› added 3 years ago

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TIL that Europe and Asia aren't actually continents, but are two parts of one large continent called Eurasia. The division between Europe and Asia is an historical social construct that originated from the Ancient Greeks.

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0lnL TIL that before 194 BC, using sticks and shadows, Eratosthenes of Cyrene calculated the Earth’s circumference with an error between 2 and 15%, and calculated the tilt of the Earth and the distance of the Sun to the Earth with near perfect accuracy.
ZEBp TIL There’s an airline that charges by your total weight, so fat people pay more than thin people
yQegX TIL Sacha Baron Cohen left the Freddie Mercury biopic over creative differences with Queen; he was told Mercury died in the middle of the film. Impressed, he thought they meant a non-linear story structure like Pulp Fiction but realized the second half would be how the band “carried on.”
N1dP TIL casinos can use a product called Angel Eye: to prevent players from switching cards every card is scanned as it is dealt. If a player turns up a card they weren’t dealt casino security is notified.
5V9Gn TIL in 1969, concert promoter Bill Graham was asked to help organize the Woodstock Festival. He agreed under one condition: that Santana would be included in the lineup. After Bill persisted, Santana was given a 45-min set on Aug 16 for $2,500. The performance launched Santana to international fame.