› added 11 years ago

137

TIL: If you write your alphabet letters in a single stroke (without lifting your pen), you’re infringing on Xerox’s patented unistroke alphabet. They have won lawsuits over it in the past.

Read more io9.com

via reddit.com

85w8 TIL that when Joseph Heller was asked why he hadn’t ever written anything as good as Catch-22 since, his reply was that neither has anyone else.
l7KpA TIL most phones include FM radio hardware, but carriers and manufacturers have it disabled in software
aokb TIL; that Silphium is a type of extinct herb which according to the Romans, was used as an abortive abortifacient similar to the pill. After its extinction is became a symbol of love, some speculate it evolved into the heart symbol.
RRvQ TIL there are 24 hours in a day because the Egyptians counted in base 12, not base 10 like we do today. They counted finger joints instead of fingers.
woke8 TIL When Martin Van Buren wrote his autobiography after serving as president from 1837-1841, he didn’t mention his wife of 12 years. Not even once.