› added 5 years ago

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TIL Sears used to sell houses during the Jim Crow era, and since they were sold through magazines, no one could deny selling the houses to blacks because of anonymity.

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mLZP TIL Samuel Johnson wrote a dictionary in 1755, in which he defined oats as: “A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.” A Scottish man was said by Sir Walter Scott to have retorted, “Yes, and where else will you see such horses and such men?”
l0Pa TIL despite being portrayed as young and healthy, John Kennedy was hospitalized dozens of times and on three occasions given his last rites.
LG6v TIL that Russell Brand was eligible to receive half of Katy Perry’s millions but declined.
XYyj TIL: in 1987, a high school boy triangulated where fantasy author Piers Anthony lived using fictional maps from his novels, ran away from home to live with him & his family, and was welcomed into PA’s home for the day, spent the night there, and PA listened to him for ~4 hours and gave him advice.
epnO6 TIL Dasia Taylor invented color changing sutures that detect infection when she was 17. Her invention uses beets, which change color at different pH levels. After learning about smart sutures that use expensive technology, she set out to create a more accessible solution for developing countries.