› added 13 years ago

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TIL Christmas is often spelled Xmas because the Greek letter Chi (Ļ‡) is used to abbreviate the name Christ.

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4ypb TIL that the Joint Chiefs of Staff planned a series of terrorist attacks on US cities, and wanted to blame Cuba, so they could invade it (more links in the comments).
e0xL5 TIL that tensions between the US and UK nearly escalated to war over the killing of a pig in 1859. An American farmer on a disputed island found the pig eating potatoes in his garden and shot it, and after the British threatened arrest, the settlers called for help. Both sides sent major forces.
lo41A TIL ā€œ90 Day Fiance'sā€ Stephanie Matto made over $90,000 Selling Farts in a Jar
mxbOE TIL: Banana slugs intertwine when they have sex
XEDYR TIL of "Zero", a soccer stadium in Brazil in which the midfield line is aligned with the Equator - zero latitude, which makes each team defending one hemisphere.