› added 12 years ago

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TIL Saudi Arabia is working to reverse decades of favoring religious over scientific studies in schools and universities. The country is pouring billions into improving science curricula, endowing new research-oriented universities and establishing scientific agencies.

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oBnvr TIL the guy who managed Guinness Breweries in the 1950s went to a shooting party, where he missed his shot at a golden plover. In his defence, he argued it was the fastest game bird in Europe, but couldn’t find a reference book that proved it. That’s why he created the Guinness Book of Records.
QNG6M TIL that Roman emperors were considered pharaohs in Egypt. Ancient Egyptians viewed their pharaohs as god-kings. When Rome conquered Egypt, its emperors became the new pharaohs because Egyptian religion needed a god-king to work. Roman emperors only called themselves pharaohs while visiting Egypt.
LkBNd TIL "the Curse of Tippecanoe" is a pattern since 1840 of US presidents dying in office if elected in a year divisible by 20. The exceptions are Presidents Reagan and W. Bush, both of whom survived assassination attempts.
e4BD TIL: Native Americans serving in the Marine Corps are allowed to use Peyote for religious ceremonies as long as they are not on duty or within 24 hours of being ready to ship out.
a8OGA TIL when Coney Island's Steeplechase amusement park burned down in 1907 the park's owner placed a sign the next day that read "On this site will be built a bigger, better, Steeplechase Park. Admission to the burning ruins — Ten cents"