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TIL The longest Papal Conclave in history lasted 3 years from 1268-1271 where magistrates resorted to removing the roof of the election building in an attempt to coerce the cardinals into reaching a decision

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oJB7 TIL Canada abruptly cancelled the development of its own fighter jet (Avro Arrow) in the 1950s in favour of Nuclear missiles (Bomarcs). All the engineers left for NASA thereafter.
wGYP TIL there is no particular reason American legal pads are yellow. It might be because it is easier to read, because it hides the age of the paper, or to hide that the paper was made of recycled materials.
b1d0 TIL; There are still several locations in the US that ban the sale/consumption of alcohol. All dating back to the Prohibition.
GAMD1 TIL that Sweden once had overseas colonies in Africa, India, South America, the Caribbean, and North America. Most were taken over by other European powers after a short amount of time; the only exception was the island of Saint Barthélemy, which it held for nearly a century.
NXXdQ TIL Joseph Armand Bombardier invented the snowmobile after his son died of appendicitis when a blizzard prevented him from getting him to a hospital in time.