› added 3 years ago

108

TIL three of the child actors who played the Artful Dodger in the stage musical Oliver! in the 1960s went on to become famous rock musicians: Steve Marriott (Small Faces and Humble Pie), Davey Jones (The Monkees), and Phil Collins (Genesis and solo).

1a8vV TIL that the song "Dirty Creature" by New Zealand new wave rockers Split Enz makes (metaphorical) reference to Taniwha, powerful beings believed by the Maori to inhabit treacherous waters. Tim Finn had been suffering panic attacks, and co-wrote this song to try to contend with his suffering.
16knV TIL don't stand under the Manchineel tree when it's raining because its toxins are water-soluble. Don't stand close to it, as you could inhale the toxins. Every part of the Manchineel (also helpfully referred to as Manzanilla de la Muerte, or "little apple of death") is poisonous and can kill you.
E1enP TIL that Detroit Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya had a sore wrist in the 2006 postseason from playing too much Guitar Hero. This was acknowledged in a credits message in the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II: "No pitchers were harmed in the making of this game. Except for Joel Zumaya. He had it coming."
E1YV7 TIL that George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch has its own fire department, and they have a mutual agreement with the government to respond to fires off the compound.
9wxOG TIL The traditional Mexican hibiscus tea is called Jamaica simply because the main ingredient, the hibiscus plant, was originally brought over to Mexico from Jamaica