› added 7 years ago

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World's steepest funicular rail line to open in Switzerland.

Read more theguardian.com

ANDo TIL that the US drinking age was raised from 18 to 21 due to the efforts of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). They successfully lobbied congress to create a law that imposed a federal penalty on any state that did not comply.
nWEyb TIL that on 9/11, an estimated 500,000 people were evacuated from Lower Manhattan on ferries, yachts and charter boats, making it the largest water evacuation in history.
x6p6g TIL that in the Battle of the Nile, Admiral Francois-Paul Brueys's hands, face, and arms were mauled by cannonfire: he continued to command, when a cannonball severed both his legs. He then ordered his men to strap him to an armchair and continued to order his men until his ship, L'Orient, blew up.
9w8oG TIL Elsa Einstein married her first cousin Albert who was also her second cousin
YpxrA TIL that Viggo Mortensen was offered the role of Aragorn in Peter Jackson's Hobbit film trilogy, but he turned it down since Aragorn never appeared in Tolkien's Hobbit.