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Today I learned that the word “magi” (or the singular “magus”) refers to followers of Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion whose modern-day adherents included Freddie Mercury. “Magi” also gave rise to the “magic” and “magician,” as Zoroastrians were known to practice astrology and alchemy.

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via reddit.com

x658k TIL when Marlon Brando planned to get circumcized in the 1990s, he believed that his ability to meditate had given him a high pain tolerance and thus wanted the procedure to be conducted without using painkillers or anaesthesia. He was unhappy when he later found out that anesthesia is required.
ePYE TIL that James Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, originally doubted Sean Connery’s casting, saying, “He’s not what I envisioned of James Bond looks.” on top of Connery being Scottish. But after seeing Dr. No he was so impressed, he updated Bond’s bio to where he was given Scottish (and Swiss) descent.
J7Jv TIL the Canadian Flag has become a symbol of quality in Somalia after Canada sent a shipment of genuine Toyota small trucks there. Apparently someone had been producing low-quality knock-off trucks. People have even started getting the flag as a tattoo there.
QQK6 TIL a man in Alabama has spent three decades building a stone wall by hand to honor his great-great-grandmother, a Yuchi Indian woman who was forced along the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma following the slaughter of her family by whites and then spent 5 years walking more than 1,000 miles back home.
awkQL TIL that Bose, the audio equipment company was founded by Amar Bose, an MIT engineering professor who bought a high-end stereo speaker system in 1956 and was disappointed of its sound quality. Despite owning Bose, he remained as a professor. He donated most of Bose shares to MIT as non-voting.