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TIL that in 1994, Tim Allen simultaneously starred in the highest grossing film (The Santa Clause), topped the New York Times best-seller list with his book (Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man), and appeared in the top rated television series (Home Improvement)

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4XAew TIL in 2003 the smoke from large bushfires in Canberra, Australia formed a Cumulonimbus Flammagenitus. Essentially the fire created its own supercell storm, complete with lighting and forming an F3-rated fire tornado. The tornado and associated fire killed 4 people and injured 492 others.
Pgme TIL in Japan many buildings are demolished by being ‘capped’ then deconstructed one level at a time out of view. As a result, the entire structure appears to slowly shrink until it disappears.
xVyG7 TIL the origin of 'Shrimp on the Barbie' is from an early '80s Visit Australia commercial starring Paul Hogan before he was famous. (Commercial in comments).
Np7P TIL: Thomas Jefferson invented his “wheel cypher” in the 1790s and a deceptively innovative little device it is. In fact, this machine was so far ahead of its time, it was still in active use in the US military 150 years later at the beginning of WW2.
gM96D TIL- during the Krakatoa eruptions and resulting tsunamis, a javanese lighthouse keeper refused to leave his post, survived after the lighthouse collapsed, lost his wife and child, and built a makeshift light just a few hours afterward so that ships wouldn't run aground.