› added 1 year ago

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TIL that during WW2, the US gov't banned sliced bread (so that the hardened steel normally used in bread slicing machines could be put towards the war effort). After a huge public outcry, the ban was lifted after only seven weeks.

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DyWe TIL Kenya rejected aid of 42 tons of ‘dog food’ aimed at starving children sent by a New Zealand dog food manufacturer
P7Vn TIL that Joan of Arc was (technically) condemned to death for cross-dressing. The Church made her pledge to no longer wear men’s clothing, but her jailers only let her have men’s clothing to wear; breaking her pledge was defined as heresy, giving the Inquisition its excuse to burn her
NolE TIL That when Crystal Pepsi was released, Coca-Cola released a competitor called Tab Clear… the only caviat being that Tab Clear was designed from the start to be poorly marketed and hurt Crystal Pepsi’s image, thereby killing off both products. Both campaigns died 6 months later.
69pBl TIL about Ridge A, a spot in Antarctica that is 3x better for viewing into space than any other location on Earth. Researchers descibe the spot as 'so calm there's almost no wind or weather at all' and all wind from Antarctica appears to originate here. It is currently claimed by Australia
X0Eo8 TIL that ridiculously high platform shoes were worn by women during the middle ages. Up to 20" tall, they allowed powerful women to tower over underlings. Venice had to pass laws limiting them to 3 inches due to injuries.