› added 8 months ago

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TIL that Belgians celebrate Kattenstoet, the 'Festival of the Cats', which commemorates a medieval tradition in which cats were thrown from the belfry tower to the town square below. The modern festival involves throwing toy cats followed by a mock witch burning.

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W7ED9 TIL of "The Dip", a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide used to clean lead off of suppressors and other firearm parts. The resulting chemical reaction dissolves the lead into lead acetate, which can cause lead poisoning from simple contact with the dermis (skin).
ZkbR TIL originally Chicago wasn’t built high enough above Lake Michigan to be able to dig sewers, so engineers lifted the entire city by 4-14 feet starting in 1855. The project took 20 years to finish.
yjRa TIL two Scottish rappers duped the music industry into thinking they were a Californian hip hop duo, and signed a £75k record deal with Sony Music
ylQw TIL that Sponges (animal) can survive being squeezed through fine cloth and are able to reassemble themselves afterwards
Wk8Jo TIL automaker AMC and pants-maker Levi's collaborated on a 1974 Gremlin. The Gremlin's upholstery was made from synthetic materials that looked like real denim (cotton is too flammable for use in car interiors), complete with stitching, Levi's tags, and copper rivets.