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TIL a contestant on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” used their “phone-a-friend” to call celebrity Rosie O’Donnell, a huge fan of the show. She guaranteed to cover the prize amount if her answer was wrong.

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vPaA4 Til In 1181, Chinese and Japanese astronomers recorded a “guest star” in their night sky. It is one of the earliest descriptions consistent with a supernova
r7b0 TIL that Apollo Robbins, a pickpocket magician, struck up a conversation with Jimmy Carter and Secret Service agents. Within a few minutes he emptied the agents’ pockets of everything except their guns.
rR9E1 TIL Many Roman-British temples are dedicated to a mysterious local god called Deo Veteri, translated as "The Old God". His temples were often featureless brick squares that formed roofless isolation chambers. Believers would enter, face east, and meditate. (second source in comments)
R7Lp8 TIL that Scranton, Pennsylvania is known as “The Electric City” because in the 1880s, it was one of the first cities in America to have both electric lights as well as electric streetcars.
PYKpZ TIL Iowa Man Tyler Heep won $1.00 from a scratch-off, drove to Lottery Headquarters, and demanded a gigantic novelty check. They wrote him out an oversized check and had him hold it up for a photo in a room set up with a camera and the Lottery logo. Heep used his winnings to buy 1/2 a gallon of gas.