› added 10 years ago

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TIL that George RR Martin’s A Storm of Swords lost the 2001 Hugo Award for Best Novel to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. His response? “Eat your heart out, Rowling. Maybe you have billions of dollars and my Hugo, but you don’t have readers like these.”

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47Eg TIL: A newly discovered species of gecko has tearaway skin that leaves predators with nothing but a mouthful of scales when attacked.
W7oRd Today I learned that in 1985 the US shot down a satellite in orbit with an F-15
gMj7y TIL that the majority of wireless communication in a wireless cellphones is not really wireless, communication mostly happens through ultra high speed communication cables which pass under the ground or under the oceans.
QJxwp TIL in Australia and the UK, crossing guards or cross walk attendants are commonly known as "lollipop men" or "lollipop ladies", because of the modified circular stop sign he or she carries, which resembles a large lollipop.
kO144 TIL Prosperity Gospel is a religious belief among some Christians, who hold that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth.