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TIL Under particular conditions, some volcanic vents can produce large visible smoke rings

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rRNOx TIL that chocolate bars used to cost 5c and were used as meal replacements. As a result, in the US a popular choice was aptly named "Nickel Lunch".
JYakm TIL Brazil's Kayapo people rejected money from dambuilding companies. "We have decided that we do not want a single penny of your dirty money... Our river does not have a price, our fish that we eat does not have a price, and the happiness of our grandchildren does not have a price"
e1bk TIL that legionaries in the Roman Empire enjoyed considerable disposable income, enhanced by cash bonuses on special occasions such as the accession of a new Emperor. On completion of their term of service (25 years) they were given farmland and a discharge bonus equal to 13 years salary.
pYeK4 TIL the count of monte cristo is based on the life of Pierre Picaud, who was betrayed by three of his friends, went to prison, escaped and took revenge against his traitor friends
Grl1 TIL during World War II, the US sent former major league baseball catcher and OSS agent Moe Berg to attend a lecture from Dr. Heisenberg. Berg was armed with a pistol and had orders to shoot Dr. Heisenberg if his lecture indicated that Germany was close to completing an atomic bomb.