› added 4 years ago

79

TIL 'The Confederacy' only lasted 4 years, 1861-1865!

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nWJDY Today I learned that Gene Wilder died listening to one of his favourite songs, Ella Fitzgerald's version of "Over the Rainbow".
b0YZ TIL Frank Zappa was refused permission to name his son Dweezil, so registered him as Ian instead. When 5-year-old Dweezil found out, he insisted on having it changed to Dweezil
P1nRn TIL Prince Alfred of the UK officially won the 1862 Greek head of state referendum by a landslide. That being said, the Great Powers had previously agreed that no member of a ruling family of the Great Powers would have the crown of Greece. Prince Alfred declined the throne.
BbXx TIL Richard Nixon repeated “The Jewish cabal is out to get me.” several times in private conversations.
0dNQj TIL that Ruhollah Khomeini never issued a fatwa against Salman Rushdie. What was given was called a hukm, which - unlike the fatwa - remain valid even after the death of the authority who issued it.