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TIL the modern banjo is derived from a mix of West African skin instruments and European neck & string instruments. It was first recorded as being used by Caribbean slaves in the 17th century.

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yQZJv TIL that Americans are the most charitable people in the world. "Americans are about twice as generous in their private giving as Canadians, and 3-15 times as charitable as the residents of other developed nations. Americans also volunteer more than almost any other wealthy people."
xVvYw TIL That Neil Armstrong's NASA application was a week late and if it weren't for his friend, Dick Day, secretly slipping it into the pile of on-time applications, he would have been rejected.
e0kYn TIL about Tapputi, a Babylonian perfume-maker widely considered to be the world's first chemist. A cuneiform tablet from 1200 BCE describes one of her perfumes, made from flowers, oils, balsam, myrrh, and various solvents.
6jEW TIL all British Army armored vehicles must have an electric kettle so the crew can brew tea without getting out. This rule was made after a WWII ambush, where a British tank squadron lost 29 vehicles to a surprise attack by four German tanks while the British crews were outside having morning tea
RykQ TIL One of the thirteen articles in the 1781 US Articles of Confederation states that if Canada wants to be admitted into the United States, it will automatically be accepted.