of trash. NC turned it away, and it traveled for 7 months trying and failing to find someone to take it. It sparked a national conversation about landfills and recycling.
LLoQ TIL A film crew was dropped by helicopter on St. Helens on May 23 (five days after it’s eruption) to document the destruction. Their compasses, however, spun in circles and they quickly became lost.