› added 4 years ago

49

TIL The Canary Islands are named after dogs, not birds.

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mxrwx TIL that under Chinese occupation (which killed 1.2 million people), the Tibetan language is banned in Tibet
QNNKM TIL That Vatican City is an absolute theocratic elective monarchy, meaning it's technically three types of government.
1aPxD TIL during the Golden Age of Piracy, many pirates set up social safety net programs such as disability payments for injuries sustained while at sea, as well as life insurance to be paid to a pirate’s family if they died.
oB1RL TIL that in 2002, the term for schizophrenia in Japan was changed from "mind-split disease" to "integration disorder" to reduce stigma. In three years, the percentage of people who were informed of the diagnosis of schizophrenia rose from 37 to 70%. A similar change was made in South Korea.
gMa6L TIL that HG Wells was basically a huge nerd. He invented a tabletop wargame, like Warhammer, and once complained that a game was ruined by the "chattering of lady visitors."