› added 5 years ago

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TIL that contrary to popular belief, Jerry Maren was not the last surviving Wizard of Oz cast member; he was the last one with a speaking role. An actor for a Winkie guard survived til late 2018, and Dorothy's own dance stunt double is still alive as of this posting.

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Mebom TIL Apple’s smartphone wasn’t the first iPhone, the first was made by Cisco 22 days earlier. The Cisco “iPhone” was a VoIP device that allowed its customers to use Skype without a computer. The companies later settled the trademark lawsuit, with both keeping rights to the iPhone name.
JYPb1 TIL that ancient Greek historian Polybius came up with a cyclical theory of government (anacyclosis), where governments start off as monarchies, the final stage is ochlocracy, when a democracy degenerates into chaos and mob-rule. Then the cycle resets itself.
nepYP TIL That Cato the Younger, Rather Than Live In a World Ruled By Caesar, Decided to Rip Out His Own Bowels Infront of His Servants and Family.
oBMBA TIL The United States has 20 aircraft/helicopter carrier ships; the rest of the world combined has 24
e0DQE TIL that modern gunpower contains it's own oxidizer for combustion, meaning you could fire a gun in space.