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TIL one of the unifiers of Japan, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, once built an entire castle in secret near a castle he had put under siege. After 80 days, he had the trees covering it cut down, making it seem like a castle had sprung up overnight. His enemies surrendered shortly thereafter.

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7EP TIL in 2005 a Romanian murderer attempted to sue God for failing to keep him from the Devil’s influence.
EOlP TIL that when the British invaded Washington in 1814, they held a mock session of congress. They voted whether or not they should burn the city to the ground, soldiers unanimously agreed in favor of the motion.
aNYy TIL Cash Cab actually pre-screened all of its players and the huge wads of cash wielded by host Ben Bailey were not actually given to the players at the end of the program.
QJpAa TIL leading up to Pearl Harbor the US lost track of Japanese aircraft carriers, observed the Japanese consulate burning documents, encountered hostile submarines near Hawaii and had reports of a cluster of aircraft 137 miles north of Oahu, yet only realized an attack was under way when bombs dropped
m11rp TIL the ISS is only weightless because it's in orbit (therefore constantly falling) not because of its distance from the earth. An airplane at the same altitude, under its own power would have 89% as much gravity as the earth's surface.