› added 8 years ago

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TIL Hundreds of prisoners were left to die in their cells during hurricane Katrina as officials abandoned Orleans Parish Prison.

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OodO1 TIL that for the first 10 years that payphones existed, they worked on a honor system and callers would pay for their call after completing it.
GY7AQ TIL the song "Edelweiss" in "The Sound of Music" was written for the musical, but sounded so much like a classic folk song that after the first performances, native Austrians said they were delighted to "hear that old folk tune again"
x50D TIL many areas are using a beet juice and salt mixture on their roads to keep them from freezing over. The beet juice prevents roads from icing over in temperatures up to -25°C, making it more effective than using a salt brine. A beet juice mixture is also less toxic to the environment.
e0Xek TIL Conchobar mac Nessa, the legendary Irish king, was conceived because his mother asked a druid, Cathbad, what that moment was right for, and Cathbad said, "conceiving a king." Cathbad was the only available man for the conception.
9wVZm TIL that tyromancy is the practice of foretelling the future with cheese