› added 5 years ago

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TIL that the word villain came from the ancient term villein, a person of low social status in the feudal system.

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M76ra TIL in Sept 2023 MGM Resorts International & Caesars Entertainment were both hit by ransomware attacks from the same group. Caesars paid a $15m ransom instead of the $30m the attackers had demanded, however MGM refused to pay & had its operations shut down for several days which led to a $100m loss.
kOoWB TIL that it's estimated there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on earth, but there are more atoms in one grain of sand than there are stars in the universe... and I just can't wrap my head around that.
XBAk TIL: You don’t have to be an attorney to be considered for appointment to the SCOTUS
K4Y4 TIL Erwin Rommel, the “desert fox”, became an anti-Nazi upon his return from Africa. Rather than execute him, the Gestapo gave him the option of suicide by poison and a hero’s funeral. He was portrayed as a faithful Nazi at his funeral. The truth did not come to light until Nuremberg.
OoE56 TIL of Phosphenes, illusory light effects seen in pitch dark due to eye pressure, electrical or magnetic stimulation. Lengthy light deprivation causes the brain to see shapes made of phosphenes, called Prisoners Cinema. Some scientists believe this was an inspiration for neolithic cave paintings.