› added 12 years ago

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TIL that the filming of The Godfather was disrupted by actual Mafia member Joe Colombo. Producer Al Ruddy met with him and reviewed the script, striking the word “Mafia” completely from the movie. Colombo and his pals also managed to elbow their way into casting and ended up as extras in the film.

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8e8wL TIL since 2009, the names of planets from the Dune novels have been adopted for the real-world nomenclature of plains and other features on Saturn's moon Titan, like Arrakis Planitia.
0wNoN TIL in the 17th century, black cats were burned bc they were "the devil". Black cats were spared if they possessed a small amount of white fur anywhere on their bodies, thought of as "God's thumbprint". 95% of black cats today have a small white spot on their chest due to the "UN-natural selection".
Lmy0 TIL: Loopholes were small slits in castle walls that let archers fire arrows, and the modern use of the term reflects the apparent contradiction between the intent of an impenetrable wall and having small holes in it that allow defenders to gain an advantage
xDBD TIL Zildjian, the cymbal maker, is one of the oldest companies in the world. Founded in 1618, it’s just under 400 yo. Zildjian means “Bell Maker,” a name given to the Alchemist hired by the Ottoman Sultan to create noise-makers for war. The manufacturing process remains a family secret til this day.
GY8MG TIL There are an estimated 40 quadrillion black holes in the observable universe.