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TIL On Seinfeld, Elaine Benes’ dance moves were inspired by SNL chief Lorne Michaels. Michaels was once observed “dancing as if he’d never seen another human being dance before. The man heaved and gyrated to a rhythm only he could feel.” Just like Elaine.

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eJr5 TIL that in 1915, a man named Charles Hatfield convinced the town of San Diego that he could create rainfall using a secret mix of chemicals. The city offered to pay him $10,000 if he could end their drought, and the result!, a few days later, was the town’s worst flood of the 20th century.
QND0e Today I Learned Saint Nicholas became associated with secret gift-giving to children because it's said he secretly gave a poor family money during the night. The father could not afford a dowry so his three daughters were destined to never marry and become sex workers without St. Nick's help.
oBoMW TIL in 2012 authorities discovered over 1,500 pieces of stolen art valued at 1.3 billion in the Munich apartment of Cornelius Gurlitt. Cornelius never held a job and lived alone surrounded by the art for 40 years. These pieces were to be part of Hitler's Fuhrermuseum.
yyJa TIL There was a short lived French version of “The Office”; in the pilot Jim put Dwight’s stuff in cheese instead of jello.
kXAW TIL Christopher Columbus made the natives each bring him a specified amount of gold every three months. Those who didn’t collect enough gold in time had their hands amputated and were left to bleed to death.