› added 11 years ago

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TIL that there is a large plant known as Hogweed that is growing in the New England states that can cause disfiguring scars and permanent blindness if touched.

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1aew4 TIL that the German constitution obliges the wealthy to help others (I believe this basically means that you have to pay taxes): "Property entails obligations. Its use shall also serve the public good." (Article 14, GG)
781PX TIL that George Orwell was spied on by a Soviet secret agent named Hugh O'Donnell, code-name O'Brien. In a coincidence, (book spoiler) Orwell wrote Nineteen Eighty-Four to have a spy named O'Brien betray the main character, without knowing about the Soviet spy codenamed "O'Brien."
VA6p TIL Attorneys from Coors brewery were appointed by Reagan to the EPA after campaign donations by Joseph Coors. The EPA then lifted restrictions on the dumping of toxic waste in Colorado, home of the Coors brewery.
6Exd7 TIL that a study of deaths on the show Game of Thrones found that the probability of a character dying within the first hour after first appearing on screen was 14%.
768O TIL When Queen Elizabeth was married in 1947 post-war rationing was still in effect and as a result, she had to save up clothing ration coupons to pay for her dress.