› added 8 years ago

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TIL the author of The Princess Bride also wrote the screenplays for Misery, A Few Good Men, Twins, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and All The President’s Men.

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78LVr TIL Joan of Leeds, a 14th century nun, faked her own death by crafting a dummy “in the likeness of her body” in order to escape her convent & allegedly pursue “the way of carnal lust.” She was discovered around 30 miles (48 km) away living "indecently" with a man & was denounced as an apostate.
PYNeJ TIL that USA not only refused to pay reparations to Vietnam but also asked them to return the money "South Vietnam borrowed".
gr8m9 TIL Ex British PM Margaret Thatcher was such a big fan of a political sitcom Yes Minister that she participated in a sketch written by her starring the main characters.
oRekA TIL of Lystrosaurus, an animal that survived Permian-Triassic extinction event. At one point it represented 95% of all land vertebrates for millions of years. Among other suggestions, it has been proposed this dominance was a matter of sheer luck.
pYmJN Today I learned that “Stiltsville” was a group of houses on stilts off the coast of Miami, FL. Founded towards the end of the prohibition, it had a reputation of alcohol, gambling, and partying. Most houses were destroyed by hurricanes, but some are still standing today.