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TIL medieval European scholars believed the Southern Hemisphere couldn't be habitable because they thought the Equator was too hot to cross, making places south of it unreachable by evangelists, and since Jesus told the apostles to "evangelize all mankind", unreachable people couldn't exist.

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R5d01 TIL David Frith, an English journalist, in 1983 commented that India should withdraw from the World Cup if they didn't improve. India won the WC and he literally ate his own words , with the help of some red wine.
D1PDP TIL first roller coaster started to transport coal down a hill. But, after people found that it could reach speeds up to 50 miles per hour, tourists asked to ride on it for a few cents.
k9p5 TIL an art critic who was asked to review Adolf Hitlers paintings, without being told who painted them, judged them as quite good. He also noted the different style in which human figures were drawn represents a profound disinterest in people.
6yaJ TIL North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il was claimed to complete a 72 par course in 34 strokes, managing a world record five holes-in-one, making him the best golfer in the history of the world. It was also apparently the first time he has ever golfed.
loo9G TIL a 21yo Alexander the Great was once surrounded by Greek tribes on hill positions, low on food. He ordered his men to conduct formation drills, in complete silence. With the enemy units engrossed in the weird spectacle, his forces roared and charged, taking the hills, the tribes fleeing in terror