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TIL: The Dutch royal family took refuge in Canada during WW2 occupation, upon the birth of Princess Margriet, the Ottawa maternity ward was temporarily declared to be Dutch territory by the Canadian government. Since then every year the Dutch people send Canada thousands of tulips in appreciation.

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AN6yl TIL about the West Point Spiked Eggnog Riot of 1826, when cadets, including future Confederate President Jefferson Davis, went on a wild bender after sneaking booze into the academy. Captain Hitchcock tried to regain control but was attacked, and nearly shot, while a drunk drum corps played outside
ZpEyR TIL the lyrics of Duel of Fates (the music written by John Williams for the duel between Darth Maul, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan) are a Sanskrit translation of a thousand year old Welsh poem, Cad Goddeu, about a wizard enchanting trees to fight in his army.
mxpZv TIL that a farmer called Almon Strowger invented automatic telephone switching because he didn't trust his local telephone operator. She was the wife of his competition and Strowger suspected that she was diverting requests for his services to her husband’s business instead.
Qpoe TIL: Four out of six Marlboro Men died died of smoking-related diseases, thus earning Marlboro cigarettes, specifically Marlboro Reds, the nickname “Cowboy killers”
njPG TIL of a plane crash caused by a smuggled crocodile. The crocodile freed itself and panicked the passengers who all ran towards the flight-deck, which caused the plane to be unbalanced and crash. The only survivors were one person and the crocodile.