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TIL Marilyn Bell, at age 16, became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario in 1954. Her 32 mile route was greatly lengthened by high wind and high waves. Fanged lamprey eels attacked her in 65 degree water. It took her 21 hours. She is still alive today.

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XYjX TIL that the act of Kinetic Bombardment (firing large metal rods from a satellite into the Earth’s surface at terminal velocity as a weapon) remains legal
e05wb TIL that the moon is slowly drifting away from the earth at the rate of 3.8cm (about 1.5 inches) per year.
VMemG TIL in the 50s and 60s both American and Soviet films were banned in Yugoslavia, so instead they imported films from Mexico, who were going through their cinematic golden age. This created a Mexican craze in Yugoslavia where Yugoslav singers would dress like mariachis, sing songs in a Mexican style
wOm8 TIL the Queen of England has two mentally handicapped cousins, who were disowned by her family and essentially declared dead. One was buried in an unmarked grave, the other is still ignored.
l8aa TIL During one week in November 1994, Tim Allen simultaneously starred in the highest grossing film (The Santa Clause), topped the New York Times best-seller list with his book Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man, and appeared in the top rated television series (Home Improvement)