3 things I learned recently I find interesting

In the 1980s, before the Japanese real estate crash, there was a 3 sq mile area in Tokyo worth more than the entire state of California.
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In WWI, the ottomans tried to ally to the French and even the Russians(their mortal enemey) after they had allied to the Germans but before the fighting had started. They both refused because they, like Germany, saw the country as nothing but trouble. But the Germans expected the Ottomans to raise a holy war against the Entente so that British and French colonies would raise up against them. Obviously this is something the Ottomans didn't try to do. Partly because they couldn't get the idea across to raise up only against the French and British and not against the Germans and Austrians

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Stonewall Jackson's nickname may not have been meant as a compliment though there is no definitive proof. One source actually has General Bees (the guy who gave Jackson the nickname) as being furious for Jackson not having reinforced him earlier. He remarked something alike "that Jackson there is just a stone wall." Bees died shortly afterwards so no confirmation