› added 6 years ago

86

TIL in ancient Rome, skilled or educated slaves could save enough money to buy their freedom

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gMyWA TIL Laika the Space Dog did not live for many days in space, but instead died in a panic shortly after launch.
mAvy TIL That a whipping boys existed in the English court in the middle ages. Since monarchy was appointed by God, no one could punish the Prince for bad behavior. For the whipping boy be an effective tool for discipline often a friend was chosen where the two had emotional bond.
GAnlQ TIL Camels first originated in North America
BY8x TIL that the US government during WW2 asked the press to avoid discussing “polonium, uranium, ytterbium, hafnium, protactinium, radium, rhenium, thorium, deuterium”. Only uranium was secret, for the Manhattan Project, but was listed with the other elements to hide its importance.
9wloG TIL in the Lorax (2012) by Illumination, "How Bad Can I Be?" only exists in the film because the original, "Biggering", was not considered palatable because of it's much darker commentary on big business, anti-corporatism and greed as the author (Dr. Seuss.) intended.