› added 11 months ago

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TIL Kassandra in Greek mythology was a Trojan priestess dedicated and cursed by god Apollo to utter true prophecies but never to be believed. Her name is used as a rhetorical device to indicate a person whose accurate prophecies, generally of impending disaster, are not believed by anyone.

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KONV9 TIL: the city of Venice was founded as Italians hid in the marshes and lagoons to hide from the invasion of Attila the Hun
e0ABn TIL that in Singapore some elevators are equipped with Urine Detection Devices that detect the scent of urine, setting off an alarm and closing the doors until the police arrive to arrest the offender!
P7rV TIL An “ultracrepidarian” is somebody who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about.
eeDJ TIL that European Royal Families had a “Court Jew” to handle finances and negotiate loans since usury was forbidden by the Catholic Church
7rp8Z TIL Ed McMahon (Johnny Carson's sidekick) was a carrier certified Marine F4U Corsair instructor pilot during WWII and an artillery spotter during the Korean War. He flew a total of 85 combat missions. After the war, he stayed with the Marines as a reserve officer, retiring in 1966 as a colonel.