› added 11 years ago

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TIL that because they die early, smokers save society roughly 32 cents for every pack they smoke. Some economists support a cigarette subsidy to save society money.

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7rOPb TIL about the mid-Atlantic or transatlantic accent. It was not a natural accent; it was generally taught to actors and the upper class in north eastern American society. Many news reels from the 30s and 40s reek of it. Transatlantic accent fell out of vogue after World War 2.
BZ0K TIL that at the premiere of Beethoven’s 9th, police had to break up the applause, as the amount he was receiving was considered inappropriate for a private citizen
YpPZ7 TIL Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph but never mentioned he was president. The epitaph reads: "here was buried Thomas Jefferson, Author of the Declaration of American Independence, of the Statue of Virginia for Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia"
pYJAN TIL there are miniature drones like we see in the movies called the "Black Hornet Nano", which are in active use by Militaries around the world. They measure 16x2.5cm and cost $195,000 each!
mxA9E TIL for centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Jewish community in the world. Poland sheltered Jews persecuted and expelled from various European countries. About three-quarters of the world's Jews lived in Poland by the middle of the 16th century.