› added 1 year ago

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TIL for 358 years mathematicians attempted to solve an equation scribbled in the margin of a text book with a note they had a proof but was "too large to fit in the margin". It's still debated today whether Fermat had a solution in 1637 or wrote that just to entice other mathematicians

ZpWdp TIL John Paul Jones, famous naval officer of the American Revolutionary War, was born in Arbigland, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, and fled the country to avoid arrest after killing a mutinous subordinate. He later killed another mutinous crew member in Tobago, and 18 months later, was in Virginia.
e0Yrk TIL despite earning millions as an actor, Mickey Rooney declared bankruptcy several times, having gambled away his fortune. Towards the end of his life, he entrusted his finances to his stepson, who funneled Rooney's earnings to pay for his own lavish lifestyle. He died with an estate of $18,000.
9RNQ TIL that Zootopia is the second highest grossing original film of all time.
b6kMj TIL the Easter Whip tradition in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and parts of Hungary involves splashing girls with water and spanking them with decorated willow branches on Easter Monday. This is believed to ensure their health, beauty, and fertility for the next year.
J1Rek TIL: in 1906 a group of 500 students from Missouri State University demanded they be let into the Cole Bros. circus for $0.25 instead of $0.50. When they couldn't stay for the concert after the show they marched to the train yard ripped up rails and greased them so the train couldn't leave town.