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TIL MIT Predicts That World Economy Will Collapse By 2030

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oBeoA TIL: Memoirs of a Geishsa (2005) was protested for racially insensitive casting. Japan felt it was wrong to cast Chinese actors to portray Japanese people, while the Chinese felt it was insulting for a Chinese to have to portray a Japanese.
Z89np TIL that both Ferrari and Porsche declined to provide a sports car for the 1990 film Pretty Woman. They took offense that a prostitute would be in their car. Lotus didn't mind.
E1DQw TIL: When Floyd Mayweather Jr. Was a child his father used him as a human shield to prevent getting shot with a 20 gauge shotgun
Z8BYD TIL of Amaro Pargo, arguably the most successful Spanish corsair during the golden age of piracy, he'd attack British & Dutch ships and is known to have fought contemporaries such as blackbeard. He rose to nobility for his services to the Spanish crown and died the richest man on the Canary Islands.
wLbo7 TIL that prehistoric, tree-like, giant cucumbers still exist on the island of Socotra. It is the only place on earth they still survive, and are facing extinction due to human encroachment.