› added 4 years ago

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TIL that the modern seven-day week originated with the ancient Babylonians, for whom each day was associated with one of the seven planetary deities.

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VMyY4 TIL A monk named Thích Quảng Đức intentionally lit himself on fire to send a message to the corrupt leader Ngo Dihn Diem of Vietnam which would go on to fuel a revolution that some say lead into the Vietnam War.
yQDwM TIL of the Saro Lerwick, a WWII RAF flying boat with a very poor loss rate. Of the 21 built, 10 were lost to accidents, and an 11th, on patrol in good weather, just disappeared
Pvkn TIL There is an Iranian custom called Taarof where people offer things they don’t really want to offer with the understanding they will be refused by people who really don’t want to refuse.
ZZ9o TIL an ancient Buddha statue recovered by the Nazis was carved from a meteorite.
ZpZWB TIL: In Sept. 1987, Eric Garcia commited suicide by exploding several hundred pounds of black powder and aerial shells at the Celebrity Fireworks Co in Rialto, CA. The explosion leveled the plant along with the neighboring businesses and blew out windows 4 miles away.