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TIL that early in Edgar Allen Poe's writing career, he published an essay exposing a fake chess-playing automaton that was actually operated by a chess master hidden inside. The essay employs a method of deduction called 'ratiocination' which is used by C. Auguste Dupin, Poe's fictional detective.

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j6JLv TIL in the 1920s, Coco Chanel accidentally got a tan, and helped inspire the trend of sunbathing. Soon "sunlight therapy" was prescribed for almost every ailment from fatigue to tuberculosis. Before this, tanned skin was associated with the lower classes who work outside, and fair skin was revered.
YpRNr TIL a 2009 study found that two years after retirement, 78% of former NFL players are under financial stress or have gone completely bankrupt.
aLO0 TIL that Ronda Rousey originally opposed using the nickname her friends gave her, “Rowdy”, feeling it would be disrespectful to professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. After meeting Piper through Gene LeBell, who helped train both of them, Piper personally gave his approval.
XADR TIL Pirates used eye patches to quickly adjust their eyes from above to below deck, having one eye trained in bright light, and the other in dim light.
YGpA TIL that during the Spanish American war, the USS Charleston fired 13 rounds at the Spanish fort on Guam which all missed. The Spanish, unaware that war had been declared, believed the Americans must be firing a salute and rowed out to apologize for their lack of gunpowder to return the salute.