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TIL the Japanese used "nightingale floors" to alert castle lords to enemy attacks. These floors were designed so that walking on them created a shrill chirping noise. To tell friend from foe, the lord of the castle would identify a set rhythm for allies to use when walking on the nightingale floors.

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QDBE TIL that “The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. […] They contradict their parents […] and tyrannise their teachers.” is a quote from “The Clouds”, a Greek comedic play from 423 BC.
8arY8 TIL the record-holder as the USSR's most productive and competent worker had his name misspelled in the state newspaper. The bureaucracy officially changed his name to match rather than admit their mistake.
XEJG8 TIL The United States had only 17 years of Peace since it’s birth in 1776.
0wgQp TIL that when the Panchen Lama (2nd in command to the Dalai Lama) died in 1989, the Tibetan Buddhists chose a six year old boy to replace him in accordance with tradition. The Chinese government was unhappy with the pick and abducted him. He hasn’t been heard from since.
rNWg4 TIL before the invention of the American football helmet in the 1890s, players would often grow their hair long because they believed it protected them from head injuries.