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TIL There are generally two definitions of "literally": one which is to take something in a literal sense or manner, the second which is to take things figuratively. It's been defined this way for hundreds of years.

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VMjQZ TIL Predjama Castle was under seige by the Austrian army for almost a year. The castle lasted so long because it had a secret tunnel in the back which brought food to the castle. The seige ended only when the ruler died on the latrine after getting hit by a cannonball.
epyJk Today I learned of Cuxirimay Ocllo, who was the cousin and concubine to the final Incan Emperor Atahualpa. Following Atahualpa's execution, she became the concubine to Francisco Pizarro. She outlived Pizarro as well and married a man compiling the history of the Spanish conquest of the Inca.
xVkV0 TIL in 1970 Hunter S. Thompson ran for sheriff of Pitkin Cty., CO and lost. His "Freak Power" program included disarming policemen, renaming Aspen "Fat City", punishing dishonest drug dealers, harassing those committing "land-rape" and limiting hunting and fishing to residents.
nWywG TIL when the Union Jack is flown vertically, such as on a flagpole, the wider white stripe should be on top and to the left of the viewer. This is because Scotland’s St Andrew’s Cross takes precedence over Ireland’s St Patrick’s Cross.
XENar TIL of Project Azorian, a secret CIA project in the 1970s fronted by eccentric businessman Howard Hughes. The CIA spent the equivalent of $4 billion to make a ship that could recover a sunken Soviet nuclear submarine. It nearly succeeded, but 2/3rds of the vessel broke away during retrieval.