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Today I learned that the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out because a Japanese soldier ditched during a drill to use the bathroom. When they couldn't find him, they assumed that he was kidnapped by a nearby Chinese Town. That led to an armed conflict that led to a full-scale war that lasted 8 years.

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gMen9 TIL a dust cloud in the year 536 plunged Europe into an 18-month-long winter, creating frosty summers and violently harsh winters. Nearly a third of Europe's population got wiped out, with death rates rising as high as 90% in some northern regions.
xJ8b TIL of the legend of Sir Francis Drake’s drum. It is said that on his deathbed he requested that the drum be returned to his manor and that, if ever England were to come under attack, one would beat the drum, he would return to protect the country.
MeLAW TIL soundtracks to movies were included as “optical sound” on the edge of film reels starting in the 1920s. Usually the density or width of the signal was read by a photodiode and turned into sound with some delay to match the picture on the screen.
kOoR4 TIL that in the 1980's, A&W tried to compete with the McDonald's Quarter Pounder by selling a 1/3 burger at a lower cost. The product failed, because most customers thought 1/4 pound was bigger.
jNp1N TIL Disney World has the power to establish schools, form their own criminal justice system and construct a nuclear power plant, although they have not chosen to do that yet.