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TIL that in 1999, Furbies were banned from the National Security Agency's Maryland headquarters because it was feared the toys might repeat national security secrets.

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jNdDX TIL of Eva Kotchever, a Polish-Jewish lesbian émigré. Operating a lesbian tearoom in New York City, she ran afoul of the law and was deported. She died at Auschwitz.
8JbX TIL While filming Return of the Jedi, Harrison Ford advocated killing off his character, Han Solo, finding him boring. George Lucas denied his request, saying “dead Han toys” wouldn’t sell.
Wa98 TIL that British citizens are not considered foreigners under Irish law; neither are Irish citizens under British law. Both groups can freely enter, vote, work, and retire in either country.
PYp0Z TIL a Stanford study (2016) found a positive correlation between use of profanity and honesty. In both individuals and groups, those who use profanity tend to be more fucking honest.
8ak9P TIL about Wu Lien-Teh, “The Plague Fighter,” a doctor who developed thicker, more substantial masks to be used against the pneumonic plague in Manchuria during 1910-1911. Dr. Wu identified the bacteria as airborne, and successfully contained the plague; the epidemic ended after 7 months.