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TIL the first and last Australian torchbearers for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games were Nova Peris & Cathy Freeman, who are both Aboriginal women, both Olympic gold medalists, both holders of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) and were both previously awarded Young Australian of the Year.

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V0PZ TIL that Ikea names sofas, coffee tables, bookshelves, media storage and doorknobs after places in Sweden; beds, wardrobes and hall furniture after places in Norway; carpets after places in Denmark and dining tables and chairs after places in Finland.
kJak5 TIL about the Massacre of the Latins, which occurred in Constantinople in 1182. The massacre was a result of the presence of Western merchants, particularly Italians, and various other factors. The Orthodox population killed tens of thousands of Catholics, with 4,000 survivors being sold as slaves.
GAwWQ TIL although Showgirls (1995) grossed just $37.8 million against a $45 million budget during its theatrical run, it went on to earn more than $100 million from home video sales & rentals which allowed the film to turn a profit. It also became one of MGM's top 20 all-time home video bestsellers.
7rLeO TIL the founder of Ba'athism and the idea of a post-colonial pan-arab union, Michel Aflaq, was actually a Greek orthodox philosopher. He viewed Islam as a useful unifying tool for the region and a product of "Arab genius".
PYElE TIL that a Louisiana senator proposed the “American Hippo Bill” which would have brought Hippos from Africa to get rid of a invasive species and solve a meat shortage in the United States. The bill nearly passed.