› added 11 years ago

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TIL The design of the Starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) was partially based on an electric stove coil.

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LkMEd TIL Ninjas didn't actually wear black masks. The black mask associated with ninjas is actually an amalgamation of how a thief dressed in Japan. Ninjas also didn't use shuriken Throwing stars), they were used by Samurai swordsmen.
ab4b TIL The “couple” in the famous V-J Day in Times Square photo were actually complete strangers, the sailor was drunk and grabbed the nurse who didn’t see him approaching. She later said “That man was very strong. I wasn’t kissing him. He was kissing me.”
KYwZG TIL coconuts were "relatively common" in medieval England. In one instance from 1259, the Master of Sherborn Hospital willed a coconut cup to his niece.
gMKy8 TIL porn is banned in South Korea. You face up to 2 years in prison if you distribute.
697Jm TIL Boer Commandos / Kommandos of what is now South Africa were civilian units of guerilla militia that ran parallel to British troops & were re-formed, conscripted to, & disbanded several times (last was 2005). Entire families in district command, control of taxes & fighting in rough terrain.