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TIL that before 1530, when “Syphilis” was coined, the Russians had been calling it "Polish disease", the Polish and Germans "French disease" and the Dutch "Spanish disease". The French called it "Italian disease" but the Italians called it "French disease” back at them.

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rNG11 TIL that there are nearly 20 times as many billionaires today as in 1987. In 1987, there were just 140 billionaires in the world, worth a combined $295 billion. There are now 2,755 billionaires, worth a combined $13.1 trillion.
R5Rr8 TIL the widely reported mass hysteria ensuing from 1973's The Exorcist is often exaggerated. Many instances of viewers fainting or leaving the cinema were not from the more gruesome possession scenes, but from an earlier medically-accurate scene where Regan gets blood drawn from her neck.
a8WBb TIL: This year Arizona signed a bill making Pluto the official state planet. Arizona legislators said Pluto was downgraded due to jealous Europeans. Arizona discovered it whereas all prior planets were discovered by Europeans. The bill was a bipartisan effort.
P1X1w TIL From 1900-1930, the most popular form of home insulation was Cabot's Quilt. It was made of Eel Grass (Sea Grass) sewn (quilted) between two layers of Kraft Paper. Eel grass doesn't decompose like other plants. It was eventually replaced with fiberglass.
B4pL TIL Sometimes female lions can develop manes! Such masculine females likely occur when the embryo is disrupted, either at conception or while in the womb.