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TIL in 1830, the annual per capita consumption of alcohol by Americans had climbed to more than five gallons. At the time Americans believed liquor was nutritious and stimulated digestion. It was also consumed to help wash down poorly cooked, greasy, salty, and sometimes rancid food.

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yV81v Today I learned that during the renovation of the USA Library of Congress in the 1990s, it was discovered that the metallic ornamentation of the ceiling, once thought to be silver leaf, is actually aluminum leaf. When the building was constructed in the 1890s, aluminum was more precious than silver.
k7vd TIL It’s possible to trap a laser’s beam inside a stream of water, which will result in the beam being guided by the stream.
A1yB TIL The word ‘Freelance’ was first used in the 1820 book 'Ivanhoe’. It referred to a knight with no allegiance.
m1PWy TIL Menu Change Cost is the cost incurred by a restaurant for changing its menu or increasing prices. Restaurants must weigh this cost against the prospect of added revenue from changing the menu
vlm4 TIL Greenland has a university, with 14 staff and 150 students. It is so small because the Government pays for students to have a free university education anywhere in Europe or North America.