› added 10 years ago

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TIL that author Ian McEwan helped his son write his A level English exam about one of his own novels, Enduring Love. The teacher disagreed with his interpretation.

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gMKj7 TIL To prevent English tech vocabulary from entering the French language, French officials suggested 'le mobile multifonction' (mobile multifunction) as an alternative to the English word 'smartphone.'
yVkDv TIL the word fiasco, associated with failure, is also the name of the iconic Chianti straw bottle wrap
b6ZGN TIL that the invention of bicycles was fundamental to the early women's liberation movement. Bicycles promised freedom to women long accustomed to relying on men for transportation. It was also the main reason corsets and long skirts fell out of fashion in the early 20th century.
loyAA TIL that it is illegal to be in public with a contagious disease in the state of Washington.
BmXb TIL When the Queen dies it is estimated to cost the British economy £1.2-6 Billion