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TIL Babylonians believed that an eclipse foretold the death of their ruler, leading them to use these predictions to put kingly protections in place. During the period of time that lunar or solar eclipses might strike, the king would be replaced with a substitute.

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dD7gE TIL the 300 Club at the South Pole involves a tradition where participants go from a +200°F sauna to the -100°F outside, often running a lap around the South Pole marker while wearing only boots
BNKb TIL After Christian Slater took the place of River Phoenix in “Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles” he donated his entire paycheck from the movie to all of River’s favorite charities.
KYO1J TIL the first reality show was 1973’s An American Family documenting the life of a family, but ended up breaking it up – 10 million people watched as mom Pat complained about husband Bill’s cheating, moaned about their sex life and then, midway through filming, asked him for a divorce on camera.
mQEE TIL that during the 16th century Martin Guerre, a French peasant, disappeared and a man claiming to be him “reappeared”. He lived with Guerre’s wife and son for three years ‘til he was discovered to be a man named Arnaud du Tilh, tried and executed. The real Guerre had returned during the trial.
NXyee TIL In 1910, Canada tried to attract settlers with its campaign "The Last Best West" to promote free land with the slogan "Living is cheap; climate is good; education and land are free.” More than two million settlers from Europe and the US poured into the prairies from 1896 to 1914