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TIL that Crassus, a Roman general and also one of the richest men in history, used to purchase buildings on fire for a very low price and then put the fires out with his trained army of 500 slaves and rebuild them. If the owners refused to sell their property, he would not engage in firefighting.

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ewBn TIL instead of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien intended to write “A New Hobbit” about a Bilbo who had spent all his riches from The Hobbit and wanted to go on another adventure. Then Tolkien remembered the powers of the ring in the first book and decided to write about that instead.
1ak9r TIL Folding 1000 paper cranes was a requirement for Japan's Astronaut Program.
8jxG TIL There is a pharmaceutical treatment for alcoholism that is 75-85% effective. It’s a standard treatment for alcoholism in Finland, but is relatively unknown in North America.
jNZ6E TIL of the "Counting Coup", a war act originated by American Indians by which warriors would sneak up on enemy combatants, touch them on their body, and silently leave without being detected or causing harm. Escaping unharmed was considered a great prestige, especially if risking death or capture
O9Pg TIL that in Rocky Horror Picture Show the red triangle Dr. Frank ‘n’ Furter wears over his heart was used by the Nazis in concentration camps to denote that the wearer was a gay man, but it was pointing downward. He wore it pointing upward, which is often used as a symbol of gay pride….